Texas Recruiting Notes 2024: Bags Don't Beat Bankrolls

[MuellerHorn 4630]

12 minutes ago, Codaxx said:

I am not going to change your mind. I find it hard to believe Sark and Bo's plan from the beginning was to hit IDL recruiting hard in 2024 and do it out of state. No coaching staff wants to be in that position. I agree that there have been legitimate circumstances that have led to this situation, but that does not stop me from acknowledging that Texas is not where they want to be at IDL currently. 

So, then would you say RB recruiting has been shit? 

OOS recruiting is a good thing when the goal is to improve the overall roster. That’s literally the strategy here, especially when in-state IDL options have been down. 

Edited July 12, 2023 by MuellerHorn

[closetojumping 65492]

3 minutes ago, Codaxx said:

I am not going to change your mind. I find it hard to believe Sark and Bo's plan from the beginning was to hit IDL recruiting hard in 2024 and do it out of state. No coaching staff wants to be in that position. I agree that there have been legitimate circumstances that have led to this situation, but that does not stop me from acknowledging that Texas is not where they want to be at IDL currently. 

I didn’t say anything about Texas knowing “from the beginning” to wait and hit 2024 hard. That’s your own bullshit. 

What I’ve stated is that Texas knew it wasn’t going to win immediately in the southeast on the DL front, en masse. They knew that the Texas IDL classes looked weak on the immediate forefront when they came in. So they did what they could until they’d marshaled their resources and credibility in order to enter the fray where the difference makers are residing. 

It’s been fortuitous for Texas and Sarkisian that Texas opted to join the SEC, NIL emerged and Texas alums have gotten good at it quickly, the portal has become a thing, and that Herman’s staff actually did okay on the DL front. Those things have enabled the patient strategy to work out. 

There is a difference between attributing IDL future depth as a failure on Davis’ behalf, which you and others have argued, and arguing that Texas has been deliberate with their approach there. BTW, this is handwringing over the future, for fuck’s sake. IDL under Davis has developed into a strength. The portal and development will also play major roles in the IDL’s outlook for 2024 and beyond. There hasn’t been a misstep yet and it doesn’t look like a big risk in the near future, either. 

[SydneyCarton 49518]

3 minutes ago, MuellerHorn said:

So, then would you say RB recruiting has been shit? 

OOS recruiting is a good thing when the goal is to improve the overall roster. That’s literally the strategy here, especially when in-state IDL options have been down. 

I find it...odd...that a guy who recently tried to point out that Zac Swanson was a bad take and a wasted scholarship is now suggesting that IDL recruiting has been a failure becuase the staff has been selective and looked for good fits as opposed to throwing bodies at the position so we'd have more bodies. "Zac Swanson was a bad take. We should definitely take more just like him to fix the problem."

[Codaxx 6270]

Just now, MuellerHorn said:

So, then would you say RB recruiting has been shit? 

OOS recruiting is a good thing when the goal is to improve the overall roster. That’s literally the strategy here, especially when in-state IDL options have been down. 

OOS is a good thing. I dont think DT and RB recruiting are even remotely close. Choice is getting his #1 options and has gotten it every year (he is just a beast). That has not been the case with DT recruiting. Texas is now forced to take numbers. The talent of the in-state crop is arguably at its 10 year nadir, so they are forced to go out of state. 

[Vertigo 20500]

12 hours ago, billfromlaketravis said:

Still… if his recruiting profile and Texas Sports profile are anywhere close to accurate, Swanson has gained less than 15 pounds after 2 years in a P5 S&C program. 
 

I get it. He was a lottery ticket, but least buy a lottery ticket that weighs 300 pounds.

He seems like he could be a pretty good edge setting Jack if he stays at his current weight. He had a really high motor and some natural pass rush ability from his senior film, and he has the length you would want at that position. Inevitably there is going to be some attrition and he would be a candidate, but I can see a role for the guy if they aren't insistent on making him a 3 technique. 

Edited July 12, 2023 by Vertigo

[MuellerHorn 4630]

1 minute ago, Codaxx said:

OOS is a good thing. I dont think DT and RB recruiting are even remotely close. Choice is getting his #1 options and has gotten it every year (he is just a beast). That has not been the case with DT recruiting. Texas is now forced to take numbers. The talent of the in-state crop is arguably at its 10 year nadir, so they are forced to go out of state. 

Lol, you don’t think Mitchell was a priority last year? He was top of the board and OOS. 

[Strat 151]

Quite frankly, you want to go out of state for DT. Outside of the elite 5 stars, the ones drafted are 3/4 stars from Florida, LA, GA, Bama, Miss, etc. 

[Wulaw Horn 19598]

35 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

What a load of fucking horseshit, and a weak effort at twisting words to suit your purpose. Fortunately, two can play that game:

So you're saying that you had Zac Swanson pegged as a 1st round draft pick? Hey guys, look at this guy, he thought Zac Swanson was a first round draft pick. 

If you're going to put words in someone's mouth, at least try to make it funny. Now, was Swanson a bad take? Not really, sometimes you need to take bodies. He was literally the last guy in the class, statistically how often do those guys pan out? This is a recuriting forum, the idea is we have the balls to critique and debate recruits, all while being realistic about where we think they end up. We're you standing on a table screaming that Larry Turner Gooden is likely a bad fucking take becuase the guy is probably never going to play an important snap at Texas? Or we should have saved the scholarship? I mean, exactly what is your fucking point there?

Your efforts to spin this as "I'm just agreeing with the coaches" is pretty funny. You have stated that the recruiting is poor, full stop, the end. I think recruiting at the position has been fine, impressive considering the circumstances the program was facing. Would we like some more depth? Sure. But the roster position as it stands is strong, and if we hit on our IDL targets this cycle, which looks pretty fucking likely, it will remain strong. So what exactly is the problem? And lets not pretend you know the minds of the coaches. I don't know if you've noticed, but they seem pretty fucking pleased with the roster and the team in general. 

I felt that way about hyphen, didn’t understand why you’d even bother, then I remembered not to worry about the numbers, figured we’d likely process him and went on with my day. As long as you have the collective will to process the chaff and the chaff isn’t a bad character guy there’s no harm in taking a big body like Swanson and seeing if it will develop. 

[Vertigo 20500]

1 minute ago, Strat said:

Quite frankly, you want to go out of state for DT. Outside of the elite 5 stars, the ones drafted are 3/4 stars from Florida, LA, GA, Bama, Miss, etc. 

Nobody grows those jumbo athletes quite like the deep south. There are usually a couple of big time dudes in Texas, but this year January seems like he may be the only guy worthy of a take and fortunately he is committed to the good guys. I really like January, I think he is going to be a pretty stout force inside and he has the room to put on another 40 pounds or so and stay mobile. The only guys who are consistently good west of the Rio Grande seems to be the polynesian/pacific islander kids, of which there are some beasts. 

[Codaxx 6270]

5 minutes ago, MuellerHorn said:

Lol, you don’t think Mitchell was a priority last year? He was top of the board and OOS. 

They offered 32 guys last year at DL and took 1. They want more, that is not the same as Choice.  If people dont think missing on players like Turner and Hicks, is part of the reason Texas is here, I do not know what to say. 

[Longhornlove 5216]

6 minutes ago, Codaxx said:

OOS is a good thing. I dont think DT and RB recruiting are even remotely close. Choice is getting his #1 options and has gotten it every year (he is just a beast). That has not been the case with DT recruiting. Texas is now forced to take numbers. The talent of the in-state crop is arguably at its 10 year nadir, so they are forced to go out of state. 

You should take the L and move on. You are seriously outgunned here. BTW some of the "war daddies" Texas pursued previously were simply bought by other programs(in the SEC) pre-NIL. The game has changed, just nod to confirm you understand.

[Codaxx 6270]

1 minute ago, Longhornlove said:

You should take the L and move on. You are seriously outgunned here. BTW some of the "war daddies" Texas pursued previously were simply bought by other programs(in the SEC) pre-NIL. The game has changed, just nod to confirm you understand.

Funny. Texas is here, because they got out-gunned for the recruits they wanted, but everything went as planned and they didnt miss on players. That perfectly sums up the board logic on this topic. 

[mwaadeeb 1369]

3 minutes ago, Longhornlove said:

You should take the L and move on. You are seriously outgunned here. BTW some of the "war daddies" Texas pursued previously were simply bought by other programs(in the SEC) pre-NIL. The game has changed, just nod to confirm you understand.

Christ there are some arrogant motherfuckers on this board. IDL recruiting has been questionable over the last few years, so the question was asked. There were some pretty good answers. Dick-head tones but informative. Chat board success. Do you want to talk about Texas Tech?

[Bigbend1812 13060]

[futureman 22709]

13 hours ago, JesusSweatDuck said:

Saw three new pages and thought something happened. Fuck all of you, every single one of you assholes, for wasting my last 20 minutes 

you spend hours combing through my posting history.  you’re a moron and your time is useless. 

[Longhornlove 5216]

1 minute ago, Codaxx said:

Funny. Texas is here, because they got out-gunned for the recruits they wanted, but everything went as planned and they didnt miss on players. That perfectly sums up the board logic on this topic. 

JFC, we lost 2 interior defensive linemen from last years team, those spots were replaced with Sadir Mitchel and Carter, WTF are you continuing to rant about? It seems you just want to get the last word in..............stop.

[MuellerHorn 4630]

7 minutes ago, Codaxx said:

Funny. Texas is here, because they got out-gunned for the recruits they wanted, but everything went as planned and they didnt miss on players. That perfectly sums up the board logic on this topic. 

No one is arguing that DL recruiting could not have been better. We're objecting to your assertion that Davis is essentially failing, the overall recruiting strategy is failing, and nothing about that room is improving. Both Mitchell and Carter are day-one improvements. Davis is developing and at least five of his guys across his first two years back on the 40 are going to get shots at the NFL.

Edited July 12, 2023 by MuellerHorn

[Creasy Bear 666]

On 7/10/2023 at 8:50 AM, Red Five said:

Dave Campbell's Texas Football. 

I can't find any copies in the stores these days.  Kinda sad. 

[Longhornlove 5216]

3 minutes ago, mwaadeeb said:

Christ there are some arrogant motherfuckers on this board. IDL recruiting has been questionable over the last few years, so the question was asked. There were some pretty good answers. Dick-head tones but informative. Chat board success. Do you want to talk about Texas Tech?

I wasn't referring to myself as one of the guns but by all means criticize me as it may appear that way, that wasn't my intention. Most think Codaxx is wrong and he won't let it go. That is my point.

[Davis Lane 6013]

[Junior Bonner 6594]

Big 12 Media Day crew 

[Codaxx 6270]

27 minutes ago, MuellerHorn said:

No one is arguing that DL recruiting could not have been better. We're objecting to your assertion that Davis is essentially failing and nothing about that room is improving. Both Mitchell and Carter are day-one improvements. Davis is developing and at least five of his guys across his first two years back on the 40 are going to get shots at the NFL.

I never commented on Bo's coaching and development or he said he is failure. I simply said DT has arguably been the worst recruited position on the team in the Sarkisian era and the fact that staff is taking an out-sized class and a portal player confirms that. I also said 1 class can fix that. 

Edited July 12, 2023 by Codaxx

[Horn Under a Bad Sign 20944]

14 hours ago, SydneyCarton said:

 

masturbating at funerals

 

[CowtownHorn 5126]

[SydneyCarton 49518]

35 minutes ago, Wulaw Horn said:

I felt that way about hyphen, didn’t understand why you’d even bother, then I remembered not to worry about the numbers, figured we’d likely process him and went on with my day. As long as you have the collective will to process the chaff and the chaff isn’t a bad character guy there’s no harm in taking a big body like Swanson and seeing if it will develop. 

Gooden was a guy we recruited all cycle, and he was fine enough of a take, particularly for where we were as a program. The funny part was that as Sark got his legs under him, he went during the same cycle as a guy we really wanted, to a guy on the lower end of the talent perspective. By the end of the class, he was not as big a priority, but he was at the outset. As has been illustrated here, it's almost like circumstances began to change and we were able to recruit better talent at the position than we could previously. 

[HenryJames 67437]

14 minutes ago, Junior Bonner said:

Big 12 Media Day crew 

Why aren't any of them defensive linemen?

[closetojumping 65492]

6 minutes ago, CowtownHorn said:

Codaxx is being weapon grade Codaxx. He’s being overly literal, moving goalposts, didactic, tedious, and voluminous. He’s impersonating a modern version of rpongett and I’m fine with it versus watching him and others work the spin cycle of the 2022 UT-Tech game. 

[satyanash 15647]

9 hours ago, Sejjr said:

Texas, for the first time in its history, is actually recruiting talent at a National level, from places like Florida and IMG Academy, and Mater Dei in Cali, among others. We are pulling elite talent from Louisiana. This obsession with "in-state recruits" is just fucking bizarre and very out of date. We just signed the #1 RB in the country from Florida. That was a dream scenario 20 years ago, let alone 4....there is no question that the roster that Sark has assembled, through recruiting and the portal, at nearly every position, has as much upside as we have ever seen. Outside of a Collin Simmons type impact Edge, this roster has talented depth at every level. For the first time in well over a decade, we have an OL that doesn't instantly create the gag reflex. "It's a very tall ask." Jesus Christ man....get ahold of yourself.

The only thing really holding this team back is game-day acumen from the head man, and that is still an open debate (and meant for the football board). But this is easily the best overall roster Texas has had since Butterteeth was seal-clapping on the sidelines.

"First time in history?" Come on. Over 50% of our 2019 class (ranked #3 in the country at the time) came from OOS, and it was a complete disaster. Guys like Jake Smith, Watson, Washington, Adimora, Liebrock, etc. that all had ironclad offer lists and were wanted by many of the big programs. No one's 'obsessed' with in-state recruits, but the fact is that OOS guys are generally tougher and riskier evals. The TXHSFB coaching connections aren't there, there's less familiarity, and there's always the risk that influences from home pull them back (see McCoy and Smith), now magnified by the portal. A class where the blue-chip signees are mostly from OOS and the lower-ranked signees are from in-state carries a lot of risk despite looking good on paper. The fact that we signed so few of the top in-state recruits in the 2019 class was a significant factor in its failure.

[TexasRenegade 2611]

1 minute ago, satyanash said:

"First time in history?" Come on. Over 50% of our 2019 class (ranked #3 in the country at the time) came from OOS, and it was a complete disaster. Guys like Jake Smith, Watson, Washington, Adimora, Liebrock, etc. that all had ironclad offer lists and were wanted by many of the big programs. No one's 'obsessed' with in-state recruits, but the fact is that OOS guys are generally tougher and riskier evals. The TXHSFB coaching connections aren't there, there's less familiarity, and there's always the risk that influences from home pull them back (see McCoy and Smith), now magnified by the portal. A class where the blue-chip signees are mostly from OOS and the lower-ranked signees are from in-state carries a lot of risk despite looking good on paper. The fact that we signed so few of the top in-state recruits in the 2019 class was a significant factor in its failure.

There is a difference though.  They had to go out of state in 2019 because Herman had alienated the majority of players/coaches in the state.  Then he continued to suck ass at evaluations....

[Chuckie Finster 23094]

1 minute ago, satyanash said:

"First time in history?" Come on. Over 50% of our 2019 class (ranked #3 in the country at the time) came from OOS, and it was a complete disaster. Guys like Jake Smith, Watson, Washington, Adimora, Liebrock, etc. that all had ironclad offer lists and were wanted by many of the big programs. No one's 'obsessed' with in-state recruits, but the fact is that OOS guys are generally tougher and riskier evals. The TXHSFB coaching connections aren't there, there's less familiarity, and there's always the risk that influences from home pull them back (see McCoy and Smith), now magnified by the portal. A class where the blue-chip signees are mostly from OOS and the lower-ranked signees are from in-state carries a lot of risk despite looking good on paper. The fact that we signed so few of the top in-state recruits in the 2019 class was a significant factor in its failure.

It's amazing that the program has survived missing out on the incredible careers of Baylor Cupp, Marcel Brooks, Theo Wease, Scooby Carter, Branson Bragg, and Dylan Wright.

[tejas60 3572]

7 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

Codaxx is being weapon grade Codaxx. He’s being overly literal, moving goalposts, didactic, tedious, and voluminous. He’s impersonating a modern version of rpongett and I’m fine with it versus watching him and others work the spin cycle of the 2022 UT-Tech game. 

[Park Gothic 5376]

43 minutes ago, Longhornlove said:

You should take the L and move on. You are seriously outgunned here. BTW some of the "war daddies" Texas pursued previously were simply bought by other programs(in the SEC) pre-NIL. The game has changed, just nod to confirm you understand.

Goddamnit. I was just thinking how nice it was that no one in this thread had used that phrase. 

[Mr. Drummond 2244]

2 minutes ago, Park Gothic said:

Goddamnit. I was just thinking how nice it was that no one in this thread had used that phrase. 

Co-signed.     it's worse than "Natty".    And we justifiably mock that.

[Thiefery 5108]

I like Codaxx but my man is ...

 

 

 

[Longhornlove 5216]

3 minutes ago, Park Gothic said:

Goddamnit. I was just thinking how nice it was that no one in this thread had used that phrase. 

I didn't say it, I quoted it................LOL.

[MisterP 127]

Once again....Jesus Fucking Christ. Or Fricking christ for the aggy lurkers. 

 

Edited July 12, 2023 by MisterP

[Get ln My Van 934]

[SydneyCarton 49518]

36 minutes ago, satyanash said:

"First time in history?" Come on. Over 50% of our 2019 class (ranked #3 in the country at the time) came from OOS, and it was a complete disaster. Guys like Jake Smith, Watson, Washington, Adimora, Liebrock, etc. that all had ironclad offer lists and were wanted by many of the big programs. No one's 'obsessed' with in-state recruits, but the fact is that OOS guys are generally tougher and riskier evals. The TXHSFB coaching connections aren't there, there's less familiarity, and there's always the risk that influences from home pull them back (see McCoy and Smith), now magnified by the portal. A class where the blue-chip signees are mostly from OOS and the lower-ranked signees are from in-state carries a lot of risk despite looking good on paper. The fact that we signed so few of the top in-state recruits in the 2019 class was a significant factor in its failure.

Perhaps you meant to say riskier or lower percentage to land? Because I don't necessarily think they're riskier evals. These guys evaluate players all the time, they know what they're doing. Now, if a staff as a whole sucks at it, like Herman? Or Jimbo Fisher not giving a single fuck about character in a kid? Sure, maybe, but that doesn't make a kid tougher to evaluate just because they live in California. Which brings me to my next point, do you think a good staff is nuetered without the fuckwad TXHSFB coaching circle jerk connections? Bo Davis has worked all over the South, Sark knows Cali, Tashard Choice doesn't seem to have any fucking problems in Florida. 

Sure, there's risk for kids wanting to go home. And shockingly enough it's related to their playing time and whether or not the staff in question sucks fucking dick. Most OOS players that get solid looks early and are in a healthy environment/culture don't seem all that eager to leave. You think Jake Smith left because he was homesick? Or because he sucked fucking balls and was injured and played for a shitty coach? Shockingly enough, we didn't see to have problems keeping Worthy or Bijan around, despite Worthy having a perpetual hand out. 

Every single thing you just described literally comes down to the coaching staff on campus. From low ranking Texas kids, the pissed off Texas HSFB dipshits, the bad culture, the poor roster management, all of it. Tell me what percentage of kids on Alabama's roster are from Alabama? Tell me how many kids on GA's roster are from Georgia. Tell me how many kids from Ohio State's roster are from Ohio. And you want to hold Texas or anyone else to a different standard for roster makeup than the most succesful programs in the country over the last 10 years? Why is that?

It's all about the fucking staff. If you suck you suck, if you're good you're good. Anything else is just a fucking excuse to make your lower lip tremble and rub your hands and vagina raw from all the wringing. 

Edited July 12, 2023 by SydneyCarton

[SydneyCarton 49518]

2 minutes ago, MisterP said:

Once again....Jesus Fucking Christ. Or Fricking christ for the aggy lurkers. 

 

Rule #2: Probably don't cowtow to Aggie lurkers on a Texas board. 

In case anyone wondering, Rule #1 is don't quote Randolph Duke or football board regulars. Rule #3 is stop being idiotic pussies. 

[BornAndRaised 12887]

At least this mornings argument is directly related to recruiting. For that I am thankful.

[TexasRenegade 2611]

4 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

Rule #2: Probably don't cowtow to Aggie lurkers on a Texas board. 

In case anyone wondering, Rule #1 is don't quote Randolph Duke or football board regulars. Rule #3 is stop being idiotic pussies. 

I thought rule 3 was don't quote Futureman?

[SydneyCarton 49518]

Just now, TexasRenegade said:

I thought rule 3 was don't quote Futureman?

I thought that was just the Prime Directive?

[Pato del Muerto 53565]

Which rule is you gotta post her pic?  Maybe it gets broken so often because it’s too low. Or is that not a site-wide bylaw?

[SydneyCarton 49518]

6 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Which rule is you gotta post her pic?  Maybe it gets broken so often because it’s too low. Or is that not a site-wide bylaw?

You tell us, I don't remember you ever posting pics of your Exes, sir. 

Edited July 12, 2023 by SydneyCarton

[Red Five 41764]

It's that point of the offseason. We are very restless. Tensions are high. 

[SydneyCarton 49518]

Also, for anyone complaining about the content of this thread this morning, well, I am willing to offer you an alternative option to what inevitably will be the biggest page turner since Moby Dick, Wuthering Heights, or maybe some class assigned tome on Organic Chemistry or Non-Creative Accounting:

 

I'm sure there are more painful things in this world than reading about Ian Boyd dissecting the heights and weights of a bunch of 18-22 year old men, but I have to tell you, it's going to be a challenge. Maybe the Tex Pete/Codaxx kazoo thing someone else mentioned earlier. 

[Tex Pete 21492]

1 minute ago, SydneyCarton said:

Also, for anyone complaining about the content of this thread this morning, well, I am willing to offer you an alternative option to what inevitably will be the biggest page turner since Moby Dick, Wuthering Heights, or maybe some class assigned tome on Organic Chemistry or Non-Creative Accounting:

 

I'm sure there are more painful things in this world than reading about Ian Boyd dissecting the heights and weights of a bunch of 18-22 year old men, but I have to tell you, it's going to be a challenge. Maybe the Tex Pete/Codaxx kazoo thing someone else mentioned earlier. 

Fuck yourself.

[satyanash 15647]

3 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

Also, for anyone complaining about the content of this thread this morning, well, I am willing to offer you an alternative option to what inevitably will be the biggest page turner since Moby Dick, Wuthering Heights, or maybe some class assigned tome on Organic Chemistry or Non-Creative Accounting:

 

I'm sure there are more painful things in this world than reading about Ian Boyd dissecting the heights and weights of a bunch of 18-22 year old men, but I have to tell you, it's going to be a challenge. Maybe the Tex Pete/Codaxx kazoo thing someone else mentioned earlier. 

Ian Boyd: Evaluating heights and weights on the 2023 Texas roster

Quote

The 2023 fall roster for the Texas Longhorns has been released. Texas’ willingness to adjust their roster weights and measurements for the spring AND the fall every year always creates some interesting data to sort through if you track the developments. None of us are manning the scale or the tape measure to gauge whether these measurements are actually correct, sometimes they are and sometimes they are not. However, you can see the fluctuations and changes which often tell you whether a big guy is taking his offseason conditioning seriously, whether a skinny freshman is putting on weight, or whether any particular players are looking to transform their physiques to help them execute a new position or technique.

This is also when the summer enrollees finally show up and you can see how their listed roster size compares to what they were purported to be as high schoolers. Sometimes guys listed as being massive prove not to be as big and sometimes smaller freshmen come in already having packed on weight. I keep roster and depth chart notes on Texas (and the rest of the Big 12 and much of the Power 5) so I can relay to you now what stands out from the new roster.

Standout new freshmen

While a number of Texas’ most high profile freshmen in the class of 2023 were early enrollees, a few had yet to report until now. Among the standouts by weight:

Jelani McDonald, the future linebacker/safety/star? checked in at 6-foot-2, 198 pounds. Of course he’ll grow at Texas, but that weight listing does lend credibility to the idea he may stay in the secondary rather than spinning down to linebacker.

Tausili Akana, who’s expected to be a Sam/Edge and developmental pass-rusher is listed at 6-foot-4, 209 pounds. If he’s really 6-foot-4, he’ll gain weight with time, no worries. Currently though he’s definitely on the lighter side.

Ryan Niblett is a very predictable 5-10, 183 pounds, Tre Wisner is only at 175, Warren Roberson is already up to 193. Billy Walton will begin his strength program at a promising 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and left tackle Trevor Goosby his at 6-foot-7, 285 pounds. Both have good frames for their roles, they’ll just need some time. Tight ends Spencer Shannon and Will Randle came in at 6-foot-7 241 pounds and 6-foot-4, 235 pounds respectively, I think we’ll see the O-line continue to help man the 12 personnel, “run the dang ball” packages quite a bit in 2023.

That’ll help…

Texas has a few guys who’s weights have moved toward numbers which should be more conducive to finding success in their positions. Bear in mind that all of these weights are listed BEFORE fall camp and a few months of playing football outdoors in the Texas heat.

Potential starting Buck Edge Ethan Burke is now listed at a pretty sizable 6-foot-6, 257 pounds. He’s not going to be playing through offensive linemen like his frequent high school comp Aidan Hutchinson just yet (if ever) but the extra heft should be very valuable for holding his ground on the perimeter. Former Westlake teammate Colton Vasek is already up to 242 pounds from his reported 230 in spring, he’s more likely to have a power dimension to his game than Burke and may keep creeping up toward 270 in the coming years.

Alfred Collins continues to add weight to hold down 3-technique and is at 317 after checking in at 313 in spring and 293 last fall. Jaray Bledsoe and Zac Swanson are moving up to where they could hold up inside with Bledsoe now 274 and Swanson 270. Behind them Mo Blackwell is back down from the 2-teens to 208 pounds, which is interesting for his prospects of winning a starting job at inside linebacker against David Gbenda (down a little to 225) and Anthony Hill (up a little to 234). Jaylan Ford is up to 242 in the middle, up eight pounds from spring and probably 10 from last season.

In the secondary Gavin Holmes is up to 177 now after coming in at an Xavier Worthy-ish 165, Worthy himself is up to 172 which should help if he has a higher volume of targets underneath the safeties this year rather than over the top. On the reverse end of that spectrum, B.J. Allen is down from 225 to 205 which should help him stick back at safety. Jerrin Thompson is still around 190 while Jalen Catalon, who was listed at 200+ but came in around 194, is now back up over 200. Expect to see Catalon parked in the boundary safety spot Thompson played a year ago so he can stay close to the action against the run and obliterate crossers while Jerrin now has a chance to show his range in the field.

On offense, Jordan Whittington has been maintaining around 205 for a few seasons now and Jonathon Brooks has hovered around that number as well. Cedric Baxter is up nearly 10 pounds to 218 while backfield partner Quinn Ewers is back down below 200 at 195. Adonai Mitchell is up to 196, just a little under where you’d prefer for a 6-foot-4 target with an injury history but heavier than he’s been.

Scale police

There are always the players who don’t struggle to maintain mass but may veer toward carrying too much to stay effective. As noted in the last section, some of the heavier guys will see Texas heat and the season do work that offseason conditioning didn’t. There are a lot of massive people on the roster.

T’Vondre Sweat is back up a little to 362 pounds, we’ll see this fall whether his ability to maintain his burst over repeated snaps is improved or not. He’s once more the heaviest D-tackle on the roster as Sydir Mitchell has shed 24 pounds from his listed weight of 359 (which was understated) to 335. That’s very promising for Mitchell’s ability to play real snaps this year.

On the offensive line, Cameron Williams is up a little to 369 pounds, he and fellow 350 pounder Paxton Kirkland very easily and naturally carry mega weight. DJ Campbell is also up, to 343, which is concerning at 6-foot-3 and coming off an injury. Inversely, Neto Umeozulu is down a little to 311 pounds and Malik Agbo has transformed into a 294 pounder after enrolling at 339.

The offensive line should be in good shape overall but Campbell’s weight is something to monitor as he engages in a battle for a starting guard job with Cole Hutson and Hayden Conner, who both come in at well proportioned 320. Texas is bringing a bigger, more veteran team in 2023 than we’ve seen yet.

 

[HenryJames 67437]

1 minute ago, satyanash said:

Ian Boyd: Evaluating heights and weights on the 2023 Texas roster

 

Negged.

[SydneyCarton 49518]

5 minutes ago, Tex Pete said:

Fuck yourself.