LonghornScott
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Here's a look back at the end of spring summaries. for those that didn't see them then or want to refresh on how things stood. Look for reports on 2-a-days starting next week.DEFENSEFirst Team Defense
Left End, Cory Redding
Height: 6-5 Weight: 270
Class: Sr. Number: 40
Cory does so much for this team it’s really hard to give him enough credit. On the field he was disruptive all spring… giving all of the right tackles fits. He looks like he is getting off the ball faster than ever, and his combination of speed, size, and power make him very difficult to deal with. Cory plays smart too… he does all the little things, which may be why Carl Reese leans on him so hard. Numerous times this spring I’ve seen Cory force a play out, then run it down from behind… or put pressure on the quarterback, then run down the dump-off pass. Cory is one of the main reasons this defense has a chance to be oppressive next year. Even if you take all that away, Cory is so valuable as a leader and teacher. He is constantly firing teammates up and cheering them on. Basically, look for Cory to go from very good to great this year at defensive end.
Left Tackle, Marcus Tubbs
Height: 6-4 Weight: 305
Class: Jr.-RS Number: 95
Marcus was gone at the beginning of spring and missed a few practices. Going into spring break he wasn’t playing too far above the other tackles. Since that time, Marcus has stepped up and clearly shown why he is the incumbent at defensive tackle. Marcus has a devastating bull rush, and quick feet to go with it. He clogs things up and forces them back. He drew a double team most of the time and was one of the main reasons the second team offensive line just couldn’t anything. The thing that really impressed me about Marcus this spring was the number of clever plays he made. Marcus made some great reads that really helped balance the pass rush with containment. For instance, on at least two occasions other linemen put pressure on Chance Mock and Mock tucked the ball and started to run… only to find Marcus Tubbs shadowing him right at the line of scrimmage. Additionally, Marcus sniffed out a screen play for an interception in one of the scrimmages. Basically, Marcus’ field awareness looks like a seniors’ and he’s got two years left. Scary.
Right Tackle, Miguel McKay
Height: 6-1 Weight: 275
Class: Sr.-RS Number: 94
After watching the first two non pad practices, I was already thinking Miguel was going to make a push for the first team. He should be labeled as the surprise player of the spring… but after watching day-after-day I came to expect this fifth-year senior (who has never seen the field) to dominate. By the end of spring it was just routine that Miguel was going to make plays for the defense. The tools that Miguel brings to the table are great quickness and explosive power. His main effectiveness seems to be his ability to quickly close in on a blocker, stay low, get under the block, and force them straight back or side step them all together. Miguel has a compact build with great upper body strength and agile legs. Basically, Miguel’s playing time will depend on what he does with his time in the first few games. If Miguel plays like he has in practice, expect him to become an integral part of a defensive line next year (think Maurice Gordon playing time).
Right End, Austin Sendlein
Height: 6-3 Weight: 265
Class: So.-RS Number: 41
Austin established himself as a force at right end this spring. He did have a few quiet practices, but he also had some Defensive MVP caliber performances. In the second scrimmage Austin intercepted two Chris Simms passes. One was on a zone blitz where Austin showed his ability to choose the right coverage line and read the quarterback. The second was on a heads up deflection by Austin at the line, which he then hauled in for the INT. Austin’s speed on the edge also makes him a dangerous pass rusher. He showcased his ability to get to the quarterback time and time again this spring. At times he made Doane, Scott, and Randall all look foolish. Basically, Austin has probably earned the #3 spot at defensive end this spring, and should be a very real contributor this year.Weakside Linebacker, Derrick Johnson
Height: 6-4 Weight: 220
Class: So. Number: 11
Bottom line… Derrick Johnson is like a force of nature on the field. The offense just has to accept his presence and try not to get in his way. Derrick can do so many things with ease on defense, his potential is just hard to grasp. I don’t think I’ve seen a linebacker with Derrick’s range and the awareness to go with it. Derrick brings all the tools to the position: he can blitz, he can cover, he’s near impossible to block, he can hit (oh, can he hit), and he reacts to plays very quickly. No surprise that I think Derrick will be the key playmaker for this defense for years to come. Derrick leads by example right now, but Carl Reese has expressed that he wants the sophomore linebacker to take control of this defense… it will be interesting to see how Derrick develops as a leader this year.
Middle Linebacker, Reed Boyd
Height: 6-3 Weight: 235
Class: Jr.-RS Number: 45
Middle linebacker was probably the area of biggest concern and conjecture going into the spring. However, there was basically no competition for the starting job… Reed claimed it from day one. In my opinion, Reed plays like the leader of this group of linebackers. Derrick is the biggest playmaker, Lee is the oldest, but Reed seems to understand the defense as well or better than anyone on the field. Reed has been in excellent position all spring, and I believe he enables all the guys around him to be bigger playmakers. He can shed blocks, he tackles well, and he can drop into coverage. More importantly, Reed never takes himself out of the play… he is always getting in the running lanes and/or controlling his gaps. Basically, Reed’s ability to stay at home allows our other linebackers to use their speed a lot more effectively.
Strongside Linebacker, Lee Jackson
Height: 6-3 Weight: 223
Class: Sr.-RS Number: 23
Lee was kind of like an X-factor coming into spring practices. Lee had been successful before at safety, but after moving to linebacker and having to sit out all of last year… there was no way to know what Lee would bring to the SAM position. After watching Jackson the first week, I knew he was more than ready to play SAM in Reese’s defense. The two things Jackson does best are cover and blitz… and he does them extremely well. I suspect that Lee is going to make a number of interceptions this year because of his great cover skills and vertical leap. Jackson also seems to be making good reads in the running game. The question is whether Lee will be able to consistently shed blocks. He is naturally hard to block because of his speed, but shedding blocks is an area that Lee can improve in.
Left Cornerback, Nathan Vasher
Height: 5-11 Weight: 180
Class: Jr. Number: 3
Intrigue and nervousness surrounded the move of Nathan Vasher to corner. Intrigue turned to fascination and nervousness subsided altogether after watching Vasher shut down receiver after receiver. If anything, I like Nathan’s game even better at corner than I did at safety. Nathan has excellent footwork (Akina’s signature) and sick athletic ability that make him very hard to get away from and very dangerous to throw the ball on. In addition, Nathan has great closing speed… so he is able to recover from mistakes and still make plays on the ball. In fact, until the first scrimmage a pass hadn’t even been completed on Vasher in practice… not in 1-on-1’s, not in 11-on-11’s. Nathan isn’t perfect (he likes Creed)… Sloan Thomas gave Vasher the most trouble this spring and they seemto go about 50/50 on their battles. And there was one unmentionable day of practice where almost every receiver caught a pass on Nathan during the course of the practice. However, when you look at Nathan has done the rest of the spring there is no doubt that he will be a shutdown corner for this defense.Free Safety, Kendal BrilesHeight: 5-11 Weight: 195
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 5
The battles at the safety spots have been the most contested of the position battles on the team. Kendal was probably at the biggest disadvantage converting from quarterback in high school to learn the safety position. That being said, Kendal has demonstrated a greatest understanding of the safety position of the four redshirt freshmen this spring. Kendal reads the plays quickly and gets in the right coverage. Kendal has also shown that he can be effective in run support and that he isn’t afraid to hit. The one area where Kendal needs to improve before he gets the nod at safety is 1-on-1 coverage. That isn’t to say that Kendal can’t cover 1-on-1, but Akina and Reese demand a lot from their safeties and they need guys who can shut down a receiver. I think that Kendal is going to end up being a real asset at free safety in years to come, and he could probably be very effective this year if they need him. Most likely, Pearson will come back and take the starting job and Briles will back him up.
Strong Safety, Cedric Griffin
Height: 6-2 Weight: 170
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 8
Griffin brings the type of size and speed coaches dream about at defensive back. Of the four young defensive backs, Cedric has played the strongest this spring. Most importantly, Cedric is the best at 1-on-1 coverage at this point. Cedric doesn’t hit as hard as Rufus, makes more metal mistakes than Briles, and he isn’t as fast as Huff… but at this point Cedric is the most complete of the four. It’s hard to say where Cedric will end up contributing to this team next year. He is the leader for strong safety right now, but I could see him playing nickel corner as well. My suspicion is that Griffin will be our starting strong safety and slide up to corner in the nickel, with Huff coming in at the strong safety spot.
Right Cornerback, Roderick Babers
Height: 5-10 Weight: 187
Class: Sr. Number: 21
You would be hard pressed to find a more technically complete cornerback than Rod Babers. You would also have a hard time finding one who could talk better trash. Quick hands, quick feet, quick wit… that’s Rod in a nutshell. Rod is a masterful positioning, coverage corner (although Akina would say, “Don’t ever let them call you a coverage corner!”). Rob uses his hands to keep you off-balance, his feet to keep your hips close, and he always stays with the play. It’s difficult even to get hitch- or out-route completions on Babers and most corners have to give those routes up 1-on-1. Expect Babers to step up to the challenge of blanketing some of the best receivers in the Big 12 next year… but where is the Super-Babe ad campaign?
Second Team Defense
Left End, O.J. McClintock
Height: 6-2 Weight: 260
Class: Jr.-RS Number: 31
It’s been an interesting ride for O.J. since he came to the 40 Acres. He just kept putting on more and more muscle and has gone from quarterback in high school to safety, to linebacker, to defensive end. O.J. has always brought athleticism to his positions, but has never broken out and made an impact. That trend continued this spring at defensive end. At end, O.J. has a quick start, and can get around very quickly… and that speed and quickness alone can give an offensive lineman problems. However, O.J. has a hard time shedding a blocker once he gets locked up and can get shut down several plays in a row. Basically, O.J. showed some flashes of playmaking ability, but would disappear for several plays in a row at times. With Sendlein’s improved play O.J. sits at about fourth on the depth chart right now before the freshman come in this fall.Left Tackle, Adam DoironHeight: 6-4 Weight: 285
Class: Jr. Number: 96
Adam’s play this spring got lost in the mix somewhere. With Miguel McKay’s emergence Adam hasn’t been talked about much, but I think his play is worthy of praise. He made a lot of good plays when he was on the first team for the first two weeks, and he continued to make plays on the second team the last two weeks. He showed he could control gaps, or put pressure on the quarterback right up the middle. Adam is a very solid defensive tackle who has the speed and power to make things happen. I think Adam is capable of delivering valuable backup work at defensive tackle, and he could be a contributor this year in a rotation.
Right Tackle, Stevie Lee
Height: 6-4 Weight: 310
Class: So.-RS Number: 65
Many expected this to be Stevie’s breakout season. With the frustrating injury to his foot, Stevie had to sit out the better part of a year. Stevie did show signs of the potential that many have been excited about, but also showed an overall lack of consistency this spring. He did pick up his play toward the end of spring and started making more happen on the field so perhaps Stevie can take his game up a notch before the season opener. The main thing Stevie brings to the table is raw power. He can just throw linemen around when he gets in a groove. However, his horizontal quickness isn’t where it needs to be to be an effective pass rusher. If Stevie can get a little lighter on his feet, learn to use his knees more than his waist, and show more overall consistency he could be a dominant defensive lineman.
Right End, Chase Pittman
Height: 6-5 Weight: 265
Class: Fr. Number: 42
Players often talk about the adjustment from high school to college… adjusting to the size and speed of the college game. Chase Pittman came ready to play this spring. He is already quick and powerful enough to contribute at defensive end. In fact, after much talk about trying Pittman at tight end, I think his play at defensive end was so good that he just wanted to stay there. In addition to his athletic prowess, Chase showed that he is already alert… making several heads-up tips and even an interception of a Chance Mock pass. Chase looks equally adept as a pass rusher and run stopper. The one low for Chase was getting blasted by Brock Edwards in the spring game… but Brock was just welcoming the freshman to the team. It will take him time to learn the intricacies of defensive end at Texas, but I have little doubt that Chase could be effective this year if he was needed.
Weakside Linebacker, Aurmon Satchell
Height: 6-2 Weight: 230
Class: So. Number: 55
Aurmon started out in the battle for backup middle linebacker, but was shifted to the outside after a few weeks. To be honest, I thought Aurmon looked better at backup middle linebacker than his competition, but he didn’t show the same prowess in blitzing. Aurmon has to work on getting to the ball faster and finishing his tackles. Cedric physically threw him out of the way on one play. Satchell still has a lot of time to develop, but with the influx of talent at linebacker he’ll have to pick his game up to make the two-deep.
Middle Linebacker, Eric Hall
Height: 6-3 Weight: 250
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 26
Eric Hall is a name that thrown around a lot this spring. Eric showed good size and speed, but didn’t separate himself from the other backup linebackers this spring. In fact, I thought Hall looked the best in his single practice at fullback. Hall is a good blitzer, but he struggled against the run all spring. He has a tendency to get caught behind blocks and not even get a sniff of the play. Eric will have to pick up his play considerably if he wants to contribute on this team at middle linebacker.Strongside Linebacker, Stevie StigallHeight: 6-4 Weight: 221Class: Jr. Number: 88The official spring depth chart doesn’t list Stevie as a linebacker at all. However, I guarantee that if we formed a second team defense right now, Stevie would be on the field. Stevie is the fourth best linebacker on the team right now. That point speaks to two things… Stevie has outworked the other linebackers, and there is a considerable drop-off between the first and second team linebackers. Stevie is pretty athletic, he’s quick enough to apply pressure as a blitzer, and he’s just more active than the other second string linebackers. Stevie is one of those guys who just makes plays.
Left Cornerback, Monti Collier
Height: 5-11 Weight: 175
Class: Jr.-RS Number: 28
Monti looked good for the better part of the spring. He wasn’t able to shut people down, but he was hanging with the routes and providing solid coverage. Monti suffered the only significant injury this spring with a broken collarbone. He should be healed up in about 6 weeks though, so here’s to his speedy recovery. It’s hard to say where Monti will end up on the depth chart. The battle between Griffin and Huff, and the entrance of McCullough and Ross could definitely effect Monti’s role.
Free Safety, Rufus Harris
Height: 5-11 Weight: 190
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 17
It’s not hard to find Rufus on the field. Just follow the bone-crushing hitting sounds and Rufus should be in the area. Rufus showed the ability to deliver big time hits time and time again this spring. However, he also showed that he is still learning at the safety position. He struggled with his reads at times and didn’t show the range he needs at safety. Rufus could play on defense now… he would be a playmaker, but also give up big plays. If Rufus puts time onto really getting the mental aspects of the position down so he can react to the play faster… I could see him becoming a punishing safety.
Strong Safety, Michael Huff
Height: 6-1 Weight: 190
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 27
Michael is still very much in the hunt for the starting strong safety position. Like Griffin, Huff has the ability to cover very well 1-on-1. Most likely the two will be a pair of corners in years to come. Huff is one of the fastest players on the team, but still makes little mistakes sometimes. As he becomes more disciplined he will develop into a great defensive back. For now, Huff should work on his reads to help him earn the starting spot. No matter who wins the starting role, Huff and Griffin are both playing well enough to start for this defense.
Right Cornerback, Chad Davis
Height: 5-10 Weight: 190
Class: Jr. Number: 25
I mention Chad simply for the contributions he made as a walk on this spring. He kept the receivers honest and made them work for their catches. Chad won’t keep his spot on the depth chart as Aaron and Edorian enter the team, but he deserves mention here.
Other Defensive Players
Right End, Kaelen Jakes
Height: 6-5 Weight: 260
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 99
Kaelen will have to raise his level of play to crack the two deep on this team. Kaelen just isn’t making much happen on the field right now. However, it would be foolish to write Kaelen off… he has talent and he is young. If he puts hard work in there will be room for him to contribute.
Strongside Linebacker, Braden Johnson
Height: 6-1 Weight: 200
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 30Right now Braden just doesn’t have the size he needs to play linebacker. He doesn’t have the coverage skills to play safety. If Braden wants to get on the field he’ll have to get bigger and develop his game at linebacker. Right now, he has not earned a spot on the two deep and with the freshman talent we have coming in, it’s doubtful he’ll play this year.Weakside Linebacker, Lance McFarlandHeight: 6-3 Weight: 235Class: Fr.-RS Number: 15Early on, Lance looked the best of the backup linebackers. He showed a good nose for the ball, and solid tackling technique. However, his play faded as spring wore on and eventually he stopped getting as much playing time.
Middle Linebacker, Rashad Thomas
Height: 6-2 Weight: 240
Class: So.-RS Number: 49
Rashad is a player I would have like to see get more playing time this spring. He had a couple good practices and is a very aggressive hitter. If Rashad can consistently play at the level he has shown flashes of, he could move up on the depth chart.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kickoff Specialist, Richmond McGee
Height: 6-4 Weight: 180
Class: So. Number: 35
No, that wasn’t Jesus punching the ball into the endzone at the spring game… but he was a savior of sorts. After watching the kickoffs come up short the last two years, it seems the Longhorns have finally found a kicker who can get the job done. Richmond has a very powerful leg and can put the ball consistently inside the 5-yard line. Richmond tends to over kick sometimes and pull the ball right, a tendency that he can hopefully correct before the season opener. In addition to kickoffs, Richmond can use his strong leg to punt the ball. After watching him warm-up with Justin Smith and Brian Bradford a few times, I am convinced that he should be given a more thorough look at punter. He has power similar to Smith’s and I didn’t see him shank the ball once.
Place Kicker, Dusty Mangum
Height: 5-11 Weight: 170
Class: So. Number: 7
Dusty performed consistently great this spring and hit almost everything he attempted. David Pino isn’t far behind, but Dusty is the better kicker. Dusty is a kicker this team can count on going into the season, a luxury they didn’t have at the beginning of last year.
Punter, Justin Smith
Height: 6-5 Weight: 198
Class: So.-RS Number: 47
I can’t say for sure that Justin has won the starting job, but he looked better than Bradford all spring. He did shank some punts, but Bradford mis-punted just as many or more. When Justin gets under the ball he has the ability to punt 60-70 yards. The one drawback to Justin is that he changes his mechanics from practice to game situation. I’ve noticed he picks the ball up higher and takes longer in delivery. That extra delivery time may be what keeps Justin out of the starting role.
Returner, Nathan Vasher
Height: 5-11 Weight: 180
Class: Jr. Number: 3
What can I say? Nathan Vasher is not the man you want to try to tackle in the open field… ever… ever. The coaches may decide that having Nathan return on kick-offs and punts is too much… but regardless, they know they have a weapon when he is back there.
Blocking Specialist, Stevie Stigall
Height: 6-4 Weight: 221
Class: Jr. Number: 88
I mention Stevie here because he showed signs of being a playmaker on special teams. He blocked a field goal and a punt in one scrimmage, and comes close to blocking every field goal. He has a great vertical leap and ability to blitz that should combine to allow him to take Tyrone Jones’ place as a playmaker on the block team.
A Word Or Two About This Defense
I believe this defense has the chance to be dramatically better than last years. The major thing that stands out about this defense is versatility. Versatility that will allow Reese to throw very tailored gameplans at the offense’s we face. Nathan Vasher and Roderick Babers are shut down corners. At LCB, RCB, SS, FS, SLB, and WLB we have players who can line up on a wide receiver and cover them. Not only are these players fast, but that have good coverage technique. In addition, all the secondary players can blitz well. Add to that the ability of players like Cory Redding and Kalen Thornton to drop on zone blitzes and you have the makings of avery fast, confusing, playmaking defense.
That being said… we had most of those components last season. What separates this group from last year’s is linebacker play. We are faster at linebacker, but we are also more aggressive and better disciplined. Reed Boyd at MIKE makes a big difference… he stays at home and knows how to execute Reese’s defense. Derrick Johnson being on the field more, with a year of experience significantly upgrades this unit. Derrick will just keep getting better and better. Lee Jackson also represents an upgrade at SAM… with great coverage skills and dangerous blitzing. The one area where this year’s group lags behind is depth. Hopefully some of the incoming freshman will be able to help in that area, and round this group out.
One tendency we had last year was to overrun plays, and that tendency was not prevalent this spring… and the first team defense kept almost all the runs under four yards and took care of many of them for losses. There still may be some weakness against a power rushing game; it’s hard to say. Having gone through the second Colorado game last year… this group should be significantly better with more experience on the defensive line and potential help from incoming freshman in the middle. One thing is for sure… teams will struggle mightily if they try to run outside on this defense.
The biggest difference on this defense is awareness. As a unit, they just don’t get fooled much and they react quickly. That in combination with their speed, coverage, and hitting abilities should make for a lot of big plays and turnovers. As many playmakers as we have on offense, I think our defense and special teams are what make us a championship contender next year.
In Closing
There are typos, words that don’t make sense, and probably hidden messages if you read this report backwards… such it the scatter of my writing abilities. If you spot any that are unintelligible, feel free to let me know and I’ll fix ‘em up. As always, I’d like to encourage intelligent discussion on this thread.
Left End, Cory Redding
Height: 6-5 Weight: 270
Class: Sr. Number: 40
Cory does so much for this team it’s really hard to give him enough credit. On the field he was disruptive all spring… giving all of the right tackles fits. He looks like he is getting off the ball faster than ever, and his combination of speed, size, and power make him very difficult to deal with. Cory plays smart too… he does all the little things, which may be why Carl Reese leans on him so hard. Numerous times this spring I’ve seen Cory force a play out, then run it down from behind… or put pressure on the quarterback, then run down the dump-off pass. Cory is one of the main reasons this defense has a chance to be oppressive next year. Even if you take all that away, Cory is so valuable as a leader and teacher. He is constantly firing teammates up and cheering them on. Basically, look for Cory to go from very good to great this year at defensive end.
Left Tackle, Marcus Tubbs
Height: 6-4 Weight: 305
Class: Jr.-RS Number: 95
Marcus was gone at the beginning of spring and missed a few practices. Going into spring break he wasn’t playing too far above the other tackles. Since that time, Marcus has stepped up and clearly shown why he is the incumbent at defensive tackle. Marcus has a devastating bull rush, and quick feet to go with it. He clogs things up and forces them back. He drew a double team most of the time and was one of the main reasons the second team offensive line just couldn’t anything. The thing that really impressed me about Marcus this spring was the number of clever plays he made. Marcus made some great reads that really helped balance the pass rush with containment. For instance, on at least two occasions other linemen put pressure on Chance Mock and Mock tucked the ball and started to run… only to find Marcus Tubbs shadowing him right at the line of scrimmage. Additionally, Marcus sniffed out a screen play for an interception in one of the scrimmages. Basically, Marcus’ field awareness looks like a seniors’ and he’s got two years left. Scary.
Right Tackle, Miguel McKay
Height: 6-1 Weight: 275
Class: Sr.-RS Number: 94
After watching the first two non pad practices, I was already thinking Miguel was going to make a push for the first team. He should be labeled as the surprise player of the spring… but after watching day-after-day I came to expect this fifth-year senior (who has never seen the field) to dominate. By the end of spring it was just routine that Miguel was going to make plays for the defense. The tools that Miguel brings to the table are great quickness and explosive power. His main effectiveness seems to be his ability to quickly close in on a blocker, stay low, get under the block, and force them straight back or side step them all together. Miguel has a compact build with great upper body strength and agile legs. Basically, Miguel’s playing time will depend on what he does with his time in the first few games. If Miguel plays like he has in practice, expect him to become an integral part of a defensive line next year (think Maurice Gordon playing time).
Right End, Austin Sendlein
Height: 6-3 Weight: 265
Class: So.-RS Number: 41
Austin established himself as a force at right end this spring. He did have a few quiet practices, but he also had some Defensive MVP caliber performances. In the second scrimmage Austin intercepted two Chris Simms passes. One was on a zone blitz where Austin showed his ability to choose the right coverage line and read the quarterback. The second was on a heads up deflection by Austin at the line, which he then hauled in for the INT. Austin’s speed on the edge also makes him a dangerous pass rusher. He showcased his ability to get to the quarterback time and time again this spring. At times he made Doane, Scott, and Randall all look foolish. Basically, Austin has probably earned the #3 spot at defensive end this spring, and should be a very real contributor this year.Weakside Linebacker, Derrick Johnson
Height: 6-4 Weight: 220
Class: So. Number: 11
Bottom line… Derrick Johnson is like a force of nature on the field. The offense just has to accept his presence and try not to get in his way. Derrick can do so many things with ease on defense, his potential is just hard to grasp. I don’t think I’ve seen a linebacker with Derrick’s range and the awareness to go with it. Derrick brings all the tools to the position: he can blitz, he can cover, he’s near impossible to block, he can hit (oh, can he hit), and he reacts to plays very quickly. No surprise that I think Derrick will be the key playmaker for this defense for years to come. Derrick leads by example right now, but Carl Reese has expressed that he wants the sophomore linebacker to take control of this defense… it will be interesting to see how Derrick develops as a leader this year.
Middle Linebacker, Reed Boyd
Height: 6-3 Weight: 235
Class: Jr.-RS Number: 45
Middle linebacker was probably the area of biggest concern and conjecture going into the spring. However, there was basically no competition for the starting job… Reed claimed it from day one. In my opinion, Reed plays like the leader of this group of linebackers. Derrick is the biggest playmaker, Lee is the oldest, but Reed seems to understand the defense as well or better than anyone on the field. Reed has been in excellent position all spring, and I believe he enables all the guys around him to be bigger playmakers. He can shed blocks, he tackles well, and he can drop into coverage. More importantly, Reed never takes himself out of the play… he is always getting in the running lanes and/or controlling his gaps. Basically, Reed’s ability to stay at home allows our other linebackers to use their speed a lot more effectively.
Strongside Linebacker, Lee Jackson
Height: 6-3 Weight: 223
Class: Sr.-RS Number: 23
Lee was kind of like an X-factor coming into spring practices. Lee had been successful before at safety, but after moving to linebacker and having to sit out all of last year… there was no way to know what Lee would bring to the SAM position. After watching Jackson the first week, I knew he was more than ready to play SAM in Reese’s defense. The two things Jackson does best are cover and blitz… and he does them extremely well. I suspect that Lee is going to make a number of interceptions this year because of his great cover skills and vertical leap. Jackson also seems to be making good reads in the running game. The question is whether Lee will be able to consistently shed blocks. He is naturally hard to block because of his speed, but shedding blocks is an area that Lee can improve in.
Left Cornerback, Nathan Vasher
Height: 5-11 Weight: 180
Class: Jr. Number: 3
Intrigue and nervousness surrounded the move of Nathan Vasher to corner. Intrigue turned to fascination and nervousness subsided altogether after watching Vasher shut down receiver after receiver. If anything, I like Nathan’s game even better at corner than I did at safety. Nathan has excellent footwork (Akina’s signature) and sick athletic ability that make him very hard to get away from and very dangerous to throw the ball on. In addition, Nathan has great closing speed… so he is able to recover from mistakes and still make plays on the ball. In fact, until the first scrimmage a pass hadn’t even been completed on Vasher in practice… not in 1-on-1’s, not in 11-on-11’s. Nathan isn’t perfect (he likes Creed)… Sloan Thomas gave Vasher the most trouble this spring and they seemto go about 50/50 on their battles. And there was one unmentionable day of practice where almost every receiver caught a pass on Nathan during the course of the practice. However, when you look at Nathan has done the rest of the spring there is no doubt that he will be a shutdown corner for this defense.Free Safety, Kendal BrilesHeight: 5-11 Weight: 195
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 5
The battles at the safety spots have been the most contested of the position battles on the team. Kendal was probably at the biggest disadvantage converting from quarterback in high school to learn the safety position. That being said, Kendal has demonstrated a greatest understanding of the safety position of the four redshirt freshmen this spring. Kendal reads the plays quickly and gets in the right coverage. Kendal has also shown that he can be effective in run support and that he isn’t afraid to hit. The one area where Kendal needs to improve before he gets the nod at safety is 1-on-1 coverage. That isn’t to say that Kendal can’t cover 1-on-1, but Akina and Reese demand a lot from their safeties and they need guys who can shut down a receiver. I think that Kendal is going to end up being a real asset at free safety in years to come, and he could probably be very effective this year if they need him. Most likely, Pearson will come back and take the starting job and Briles will back him up.
Strong Safety, Cedric Griffin
Height: 6-2 Weight: 170
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 8
Griffin brings the type of size and speed coaches dream about at defensive back. Of the four young defensive backs, Cedric has played the strongest this spring. Most importantly, Cedric is the best at 1-on-1 coverage at this point. Cedric doesn’t hit as hard as Rufus, makes more metal mistakes than Briles, and he isn’t as fast as Huff… but at this point Cedric is the most complete of the four. It’s hard to say where Cedric will end up contributing to this team next year. He is the leader for strong safety right now, but I could see him playing nickel corner as well. My suspicion is that Griffin will be our starting strong safety and slide up to corner in the nickel, with Huff coming in at the strong safety spot.
Right Cornerback, Roderick Babers
Height: 5-10 Weight: 187
Class: Sr. Number: 21
You would be hard pressed to find a more technically complete cornerback than Rod Babers. You would also have a hard time finding one who could talk better trash. Quick hands, quick feet, quick wit… that’s Rod in a nutshell. Rod is a masterful positioning, coverage corner (although Akina would say, “Don’t ever let them call you a coverage corner!”). Rob uses his hands to keep you off-balance, his feet to keep your hips close, and he always stays with the play. It’s difficult even to get hitch- or out-route completions on Babers and most corners have to give those routes up 1-on-1. Expect Babers to step up to the challenge of blanketing some of the best receivers in the Big 12 next year… but where is the Super-Babe ad campaign?
Second Team Defense
Left End, O.J. McClintock
Height: 6-2 Weight: 260
Class: Jr.-RS Number: 31
It’s been an interesting ride for O.J. since he came to the 40 Acres. He just kept putting on more and more muscle and has gone from quarterback in high school to safety, to linebacker, to defensive end. O.J. has always brought athleticism to his positions, but has never broken out and made an impact. That trend continued this spring at defensive end. At end, O.J. has a quick start, and can get around very quickly… and that speed and quickness alone can give an offensive lineman problems. However, O.J. has a hard time shedding a blocker once he gets locked up and can get shut down several plays in a row. Basically, O.J. showed some flashes of playmaking ability, but would disappear for several plays in a row at times. With Sendlein’s improved play O.J. sits at about fourth on the depth chart right now before the freshman come in this fall.Left Tackle, Adam DoironHeight: 6-4 Weight: 285
Class: Jr. Number: 96
Adam’s play this spring got lost in the mix somewhere. With Miguel McKay’s emergence Adam hasn’t been talked about much, but I think his play is worthy of praise. He made a lot of good plays when he was on the first team for the first two weeks, and he continued to make plays on the second team the last two weeks. He showed he could control gaps, or put pressure on the quarterback right up the middle. Adam is a very solid defensive tackle who has the speed and power to make things happen. I think Adam is capable of delivering valuable backup work at defensive tackle, and he could be a contributor this year in a rotation.
Right Tackle, Stevie Lee
Height: 6-4 Weight: 310
Class: So.-RS Number: 65
Many expected this to be Stevie’s breakout season. With the frustrating injury to his foot, Stevie had to sit out the better part of a year. Stevie did show signs of the potential that many have been excited about, but also showed an overall lack of consistency this spring. He did pick up his play toward the end of spring and started making more happen on the field so perhaps Stevie can take his game up a notch before the season opener. The main thing Stevie brings to the table is raw power. He can just throw linemen around when he gets in a groove. However, his horizontal quickness isn’t where it needs to be to be an effective pass rusher. If Stevie can get a little lighter on his feet, learn to use his knees more than his waist, and show more overall consistency he could be a dominant defensive lineman.
Right End, Chase Pittman
Height: 6-5 Weight: 265
Class: Fr. Number: 42
Players often talk about the adjustment from high school to college… adjusting to the size and speed of the college game. Chase Pittman came ready to play this spring. He is already quick and powerful enough to contribute at defensive end. In fact, after much talk about trying Pittman at tight end, I think his play at defensive end was so good that he just wanted to stay there. In addition to his athletic prowess, Chase showed that he is already alert… making several heads-up tips and even an interception of a Chance Mock pass. Chase looks equally adept as a pass rusher and run stopper. The one low for Chase was getting blasted by Brock Edwards in the spring game… but Brock was just welcoming the freshman to the team. It will take him time to learn the intricacies of defensive end at Texas, but I have little doubt that Chase could be effective this year if he was needed.
Weakside Linebacker, Aurmon Satchell
Height: 6-2 Weight: 230
Class: So. Number: 55
Aurmon started out in the battle for backup middle linebacker, but was shifted to the outside after a few weeks. To be honest, I thought Aurmon looked better at backup middle linebacker than his competition, but he didn’t show the same prowess in blitzing. Aurmon has to work on getting to the ball faster and finishing his tackles. Cedric physically threw him out of the way on one play. Satchell still has a lot of time to develop, but with the influx of talent at linebacker he’ll have to pick his game up to make the two-deep.
Middle Linebacker, Eric Hall
Height: 6-3 Weight: 250
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 26
Eric Hall is a name that thrown around a lot this spring. Eric showed good size and speed, but didn’t separate himself from the other backup linebackers this spring. In fact, I thought Hall looked the best in his single practice at fullback. Hall is a good blitzer, but he struggled against the run all spring. He has a tendency to get caught behind blocks and not even get a sniff of the play. Eric will have to pick up his play considerably if he wants to contribute on this team at middle linebacker.Strongside Linebacker, Stevie StigallHeight: 6-4 Weight: 221Class: Jr. Number: 88The official spring depth chart doesn’t list Stevie as a linebacker at all. However, I guarantee that if we formed a second team defense right now, Stevie would be on the field. Stevie is the fourth best linebacker on the team right now. That point speaks to two things… Stevie has outworked the other linebackers, and there is a considerable drop-off between the first and second team linebackers. Stevie is pretty athletic, he’s quick enough to apply pressure as a blitzer, and he’s just more active than the other second string linebackers. Stevie is one of those guys who just makes plays.
Left Cornerback, Monti Collier
Height: 5-11 Weight: 175
Class: Jr.-RS Number: 28
Monti looked good for the better part of the spring. He wasn’t able to shut people down, but he was hanging with the routes and providing solid coverage. Monti suffered the only significant injury this spring with a broken collarbone. He should be healed up in about 6 weeks though, so here’s to his speedy recovery. It’s hard to say where Monti will end up on the depth chart. The battle between Griffin and Huff, and the entrance of McCullough and Ross could definitely effect Monti’s role.
Free Safety, Rufus Harris
Height: 5-11 Weight: 190
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 17
It’s not hard to find Rufus on the field. Just follow the bone-crushing hitting sounds and Rufus should be in the area. Rufus showed the ability to deliver big time hits time and time again this spring. However, he also showed that he is still learning at the safety position. He struggled with his reads at times and didn’t show the range he needs at safety. Rufus could play on defense now… he would be a playmaker, but also give up big plays. If Rufus puts time onto really getting the mental aspects of the position down so he can react to the play faster… I could see him becoming a punishing safety.
Strong Safety, Michael Huff
Height: 6-1 Weight: 190
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 27
Michael is still very much in the hunt for the starting strong safety position. Like Griffin, Huff has the ability to cover very well 1-on-1. Most likely the two will be a pair of corners in years to come. Huff is one of the fastest players on the team, but still makes little mistakes sometimes. As he becomes more disciplined he will develop into a great defensive back. For now, Huff should work on his reads to help him earn the starting spot. No matter who wins the starting role, Huff and Griffin are both playing well enough to start for this defense.
Right Cornerback, Chad Davis
Height: 5-10 Weight: 190
Class: Jr. Number: 25
I mention Chad simply for the contributions he made as a walk on this spring. He kept the receivers honest and made them work for their catches. Chad won’t keep his spot on the depth chart as Aaron and Edorian enter the team, but he deserves mention here.
Other Defensive Players
Right End, Kaelen Jakes
Height: 6-5 Weight: 260
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 99
Kaelen will have to raise his level of play to crack the two deep on this team. Kaelen just isn’t making much happen on the field right now. However, it would be foolish to write Kaelen off… he has talent and he is young. If he puts hard work in there will be room for him to contribute.
Strongside Linebacker, Braden Johnson
Height: 6-1 Weight: 200
Class: Fr.-RS Number: 30Right now Braden just doesn’t have the size he needs to play linebacker. He doesn’t have the coverage skills to play safety. If Braden wants to get on the field he’ll have to get bigger and develop his game at linebacker. Right now, he has not earned a spot on the two deep and with the freshman talent we have coming in, it’s doubtful he’ll play this year.Weakside Linebacker, Lance McFarlandHeight: 6-3 Weight: 235Class: Fr.-RS Number: 15Early on, Lance looked the best of the backup linebackers. He showed a good nose for the ball, and solid tackling technique. However, his play faded as spring wore on and eventually he stopped getting as much playing time.
Middle Linebacker, Rashad Thomas
Height: 6-2 Weight: 240
Class: So.-RS Number: 49
Rashad is a player I would have like to see get more playing time this spring. He had a couple good practices and is a very aggressive hitter. If Rashad can consistently play at the level he has shown flashes of, he could move up on the depth chart.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kickoff Specialist, Richmond McGee
Height: 6-4 Weight: 180
Class: So. Number: 35
No, that wasn’t Jesus punching the ball into the endzone at the spring game… but he was a savior of sorts. After watching the kickoffs come up short the last two years, it seems the Longhorns have finally found a kicker who can get the job done. Richmond has a very powerful leg and can put the ball consistently inside the 5-yard line. Richmond tends to over kick sometimes and pull the ball right, a tendency that he can hopefully correct before the season opener. In addition to kickoffs, Richmond can use his strong leg to punt the ball. After watching him warm-up with Justin Smith and Brian Bradford a few times, I am convinced that he should be given a more thorough look at punter. He has power similar to Smith’s and I didn’t see him shank the ball once.
Place Kicker, Dusty Mangum
Height: 5-11 Weight: 170
Class: So. Number: 7
Dusty performed consistently great this spring and hit almost everything he attempted. David Pino isn’t far behind, but Dusty is the better kicker. Dusty is a kicker this team can count on going into the season, a luxury they didn’t have at the beginning of last year.
Punter, Justin Smith
Height: 6-5 Weight: 198
Class: So.-RS Number: 47
I can’t say for sure that Justin has won the starting job, but he looked better than Bradford all spring. He did shank some punts, but Bradford mis-punted just as many or more. When Justin gets under the ball he has the ability to punt 60-70 yards. The one drawback to Justin is that he changes his mechanics from practice to game situation. I’ve noticed he picks the ball up higher and takes longer in delivery. That extra delivery time may be what keeps Justin out of the starting role.
Returner, Nathan Vasher
Height: 5-11 Weight: 180
Class: Jr. Number: 3
What can I say? Nathan Vasher is not the man you want to try to tackle in the open field… ever… ever. The coaches may decide that having Nathan return on kick-offs and punts is too much… but regardless, they know they have a weapon when he is back there.
Blocking Specialist, Stevie Stigall
Height: 6-4 Weight: 221
Class: Jr. Number: 88
I mention Stevie here because he showed signs of being a playmaker on special teams. He blocked a field goal and a punt in one scrimmage, and comes close to blocking every field goal. He has a great vertical leap and ability to blitz that should combine to allow him to take Tyrone Jones’ place as a playmaker on the block team.
A Word Or Two About This Defense
I believe this defense has the chance to be dramatically better than last years. The major thing that stands out about this defense is versatility. Versatility that will allow Reese to throw very tailored gameplans at the offense’s we face. Nathan Vasher and Roderick Babers are shut down corners. At LCB, RCB, SS, FS, SLB, and WLB we have players who can line up on a wide receiver and cover them. Not only are these players fast, but that have good coverage technique. In addition, all the secondary players can blitz well. Add to that the ability of players like Cory Redding and Kalen Thornton to drop on zone blitzes and you have the makings of avery fast, confusing, playmaking defense.
That being said… we had most of those components last season. What separates this group from last year’s is linebacker play. We are faster at linebacker, but we are also more aggressive and better disciplined. Reed Boyd at MIKE makes a big difference… he stays at home and knows how to execute Reese’s defense. Derrick Johnson being on the field more, with a year of experience significantly upgrades this unit. Derrick will just keep getting better and better. Lee Jackson also represents an upgrade at SAM… with great coverage skills and dangerous blitzing. The one area where this year’s group lags behind is depth. Hopefully some of the incoming freshman will be able to help in that area, and round this group out.
One tendency we had last year was to overrun plays, and that tendency was not prevalent this spring… and the first team defense kept almost all the runs under four yards and took care of many of them for losses. There still may be some weakness against a power rushing game; it’s hard to say. Having gone through the second Colorado game last year… this group should be significantly better with more experience on the defensive line and potential help from incoming freshman in the middle. One thing is for sure… teams will struggle mightily if they try to run outside on this defense.
The biggest difference on this defense is awareness. As a unit, they just don’t get fooled much and they react quickly. That in combination with their speed, coverage, and hitting abilities should make for a lot of big plays and turnovers. As many playmakers as we have on offense, I think our defense and special teams are what make us a championship contender next year.
In Closing
There are typos, words that don’t make sense, and probably hidden messages if you read this report backwards… such it the scatter of my writing abilities. If you spot any that are unintelligible, feel free to let me know and I’ll fix ‘em up. As always, I’d like to encourage intelligent discussion on this thread.
