CJ Vogel
The Longhorns and Sun Devils spoke with the media this morning to begin the Peach Bowl week of festivities in Atlanta.
A couple of takeaways from the media availability time.
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– First, the entire Texas team made the quick trip over to the College Football Hall of Fame – including Lance Jackson, Michael Terry III, Justus Terry and new portal addition DL Cole Brevard from Purdue.
The Longhorns will practice inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 12:45 ET.
– Speaking some with Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt, it is easy to see where his swagger comes from. Leavitt exudes confidence and combines that with an always counted out chip on his shoulder.
"I was just answering the comment to my fullest belief," Leavitt says. "I hope that every player on the field feels that they are the best. That is how it should be. You put all of this work in to get to this stage, so why would you not believe that yourself."
For whatever the reason, Leavitt was only available for about the first 10 minutes of the hour allotted to Arizona State. I do not know if there was an additional television responsibility or if ASU was just looking to hide him a bit. For what it is worth, Ewers and Manning each spent the full hour on the floor taking questions.
– Talking to Texas QB Quinn Ewers, he says the biggest thing he took away from the first trip to Atlanta was learning and growing more as a quarterback. Said you can't teach experience, you can only add it by learning firsthand.
Ewers also spoke about QB Trey Owens coming along in his freshman season.
– The belief is that WR Isaiah Bond will be completely ready for this game on Wednesday. Bond practiced with the team on Friday before the Longhorns departed from Austin.
Bond says he is "feeling great and expects to play on Wednesday," vs. Arizona State.
– I spoke some with OT Trevor Goosby who mentioned the learning curve of playing Mykel Williams, Jalon Walker, Shemar Turner and Shemar Stewart in his first real action that helped him get ready for extended snaps. Goosby says he prepares each week as though he will be starting and this week is no different, especially with RT Cam Williams questionable at the moment with a knee injury.
– Texas DL coach Kenny Baker spoke very highly of his incoming group of linemen – Justus Terry, Josiah Sharma and Myron Charles. Baker says the Longhorns being able to fend off Florida for the signature of Charles was a big win for him and the Texas staff.
Coach Baker told me one of the biggest reasons for the defensive line room playing at the level it is the buy in from Alfred Collins early on in his tenure. Baker mentioned Collins is a guy who is very well-respected in the locker room and once he was on board, the rest of the group followed quickly.
– I tell ya what, there isn't enough time to speak about the words Tashard Choice has for RB Tre Wisner. There was a lot of praise for the humility and team-first approach of Wisner.
Choice spoke about Wisner's vision and ability to get better as games progress.
Choice says Wisner came in to Texas weighing 177 pounds. Wisner will play in the Peach Bowl at 202 pounds and Choice hopes he is able to get to 210 by the beginning of next season.