2016 Incomers – New Meat Menu

Oh idk what can we see on Fowler's tape to suggest high pass rushing potential....

- Great playing speed and stop-start burst
- Good hands and extension when blocker makes contact
- Solid body bend when exploding through blocker's shoulder (inside or outside)
- Responsibility discipline while play develops (holds edge while play flows away)
- Lack of false steps in pursuit
- Excellent feet/body positioning when closing in on avoiding target
- Superb finisher once he makes contact on ball carrier

All are crucial components scouts analyze on tape with a pass rusher entering the NFL draft. One thing missing was multiple pass rush moves...swat/swim, rips, dip/spin, etc.

At his HS position you typically won't see a lot of that. Texas coaches will develop that aspect if he plays Fox.

Fowler's game checks many "next level" boxes impressively for a HS player. It only gets better with technique refinement and physical growth on the next level.

His overall athletic ability and awareness when rushing the passer certainly points to a guy with all the tools to succeed at a high level in college.

Or we could just applaud his 40 sacks in HS between 2013-15. :smile1:

If he makes it here, Fowler will be a damn good pass rusher for us in a couple of years.

I admit analyzing from highlight tapes can be deceiving, as the plays a guy doesn't make are just as important to see. But Fowler had countless plays displaying solid techniques.
 
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2016 Recruiting Class Evaluation
LB​

The Longhorns landed a pair of coveted recruits and a blue collar lunatic. They're the right complement to the 2015 LB haul and the Texas LB depth chart is in the process of transforming itself from terrifying to us to terrifying for the opponent.

Jeffrey McCulloch – McCulloch plays the game with anticipation, effort, recognition and a good first step. [His] 4.2 second short shuttle and a 35 inch vertical leap at 230 pounds combined with a condor's wingspan and an immature body still growing into its potential suggest a high ceiling. He's fully capable of carrying 250 pounds well.

McCulloch is certainly nasty off of the edge, but his ability to hold the point of attack, use his hands on a blocker and squeeze a runner back inside means he's more than a feast-or-famine blitzer, but rather a well-rounded, versatile threat. I can easily see McCulloch as a pure Fox End or an outside linebacker.

McCulloch closes distance decisively, in part because he plays with his head up and with a natural bend. He's rarely caught flat-footed. His signing day press conference and interview impressed me as much as his tape - he's a mature, thoughtful player who won't have any problems leading a defense, calling signals and exhibiting assignment discipline. It's clear why he was one of the most highly recruited players in the state.

Erick Fowler – Fowler is a walking fast twitch muscle with an explosive first step and the ability to accelerate suddenly from a stop and generate immediate power upon contact. Those attributes and his physical maturity make him nearly unblockable at the high school level shooting gaps and chasing the quarterback as an edge rusher... Fowler put up gaudy statistics as a high school sophomore and junior, making him one of the most coveted recruits in the country, but he tailed off in a relatively quiet senior year as he assumed more conventional assignments beyond "see ball, chase ball" and sprinting through gaps.

Fowler worked at US Army All-American practices as an outside linebacker and reportedly did well. That's encouraging. It's also not totally unreasonable to think that Fowler's first step, compact power and penchant for violent contact could also be put to good use inside.

Demarco Boyd – Boyd plays with a massive chip on his shoulder - an attitude that Charlie Strong seems to cultivate and enjoy. [He] lined up at running back, middle linebacker, nose tackle, rush end, 1st chair tuba, snow cone vendor, drill team captain and baton twirler. He accounted for 25 touchdowns on offense and 74 tackles, 5 sacks and an interception on defense. His high school tape is fun to watch, mostly because his effort level is so consistently maniacal and he acts like there's a yellow jacket caught in his jockstrap.

He's a disruptive inside linebacker with good short area quickness who plays so low that it's hard to get him off course, and generally loves to do the dirty work on both sides of the ball.

[BC article]
 
Strong Keeps Building A Strong Roster

Charlie04%20-%20steamroller.jpg

“There are members of this freshman class the staff feels are already
better than what they’re bringing back at certain positions.”​

I loved the 2016 recruiting class when it was announced on signing day.

Now that the Longhorns have added another quality offensive lineman (JP Urquidez) and a difference-making wide receiver (Devin Duvernay), the group looks even better. Better to the extent that when the question is posed as to which group has more upside -- the 2015 class or the 2016 haul -- I’m leaning toward Charlie Strong’s most recent crop of signees.

With Buechele and Shackelford, the Longhorns have a chance to have a pair of four-year starters at two of the most important positions on the field. Additionally, running back Kyle Porter, offensive lineman Denzel Okafor, defensive end Andrew Fitzgerald, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, defensive tackle Chris Daniels, linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch and safety Brandon Jones have already drawn rave reviews for what they’ve done in offseason workouts. There are members of this freshman class the staff feels are already better than what they’re bringing back at certain positions.

What Duvernay can do as a slot receiver makes him a big-time player who is tailor made to thrive in that position. The ability to use Armanti Foreman freely and take pressure off of John Burt and Collin Johnson makes Duvernay the kind of special weapon the Longhorns didn’t have before his arrival.

Urquidez will join Okafor, Jean Delance and Tope Imade in giving the Longhorns quality youth and depth at a position of need. I don’t know if I’d put it in stone that all four will be in the two-deep for the Notre Dame game, but I’m definitely keeping a chisel handy because the depth without the newcomers isn’t good enough for the Longhorns to maintain a level of offensive consistency if injuries occur.

Strong did what any coach worth their salt attempting to build a championship program should; he followed up a tremendous recruiting class with one that’s arguably better. That’s what Mack Brown did early in his tenure, and he had a roster capable of competing with anybody in the country in a few years into his tenure.

[247]
 
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Patrick Hudson title.jpg

Patrick Hudson ... Silsbee (Silsbee, TX)
:hookem::hookem::hookem::hookem:-horn ... OT ... 6-5.5/325​

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives as we awaited the announcement of 2016 recruit Patrick Hudson choosing the Texas Longhorns. First, it was December 30 until the early morning hours of February 3. Then came the last two months of his request for release from Bailor, followed by the grant, then the wait...

And we finally have our announcement!

Hudson joins fellow Bailor escapees, Devin and Donovan Duvernay and JP Urquidez as they chose to graze on The 40 Acres together.

The nation's #2 OG (247 Composite) will be teaming up with a hefty haul of much needed OL talent that is causing Coach Mattox's drool cup to runneth over. The six choice cuts of beef include:
This addition moves our recruiting class from #8 to #7. Dang, Charlie!

Per IT 1 and 2:

An absolute monster when it comes to size and power, Hudson reminds of former Longhorn tackle, Mike Williams. He projects to right tackle in college, the kind of right tackle you run behind when you need a yard on an important down.

I love his pad level for the most part, which is rare praise for a high school player. He fires out low and his drive blocking will translate early in his career, where ultimately he’ll be elite in that regard. He’s also a plus+ athlete as evidenced when on the pull. For being so big he’s light on his feet.

I’ve heard some think he ends up as a guard. He may have a layover there if depth requires it but ultimately I think he’ll be a fantastic right tackle.

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Per BC:

The Top 50 National recruit is a massive athlete who wouldn't look out of place standing next to former Longhorns like Justin Blalock, Leonard Davis or Mike Williams at a similar age. Like those big men, Hudson possesses a surprising level of athleticism to complement that frame.

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Per HS:

His size and athleticism make him a likely candidate to play early at multiple positions. Hudson could be a candidate to fill the immediate need at either right tackle or left guard from the moment he steps onto campus. He’s perfectly built for Sterlin Gilbert’s power spread offense, and new offensive line coach Matt Mattox has to be excited with the first group of freshmen he gets to work with in Austin.

 
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I am really happy about the depth we now have in our offensive and defensive lines though i think our defensive line may still be a little weak. But there is a possibility one or two may rise to the forefront and have a tremendous season. We have the horses at wide receiver and running back and QB depth (i believe that Sterling will be creative in his use of the qbs). I am liking our future. We are solid across the board and even have depth. Things are looking rosie. I would like to see all our qbs playing this season.
 
Pomspoms said:
I am really happy about the depth we now have in our offensive and defensive lines though i think our defensive line may still be a little weak. But there is a possibility one or two may rise to the forefront and have a tremendous season. We have the horses at wide receiver and running back and QB depth (i believe that Sterling will be creative in his use of the qbs). I am liking our future. We are solid across the board and even have depth. Things are looking rosie. I would like to see all our qbs playing this season.
Click to expand...
Regarding DL, Texas is going after the #1 DT in the nation.
 
easy said:
So is fowler in or not. I see some yes and some no. I'm going with no until I see a lets ride
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I'll just sit back and not worry about his qualifying. If he doesn't qualify, as with any player, I question where their priorities lie. Hopefully, he can write his ship before it sinks and he loses out on a tremendous life opportunity.
 
easy said:
So is fowler in or not. I see some yes and some no. I'm going with no until I see a lets ride
Click to expand...
As of today, all of the original and newly added recruits are listed on the Longhorns' roster. This includes Fowler and Southall.

Still, it could be some mix up by a lower staffer who mistakenly made the change on the roster web page; but it's highly unlikely that, after all the reporting of it since this morning, it would not be corrected.
 
D’Andre Christmas-Giles – Mental Man​

On the field, the 6-foot-3, 305-pound, late-blooming star at New Orleans’ St. Augustine High School, is a disruptive force. An unmistakably explosive first step leaps off of his game film – along with beyond-his-years hand work that keeps most offensive linemen from getting a firm grasp on him.

“I love Christmas’ first step,” said fellow incoming freshman DT Gerald Wilbon, also from Louisiana. “He’s big and explosive. He can move because he’s athletic.”

Of five freshmen defensive tackles making their way to Texas, Christmas-Giles may be the most complete package in terms of explosiveness, technique and motor.

“He’s got a motor,” Wilbon said. “He’s always going, and that’s what sets him apart.”

When you ask D’Andre - whom Strong refers to simply as “Christmas” - what sets him apart as a football player, he talks about his “mindset.” And you soon realize he’s talking about a mental toughness hardened by real life.

“Obviously, I’m quick off the ball and have good hands,” he said. “But, honestly, I think it’s my mindset.

Christmas-Giles is described by those near to him as upbeat and inquisitive – usually with a smile on his face.

But at 18, he’s already been through some incredibly difficult times. His father was murdered in a random act of violence when he was 3 years old.

D’Andre only played two seasons of high school football because he was ruled academically ineligible as a freshman at Salmen HS in Slidell, La., and had to sit out his junior season after transferring to St. Augustine HS in New Orleans.

“What gets me through things – knowing I’ve had a tough past – is just seeing my future,” he said.

It was just himself, his older brother, George, and his mother, LaTonya Christmas, moving from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where D’Andre was born (and where his father was killed) to Fort Worth and then to New Orleans.

“Me, my brother and my mom struggled a lot,” D’Andre said. “Then, my mom got re-married. I got a stepdad and two sisters, and we started doing better.”

It’s easy to see where D’Andre gets his positive outlook.

“Everyone says something about our last name,” his mother, LaTonya said, laughing. “Thank goodness my parents didn’t name me Mary Christmas, right?”

LaTonya Christmas calls her son a “gentle giant” who was forced to grow up fast after his father was murdered.

“I think it made him stronger. I think it made him strong for his age,” LaTonya said. “But he’s a very sweet, kind-hearted kid, always has been. I used to call him the ‘gentle giant’ because he’s always been so caring."

“I’ve always been able to flip a switch when I walk onto the football field,” D’Andre said. “It’s like I just take any anger or frustration out when I’m playing.”

When I asked D’Andre what Texas fans can expect, he said with a smile, “A lot of Christmas joy.”

[HD]
 
Horns247 asked its staff: How do the new additions change your view of the 2016 class?

Bobby Burton, Publisher
It's not so much about the recruiting class to me at is how the four new players fit within the needs of the team as a whole. Consider this: Texas left spring ball needing someone to step up at both left guard and an inside receiver position in the four-wide sets. Patrick Hudson and Devin Duvernay potentially address those needs immediately. Another important piece to the puzzle was depth on the offensive line. There, Texas gets not only Hudson but also JP Urquidez, who is more than capable of being a long-term answer at one of the OL spots down the road.

Jeff Howe, Senior Reporter
As impressed as I was with Texas’ class on National Signing Day, the recent additions have taken a good class and made it an elite one. Look at this this way: What if on signing day the Longhorns had been able to land Patrick Hudson, Devin Duvernay, JP Urquidez and Dovovan Duvernay on top of being able to snag Chris Daniels, Marcel Southall, Brandon Jones, Erick Fowler, Jeffrey McCulloch and Jordan Elliott? The six highest-rated signees in the class were guys Texas added either on signing day or within the last week. That’s an insanely good close.

EJ Holland, Lead Recruiting Reporter
I thought the recruiting class was already great. The Longhorns added perhaps their starting quarterback, some much-needed depth in the trenches and some playmaking skills players. Receiving late commitment from Baylor signees was just icing on the cake for Charlie Strong and his staff.

Chris Hummer, Managing Editor
It’s hard to judge a recruiting class before a player from said group ever takes a snap, but coming out of spring practice I was already wildly impressed with the haul Texas got in 2016. A likely starting quarterback, starting center and a future All-American at wide receiver lends itself to those type of expectations. I also am impressed with the depth and the overall talent spread across the 2016 class.

So with that benchmark, I would say the additions of Devin Duvernay, Donovan Duvernay and JP Urquidez take a good class to a standout one.

[247]
 
Gameplan For The Four​

Now that Texas has finally completed the 2016 class with some of the better Baylor recruits, it’s time to talk impact in 2016.

Donovan Duvernay
Donovan ran a 11.47 100m dash and he doesn’t have the same long speed as his brother but he is twitchy in short areas as you can see from his film.

As an offensive player he has three strengths worth mentioning; his ability to change gears in the open field, his hands, and his route running which is already solid and could become great. If the latter two traits grow strong enough, he’ll be a guy worth putting on the field in the veer and shoot.

On defense he doesn’t project well to corner due to an (estimated) 4.7 40, which is simply too little recovery speed to survive without safety help. His quickness would play better at nickel or strong safety where’d he be dangerous to throw on thanks to his ability to break on routes from zone and his flypaper hands.

In 2016, he factors in as a redshirt and useful scout team player while the coaches work out whether he’s a better hedge bet as a slot receiver or safety.

Devin Duvernay
His 10.2 100m track time combined with his Sparq numbers of a 4.32 40, 4.24 shuttle, 37.7” vertical, and 37’ power ball toss tell the story of an elite all-around athlete with “all-spark” suddenness moving in any direction over short distances and breakaway speed to boot.

Obviously the plan at Texas is to slide him into a slot position and flank him with Armanti Foreman/Collin Johnson and John Burt on the outside and then either Caleb Bluiett or DeAndre McNeal inside.

If Duvernay can reliably run four routes from the inside receiver spot, he’ll be worth his weight in gold to Texas in 2016.

The first is your standard bubble screen, and I think we can be confident that Devin will be a killer on the bubble if opposing teams don’t respect it and if Texas’ QBs are able to throw it. This route alone could prohibit most opponents from using their nickel to cheat Texas’ run game.

The second route is your typical speed out/slant combination, which he already runs effectively at the high school level.

The third route is your standard go route in which he’d just be looking to win deep in order to either take the top off or clear out space underneath for the shallow cross route.

The fourth route is the seam-read or bender, which is how you burn teams when playing in the spread-I sets with Bluiett blocking out of the backfield.

If Devin can reliably run those four types of routes with his 4.38 speed that takes the Texas offense to an entirely different level.

J.P. Urquidez
Urquidez has a lot of mixed reviews and whatever you think of him, he’s not going to be having an impact in 2016 unless something goes terribly wrong. You have to assume Kent Perkins, Connor Williams, Tristan Nickelson and probably Buck Major, Jean Delance, Hudson, and Garrett Thomas are all safely ahead of him either due to greater experience or greater physical development.

Urquidez is already good at pulling from the tackle spot, which is a very popular tactic these days for spread offenses including the veer and shoot. He has really quick feet and a clear love of the bullying aspects of OL play, it’s simply a matter of beefing up his overall strength and base to be able to parry Big 12-caliber edge rushers and learning greater technique.

I don’t think he’ll move inside to guard given his feet and reach and the fact that getting low and driving big defenders is already the weakest part of his game.

Pat Hudson
Determining the better prospect between Hudson and Devin Duvernay is a tough call as both are already elite in regards to physical attributes but Hudson’s physical traits are slightly more rare and valuable.

If he takes the field as a true freshman, Hudson will already be a superior run-blocker to the vast majority of the Big 12 conference. At 6-foot-6, 325, he’s bigger than most OL, he’s more athletic, and most importantly he’s more flexible.

There’s not much sense redshirting him as there will be at least instances in 2016 where he’s actually an upgrade over the current projected starters, particularly in short-yardage situations.

If Hudson is ready to play but needs to be featured primarily in the running game and not tasked with situations where he’s working on the edge against blitzes and premier edge rushers, then he figures in best at right guard.

The risk here is that Texas would now have true freshmen working side by side in Hudson and Shackelford and the interior would become a magnet for every kind of blitz and stunt ever designed to confuse a young guard or center.

The better scenario would be if Hudson was solid enough in pass protection to allow Perkins to move inside to guard and turn the interior OL into a solid wall in which targeting Shackelford would become exceptionally difficult for opposing DCs.

[IT]
 
Davion Curtis Looking To Splash​

Davion Curtis, a 5-foot-11, 178-pound wide receiver who anchored Temple’s 800-meter relay team to a third-place finish at the Class 5A state track meet [in May], was recently honored with a selection to the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Subway Super Team.

A fleet-footed pass catcher, Curtis was one of the lowest-ranked signees in one of the nation’s top recruiting classes. But don’t be fooled. Due to the position he plays and the knowledge he has of the Texas offense, Curtis has a chance to come in and contribute in a big way right off the bat.

Curtis’ head coach at Temple, Mike Spradlin, knows the veer-and-shoot offense as well as anyone not named Art Briles. Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert worked for Spradlin at Abilene Cooper and again at Temple in 2011, a program that runs virtually the same offense the Longhorns installed in the spring. Curtis has more experience in the veer-and-shoot than any other receiver on campus.

Curtis put in a ton of work on his own throughout the spring. Once track was done, Curtis went to work on a full-time basis with noted private coach Margin Hooks, a former standout at BYU who played in the NFL, to get himself ready for the summer.

Here’s a glimpse of the kinds of drills Curtis put himself through:



[247]

*Note: This article was written June 9.
 
Shark Week Scheduled For 208 Weeks On The 40​

Incoming prospect Jeffrey McCulloch was one of the Longhorn's biggest pickups in their 2016 recruiting class when they secured his commitment on National Signing Day. Nicknamed "the Shark," McCulloch comes to Texas with high aspirations in his freshman season.



With no practices under his belt, it's difficult to predict how McCulloch fits into the defensive scheme his freshman season. That being said, I think he has the natural ability to become one of the Longhorn's best freshmen players and make an immediate impact.

McCulloch is an incredible athlete with viscous physicality at the point of attack and elite speed for the linebacker position. He has the flexibility and quick feet to make pass drops easily and help in passing defense, but maintains strength that makes him an animal in the run game.

An all-state honoree and one of the most touted linebackers in the country, expect McCulloch to do big things in his time on the Forty Acres.

[BON]
 
The Hudson Impact​

The Hudson Motor Car Company was formed in 1909 and quickly rolled out their first car, "The Twenty." The sales of over 4,000 units made history as the best first year's production in the worldwide auto industry.

The Longhorns are quickly readying to roll out their own Hudson on "The Forty." Will this have one have an immediate impact?

BurntOrangeNation says it's possible.

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With the departure of multi-year starter Sedrick Flowers at left guard and an underwhelming performance from junior Brandon Hodges in the Orange and White game, the Texas Longhorns came into the summer needing some help in the interior of the line.

Enter former Baylor Bears signee Patrick Hudson, who joined the now-complete 2016 recruiting class for the ‘Horns last week in a huge pick up for coach Matt Mattox.

At 6’5 and 325 pounds, Hudson is a massive prospect with the lofty rankings to match his impressive stature.

Assessing Hudson’s ability in pass protection is relatively difficult since there are few clips of his work there at Silsbee, but given his projections as an interior lineman despite his size, it seems fair to say that he will need to show some growth there.

The running game is where Hudson could have an early impact because of that strength that he combines with flashes of excellent leverage and elite feet for his size.

Where Flowers was a lumbering player with limited movement ability because he lacked flexibility, Hudson is both flexible and quick on his feet.

Eventually, Hudson should have a shot at playing right tackle as long as he can maintain his mobility in college. The same feet that help him so much in getting to the second level give Hudson the capability of dealing with edge rushers as long as he can keep from getting overextended.

For now, he’s a candidate to challenge Hodges for a spot on the interior, along with fellow 2016 signee Denzel Okafor, and provide valuable depth for the Longhorns.
 
DT Daniels Doing DE​

Euless Trinity product Chris Daniels could get some playing time a little bit farther outside.

"Coach (Brick Haley) sees me as very versatile. He sees me as a defensive tackle, but he said I could play some defensive end. That was a shocking thing to me, but he said I'm very athletic."

Don't expect to see Daniels working the hybrid Fox end position or even manning the strong side in an even front, but the 'Horns do need a capable four- or five-technique defensive end with some credible pass-rushing ability to work in odds front.

However, Daniels was listed at 6'4 and 328 pounds when he signed with the 'Horns, so he'll need to drop some weight. The idea is to get back to around 300 pounds, which would help him tremendously in being able to showcase his athleticism outside.

Even if he can't add much as a pass rusher outside, his strength and ability to stack and shed could help him play the run at any position for Texas, but especially lined heads up (four technique) against an opposing offensive tackle playing there due to mobility rather than squatty strength.

[BON]

 
Texas' Most Intriguing Freshmen​

WR Devin Duvernay
Texas must find a way to put Duvernay’s 10.27-second 100-meter speed to good use, which shouldn’t be too complicated a proposition. He just needs a reliable quarterback who can get him the ball.

Duvernay can get by without one, too, if you’ve seen the many direct snaps he turned into TDs on his Sachse (Texas) High highlight reel.

The Horns dedicated this offseason to repairing their offense and retraining their quarterbacks. The late addition of ESPN’s No. 3 ranked receiver recruit ought to help both efforts.

DE Andrew Fitzgerald
Texas loaded up on defensive linemen in the 2016 class, and pretty much all of them will have an opportunity to crack the two-deep and get on the field this fall. Only one of them – Fitzgerald – was named the dark horse of Texas’ entire recruiting class by his new head coach.

It’s kind of hard to believe the 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive end was only a three-star recruit. Fitzgerald racked up 20 sacks over the last two years at Flower Mound (Texas) Marcus, but what Strong and the Texas staff love about him is his non-stop motor.

Texas is in decent shape at strong-side defensive end, but don’t be surprised if Fitzgerald rises up and becomes a valuable member of the rotation at that spot this season.

[E$PN]
 
This past weekend I spoke to a source regarding some of the freshmen with a bit of a focus on the linemen. Keep in mind that these notes are based on workouts. Obviously there will be a transition period for the young guys in learning how to be alignment and assignment sound. So while some guys may be standing out in summer workouts, it’s important to note that we’ll know a lot more about how they transition their physical ability to the field come fall camp.

* Most underrated defensive lineman, Gerald Wilbon…”Wilbon might be the strongest dude in the weight room” one source said. Source emphatically stated that Wilbon is the most underrated defensive linemen of the group.

* Most overratated player (physically), Christmas-Giles. “It may time him a while to get his body right”. Essentially source said that in terms of the eye test and strength, Giles isn’t quite there. However, we’ve seen his quickness on film and football isn’t a beauty contest. A sudden first step, especially in a ‘hat in the crack’ type front that Strong employs, is a quality that comes second to no other.

* Jordan Elliot, didn’t hear a ton on him other than that he’s making physical improvements as one would expect.

* Brandon Jones…”is going to be ready”. Source noted, “he’s not just athletic, he never gets tired”. The safety position is a challenging one in terms of learning to play various techniques, seeing what you need see quickly, and accounting for shifts, etc. If Jones can get that down, it sounds like he’s certainly physically prepared.

* Denzel Okafor, “yoked up and looks good to go”.

* Jean Delance, “isn’t as strong as you’d like but he moves really well”

* LilJordan Humphrey, “will be a pleasant surprise. He’s gained a lot of muscle but kept his speed.”

[TFB]
 
Searching For A Sleeper​

Twelve of the 28 signees in the 2016 class were ranked as three-star prospects. Of those 12, Zach Shackelford has already established himself as a starting-caliber player at center.

Among the others, keep an eye on the three defensive linemen of the group: Marcell Southall, Gerald Wilbon and Malcolm Roach.

Southall can be a three-technique tackle capable of providing an interior pass rush. The 327-pound Wilbon could play right away in certain situations, but down the road he might have a chance to be even more of a significant contributor at guard. Roach could play either the Fox end or on the strong side, which is a plus because the depth at both positions is going to be unsettled entering preseason practice.

Championship rosters are built from the ground up, and that means getting the most from every scholarship, which means Texas needs something from its three-star recruits.

[247]
 
Three Summer OL Enrollees Putting In The Work​

Jean Delance, Tope Imade and Denzel Okafor arrived on campus in time for the start of the first summer session [and joined] January enrollee Zach Shackelford, who began spring practice and left the spring game as the team’s starter at center.

All four of the freshmen linemen on campus are capable of shaking up the two-deep in a big way by the [start of the season].

Okafor, who could back up Kent Perkins at right tackle or push Brandon Hodges at left guard, has drawn the most buzz among the summer enrollees and appears to have the best chance of joining the starting lineup.

Delance and Imade will provide depth at tackle and guard, respectively. The same is true of Hudson and Urquidez. All four could see the field in the season opener.

Strong won’t hesitate to send the youngsters into a game if they’re better than what else is available. That could be the case as the decline from the first offensive line to the second group in the spring appeared to be significant.

Among the backups only junior tackle Tristan Nickelson has taken reps of significant consequence. Sophomore Elijah Rodriguez saw action in seven games while sophomore Terrell Cuney played in one.

A lack of depth was evident last season in games like the loss to Oklahoma State where the offense collapsed in the second half once Perkins suffered an injury. The Longhorns can’t have that happen again this is season, which is why Strong is anxious to see what his [new guys] will do when they hit the practice field together for the first time in August.

[247]
 
Here are some notes we’ve picked up from folks close to the football team on how the new freshman enrollees are looking. Basically, just how the eyeball test is shaking out for some of them very early-on (and outside of a true football setting):

- A guy who came in bigger and stronger than expected: OL Denzel Okafor. “He already looks like (Trey) Hopkins in there,” a source said. There was some thought that Okafor would come in and compete at tackle, but the feeling I’ve gotten is that he may be a perfect fit at LG where the position is thinner and the need is greater. It reminds me of the early reports we received on Patrick Vahe last summer.

- On the defensive linemen: “They all look ready, but (Gerald Wilbon) may already be the biggest guy on the team.” As expected, the DL have come in looking very large … but Wilbon seems to look immovable in person and like the biggest by the eyeball-test. It’s apparently very obvious he’s got a mammoth anchor and lower-body on him when you see him in person.

- On DT Jordan Elliott: The staff is reportedly very happy with Elliott out of all the DTs for coming to UT in good shape.

- On OT Jean Delance: “He’ll be fine,” a source said, mentioning that Delance is not as substantial as Okafor thickness-wise but profiles with a better body to grow into a long-legged tackle.

- Speaking of long legs, one thing that came up was that TE Peyton Aucoin has long legs “like a deer” and big long strides as a runner. It was interesting to hear as I’ve always pictured Aucoin as more of a jumbo TE/OT-hybrid of sorts and not as a long-legged strider. Clearly, TE is a position with no depth so it will be interesting to see Aucoin on the field alongside players like Andrew Beck and Caleb Bluiett. It’s clear on tape he has big hands and feet.

- On RB Kyle Porter: In the best shape “of anybody.” I don’t find this hard to believe as Porter has always had a real Mighty-Mouse body to him with impressive musculature.

- On DB Eric Cuffee: He’s put on strength through his upper half and “definitely looks more like a safety” than a CB. He’s grown his hair out and has a pony tail.

- On S Brandon Jones: Not much to report as he’s more of a natural-born baller than a physical specimen.

- On DE Andrew Fitzgerald: “Just a big kid, broad like (RB Chris Warren).” The source said that Fitzgerald has the body to grow into a 275-pounder.

- On ATH Lil’Jordan Humphrey: “You’d be surprised how big he is, he looks like a linebacker,” the source said. “(He looks like) a beast.”

[Per another poster]
 
Bobby Burton:
Spoke to someone last night...

Patrick Hudson showed up in shape. He made it through the first workout with no issues. To say the staff and his teammates are amazed at his size and ability is an understatement.

Marcel Southall, however, did not make it all the way through the first workout and has some work to do to get back into shape.

Devin Duvernay is fast and in shape. Also the staff is somewhat pleasantly surprised with what Donovan Duvernay has shown thus far, has a little more speed than expected.
 
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