Texas DB & LB Talk

[LTtxfan 49356]

Thurs, Aug 24th

Gavin Holmes season outlook

Texas needed to shore up depth at cornerback following the exhaustion of D’Shawn Jamison‘s eligibility, and the Horns looked to the portal and found Holmes.

After a solid career with the Demon Deacons, Holmes sought opportunity and relationships and Texas’ Terry Joseph was able to offer both.

A great fit for field corner, Holmes competed with sophomore Terrance Brooks at that position. Brooks, who surged at the end of the 2022 season, has a solid grasp on the position but Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday that Holmes had one of his better weeks last week including the Saturday scrimmage.

Holmes may not start, but he’ll have plenty of opportunity. The quality of depth at corner, field corner specifically, means even if he’s not the first player on the field Holmes will play plenty on the wide side this season.

Holmes is a transfer cornerback from Wake Forest. He spent three seasons with the Demon Deacons, including redshirting in 2020 and played in 28 career games with 14 starts. Holmes recorded 44 tackles over the past two years, 23 of them solo, along with 13 pass breakups, three tackles for loss, an interception and one forced fumble.

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

Missed #13

Jaylon Guilbeau season outlook

Guilbeau played in eight games with three starts last year as a true freshman, producing 19 tackles (eight solo), half a sack, four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.

 

Edited August 26, 2023 by LTtxfan

[LTtxfan 49356]

#18

Liona Lefau season outlook

The early enrollee from Hawaii came to Austin in January ready to battle for playing time in his first year on the Forty Acres. Lefau is battling at the Mike backer position behind the incumbent Jaylan Ford. Lefau hopes to see the field in a special teams role in 2023.

[LTtxfan 49356]

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

DBU

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

#7

B.J. Allen Jr. season outlook

Allen Jr. is in search of playing time after a full-on redshirt season in 2022. He will likely be a part of special teams units and make appearances as needed behind Texas’ top tier of safeties.

Allen did not see any game action during the 2022 season. He was a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (spring 2023).

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

Ryan Watts season outlook

The other transfer back to Texas from Ohio State, Watts was a needed addition in the cornerback room ahead of the 2022 campaign. Watts took the starting job and kept it for all 13 games, providing high quality run defense from the boundary corner position.

Watts will again be asked to keep the boundary defended in multiple phases. Improvement on his coverage and blitzing, especially considering the inexperience at the Buck position aligned closest to him, will be key for the Longhorn defense. The addition of Jalen Catalon in the boundary will help Watts and the Buck.

Another consistent season like last year with more flashes of excellence, and Watts should hear his name called in the 2024 NFL draft.

Watts played in and started 13 games last season and was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by the league’s coaches. He also earned honorable mention All-Big 12 Defensive Newcomer Player of the Year honors after transferring from Ohio State and enrolling at Texas in January 2022.

Watts had 51 tackles (33 of them solo) and four tackles for a loss, a sack, an interception and four passes defended in 2022. He named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2022 and was a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (spring 2022).

[LTtxfan 49356]

#5  "MANNY"

Malik Muhammad season outlook

Nick Saban wanted Malik Muhammad, but Texas won out for the state champion defensive back.

Muhammad was originally cast as a cover cornerback who would play mostly on the wide side of the field. However, something that has caught Steve Sarkisian and other coaches by surprise over the course of Muhammad’s time at Texas is the physical nature of his game. That’s allowed Texas to try him out on the boundary behind Ryan Watts in a position where run-stuffing ability is of near-equal importance to coverage.

Watts has the top spot locked down, but like at field corner, there’s enough talent specifically with Muhammad to where he’ll play this year for reasons of ability, not out of necessity.

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

#4   AUSTIN JORDAN

Austin Jordan season outlook

Jordan snatched some playing time early last year at cornerback, earning rotational snaps at field corner early in the year behind D’Shawn Jamison along with Jamier Johnson and Terrance Brooks. However, most of his snaps were on special teams, where he earned 144 of his 232 total snaps.

Jordan moved to Star during the offseason. While Jahdae Barron has the first-string role safely in his grasp, Jordan is contending with fellow sophomore Jaylon Guilbeau to be the second Star. That’s a role he’ll occupy in addition to his multi-faceted special teams responsibilities.

Jordan played in all 13 games last year, primarily on special teams and totaled seven tackles (four solo) with half a tackle for loss. He was a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2022).

[LTtxfan 49356]

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

 

[Coach pop a bitch 5496]

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

 

[jw4381 3095]

How did Catalon do Saturday? He's not listed in the stats with any tackles or break ups.

[Had Enough 2088]

How did Catalon do Saturday? He's not listed in the stats with any tackles or break ups.

He started and got a few series. There was nothing for him to do as all the plays were already made.

[Coach pop a bitch 5496]

 

[Coach pop a bitch 5496]

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

On 7/24/2023 at 9:54 PM, LTtxfan said:

What's the playing time expectations for Jaylon Guilbeau this season ??  

Was watching highlights of the 2022 Bama game and Jaylon definitely struggled in run support... forgot that he injured his ankle vs okie lite...

Write-up:  A second-year defensive back who has played eight games with three starts ... a two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (spring 2022, fall 2022).  

 

 

Missed Guilbeau's number change to #3

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

22 hours ago, Coach pop a bitch said:

 

 

"RAPTOR"  🤘

Derek Williams season outlook

Derek Williams is in a similar boat as Cook. On many recent Texas teams, Williams would be looked to for immediate assistance in the secondary. With transfer Jalen Catalon in the backfield, plus quality in the safety group from Michael Taaffe, Jerrin Thompson, and Kitan Crawford, Williams may not see the opportunity at Texas he would have if he were joining the 2021 Longhorns.

Williams will become an impact player in his career, and could begin showcasing his ability to affect opposing players on special teams. A physical safety who earned the nickname ”the Raptor” in high school, Williams will play this season and be in line to become a constant difference maker at safety in 2024.

[LTtxfan 49356]

Zero                  "AntHill"

 

Anthony Hill season outlook

Hill was the highest rated defensive signee in the 2023 class, also from Denton (Texas) Ryan. He arrived at Texas in January and immediately became one of the more disruptive defensive players on the Longhorn roster.

Hill possesses five-star athletic ability, but the adjustment to the college game and specifically the processing required to play off-ball linebacker in Power 5 football is one everyone has to make. Hill has taken to the Will linebacker position well during his nine months on campus, and has showed the ability to process and make plays. He may see more opportunity there early in the season due to Morice Blackwell’s current injury.

If Hill isn’t on the field at Will, he is likely to have a role tailored for him due to his pass rushing ability. Remember, he’s a disruptor and that’s an area where Texas need additional disruption this season. Hill will play early and often, making the late flip of the one-time Texas A&M pledge all the more worth it.

[LTtxfan 49356]

On 1/10/2023 at 9:15 PM, LTtxfan said:

 

GOAT 🤘

Derrick Johnson LHN Segment on Texas Gameday [Sep. 5, 2023]

[LTtxfan 49356]

 

[Coach pop a bitch 5496]

 

[Coach pop a bitch 5496]

 

[Paul Wesley 3289]

Crawford played really well.  

He had a couple solid plays on punt coverage, and a couple nice plays in run support as the Bama RB is trying to get to the edge. 

[Coach pop a bitch 5496]

 

[Post Oak 20273]

Gbenda isn't always in the right spot but that guy plays fucking hard.

[SarkAfterDark 1694]

Anybody know why Catalon only played like half the game. 

[LTtxfan 49356]

 

[Reese Bennett 3616]

This is good news for aggy. Oh, wait.

[LTtxfan 49356]

On 9/10/2023 at 9:02 PM, SarkAfterDark said:

Anybody know why Catalon only played like half the game. 

 

Probably trying to help CAT stay healthy for entire season... CAT missed half of 2021 and almost all of 2022 with shoulder injuries that required season-ending surgery.

Oct 2021:  Arkansas safety Jalen Catalon apparently has his shoulder fixed.  "He had surgery this morning," said Arkansas coach Sam Pittman. "He had some slight tears in his labrum in the front and the back. Surgery went well. He’s already been in the facility and went to Walmart to get his meds. So he’s doing well."

Sept 2022:  Pittman said Catalon, a redshirt junior and a preseason Associated Press All-American, suffered another shoulder injury that will require surgery and cause him to miss the rest of the season.

“Catalon is having surgery on his shoulder — reconstructive surgery — so he won’t be back this year,” Pittman said after the No. 16 Razorbacks beat South Carolina 44-30 on Saturday. “I feel for him.”

[LTtxfan 49356]

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

Thx for above tweet @Coach pop a bitch

 

Happy for Gbenda... Dude has worked hard to get on the field 🤘

 

🤘

Edited September 13, 2023 by LTtxfan

[LTtxfan 49356]

 

[Coach pop a bitch 5496]

 

[Coach pop a bitch 5496]

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

Awesome Wyoming game Jahdae  🤘

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

It's been reported Jahdae spends a lot of time studying film...

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

Huff is "The Man" !!! 🤘

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

Nice !!!  🤘

 

[LTtxfan 49356]

 

[Lhorn 4963]

Now THAT’S how you put your horns up!!

Exquisite technique like a proper gentleman. 

Edited September 23, 2023 by Lhorn

[Elmer_Fudd 22317]

Gbenda was flying around tonight.  Props to Choate he's developing these guys.

[LTtxfan 49356]

Need big games from Jahdae and Catalon vs jayhawks.  Sure would be great to see one of our corners get an interception this week.

PK should not put Taafe at deep safety and blitz in front of him -- Taafe is just not good in man coverage.  PK needs to keep Catalon on the field more in 2nd half vs kansas.  

[Coach pop a bitch 5496]

What happened to Bj Allen? Has he played at all? 

[Atticus 3991]

3 minutes ago, Coach pop a bitch said:

What happened to Bj Allen? Has he played at all? 

Likely a transfer candidate. I’m not sure if he even plays on special teams

[LTtxfan 49356]

 

[LTtxfan 49356]