Transfer Cycle 2024-2025 - Helobious Is Giving Out Handjobs For DTs

[tokamak 6637]

14 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

I know it's early, but I just went through two sites, including PFF, regarding RBs for the 2025 draft.

1) Holy shit this is a deep class. 

2) Jaydon Blue wasn't listed on either site. Both sites had 30 or more TBs graded. 

This dude might not even get invited to the combine. 

I agree with you on Blue. He's fast, but the skillset that he has shown so far is a dime a dozen to the NFL. The questions on my mind are:

1. Is there any possibility that he realizes that he is not currently a draft prospect and actually decides to stick around for another year?
2. If so, would the coaches even be interested in that? Especially if it comes with a price tag and/or an expectation that there will be more carries coming his way. To me, it feels a little like a Keaontay Ingram situation where it might be best for everyone to have a mutual parting of ways.

12 minutes ago, HtownHorn said:

Based on my limited conversations with his family at the Cotton Bowl, he's one and done at Texas. They were pissed with the lack of targets, but he's been our only reliable and healthy WR over the back half of the season. NIL can change minds, but right now I would say he's moving on to the NFL.

That's a shame. I assume he'd get drafted, but no higher than 5-7 round, IMO. He may fall into the category of "better college player than NFL prospect". We could really use him next year for all the reasons CTJ listed upthread, and to help with system continuity for Arch.

[tokamak 6637]

6 minutes ago, Red Five said:

I'm not counting on Golden coming back. Would think that would mean two in the portal.

Wingo, Moore, Portal

Portal, Lockett, Ffrench

Butler, Livingstone

 

I dunno what it was like at Bama, but Sark doesn't seem enamored with freshman WR not named Ryan Wingo. I'm not personally expecting a whole lot from Lockett and Ffrench next year.

[gurt 790]

what the hell?  is this guy cosplaying as Lincoln Riley?

[texifornia 58353]

3 minutes ago, gurt said:

what the hell?  is this guy cosplaying as Lincoln Riley?

Looks like every 30-something football coach, not exactly a unique look

[hookemATL 12157]

3 minutes ago, gurt said:

what the hell?  is this guy cosplaying as Lincoln Riley?

Nice set of starter bitchtits. Give it a few years and he’ll have an impressive rack of Heupels/Elkos. 

fuck ou

[Ricky's one-hitter 9446]

SIAP - Here's the burner we'll be after

 

 

[irishtexan 11654]

23 minutes ago, HtownHorn said:

Based on my limited conversations with his family at the Cotton Bowl, he's one and done at Texas. They were pissed with the lack of targets, but he's been our only reliable and healthy WR over the back half of the season. NIL can change minds, but right now I would say he's moving on to the NFL.

Shit's changed since the cotton bowl. He emerged as Quinn's #1 target when Bond went down. Led all WRs in receptions, yards, and led the team in TDs. I can't imagine the family could still be unhappy with his targets. And when you consider what's coming back, I'd expect that trend to continue. He's too good. 

That being said, he could probably sneak into the 5th round in this year's draft, maybe? Tough to say because I doubt his combine numbers will be elite. He is an excellent college WR that does all the things you want at the position. 

[Ricky's one-hitter 9446]

Also, this one

 

 

[SydneyCarton 48996]

53 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

I understand why this happens and I know I do it too, but you guys are high on your own supply with Blue. He's not a starter at Texas, he doesn't project to be able to add any value running between the tackles, he's not particularly tough, he can be overwhelmed in pass protection, he's not a skilled kick or punt returner and he has the worst case of fumblitis for any player on a Texas roster since Ricky. 

He does two things well - he's an excellent receiver out of the backfield and he's very fast. 

Keilan Robinson was drafted in part because he was an excellent ST guy in multiple ways and he was good to excellent at numerous facets as a TB, if totally undersized and unable to run inside. That's just not Blue. 

FWIW to those who weren't there, Golden did not walk on SR night. I am unsure of the rules and such, so maybe he couldn't simply because he's not going to graduate any time soon or something, but that's likely not the case. I took it as an indicator that he wants to come back. I think the dude is a terrific college WR, so I would love to see that. He catches everything, plays tough, runs solid routes, has a workmanlike attitude within the program, is helpful on kick returns, etc. It would be great news if he returns.

Plenty of guys come back within 9 months of an ACL injury and play like nothing happened. It's a truly individual issue, so no one knows shit right now, but it's more likely that he's ready in the summer than not able to workout in the fall, given history of others with the same issue. This isn't the 1970's. 

Without any insider knowledge, I'm expecting Golden to return. For all ther reasons mentioned, and because I'm not sure he's going to test exceedingly well at one trait, and becuase I think Texas will make him a Jordan Whittington type offer. I also think the sales pitch of him having arch manning at QB who can actually hit deep balls will make a more compelling case for him to be drafted higher than he would be drafted this year. 

A core WR group of Moore, Wingo, Niblett and Golden with the Freshman sprinked in is salty enough IMO, particularly when teams have to respect the deep ball...and the run. 

I think we have too many RBs, assuming everyone comes back healthy, and to be honest, Im hoping Blue does enter the draft. I've about had it with his fumbles, but the fact he hasn't seemed to progress as a RB in any way between the tackles, even as the season has wore on, has me about ready to throw in the towel and see those snaps go to other, younger backs. We know Choice can fucking coach. We've seen it with Wisner's development throughout the season. Blue is the same back, either getting shoestringed on the edge, getting clogged in between the tackles, fumbling, or making some great catches out of the backfield. 1 out of 4 ain't great. 

[SydneyCarton 48996]

20 minutes ago, gurt said:

what the hell?  is this guy cosplaying as Lincoln Riley?

Well, can you confirm for us that he's got a sun belly tat under that dri-fit for us?

[Red Five 41423]

What are the thoughts on Taaffe coming back? If not then we absolutely need to go get a safety. Maybe even if he does come back.

[BurntOrange&White 41352]

Just now, Red Five said:

What are the thoughts on Taaffe coming back? If not then we absolutely need to go get a safety. Maybe even if he does come back.

If Ttaaffee isn't coming back we definitely should pursue that Purdue safety. Perfect replacement.

[Hornius Emeritus 12687]

If Taafe continues his current arc, he'll be the #1 player chosen in the draft after next year.

[SydneyCarton 48996]

Man, I just assumed Taaffe was a senior. Did he walk on Senior Night?

I honestly thought he'd worked his way into the draft this season, amazingly. 

I'm just going to assume he'll be back, for various reasons. 

[BurntOrange&White 41352]

Just now, SydneyCarton said:

Did he walk on Senior Night?

Yes

[Red Five 41423]

Just now, SydneyCarton said:

Man, I just assumed Taaffe was a senior. Did he walk on Senior Night?

Think so. 

[Hookem2147 21661]

23 minutes ago, Ricky's one-hitter said:

SIAP - Here's the burner we'll be after

 

 

Isn’t this the son of the old Texas track coach we fired for some shady stuff?

[SydneyCarton 48996]

High on the list of things I never thought in my entire life I'd be saying out loud is "Michael Taaffe is going to be drafted...by the NFL." But here we are, unless he runs a Leon O'Neal type 40, which is still possible, but I think that guy has worked himself into the 5-7th rounds this season. 

[BurntOrange&White 41352]

Just now, SydneyCarton said:

High on the list of things I never thought in my entire life I'd be saying out loud is "Michael Taaffe is going to be drafted...by the NFL." But here we are, unless he runs a Leon O'Neal type 40, which is still possible, but I think that guy has worked himself into the 5-7th rounds this season. 

On that 3rd and Longhorn show DJ and Okafor talked about it and said it will depend on his testing at either combine or pro day whether he's drafted. They also both said he'll make a 53 man roster in the league even if UFA.

[SydneyCarton 48996]

3 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

On that 3rd and Longhorn show DJ and Okafor talked about it and said it will depend on his testing at either combine or pro day whether he's drafted. They also both said he'll make a 53 man roster in the league even if UFA.

But will he get paid more by the NFL?

[closetojumping 64730]

32 minutes ago, Park Gothic said:

Honest question - what is going on with the fumbles in the RB room? Is it really that hard to hold onto the football? It doesn't seem like other schools have this problem, but maybe I haven't been paying attention?

I know that "hit the ball" is being taught more and more as a standard part of tackling, but that's hardly novel and you would think the coaching / players would have adjusted at this point. 

I'll get mocked and eyerolled on this, so be it. I had fumblitis in the 7th grade. 12 year old me was psyched out about the shit in ways I have never been elsewhere in my life. Couldn't fix it. Every time a handoff to me was called in the huddle, people openly bitched about it. I fumbled once on a long almost touchdown run, wide open down the sidelines and no one within 10 yards of me. Whoop! Right out of bounds.

Came back for 5 more seasons of football, touching the ball 8-25 times a game and fumbled twice in five years, both on perfect punchouts by the defender. No clue how it works for grown adults, but that shit is brutal on the mental end.

20 minutes ago, Ricky's one-hitter said:

Also, this one

 

 

No thanks. That dude defines mediocrity for highly rated WRs. 

4 minutes ago, Red Five said:

What are the thoughts on Taaffe coming back? If not then we absolutely need to go get a safety. Maybe even if he does come back.

He was valued enough in this last cycle by the staff to merit a significant NIL placement. I think if they can get him back, they'd absolutely take him. 

[Red Five 41423]

If you're ranking our best safeties since Earl Thomas, where do you slot Taaffe? Sounds nuts, but he's really good. 

[Ricky's one-hitter 9446]

8 minutes ago, Hookem2147 said:

Isn’t this the son of the old Texas track coach we fired for some shady stuff?

Yes

Spoiler

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas fired track coach Mario Sategna on Thursday after five years and multiple Big 12 championships, with new athletic director Chris Del Conte saying the program needs a new direction.

Sategna took over the program in 2013 after Texas dismissed former coach Bev Kearney following revelations she had a relationship with a student-athlete a decade earlier. Sategna took a personal leave in late 2016, followed by an administrative leave while he was under a school ethics and misconduct investigation.

Sategna was allowed to return to the program in early 2017, with no explanation of what Texas was investigating. At the time, then-men's athletic director Mike Perrin and women's athletic director Chris Plonsky said in a joint statement that all the school's concerns had been addressed, but Sategna must meet "appropriate responsive measures" in the future.

The school has previously said the investigation didn't involve NCAA compliance or gender discrimination issues.

When he returned to Texas, Sategna said he had needed time for "self-improvement" and was grateful to come back. Texas won its third consecutive men's Big 12 outdoor title a few months later.

The women's teams also swept the Big 12 indoor and outdoor championship in 2014, and Texas won both the men's and women's indoor and outdoor league titles in 2015.

Del Conte, who has been on the job about two months, said a change was needed. Satenga, a former assistant coach, has spent 15 years with the Texas program.

"After discussing the future of our track and field program, I felt it was best to move forward and head in a new direction at this time," Del Conte said in a statement released by the school. A spokesman said Del Conte would have no further comment. Associate head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey will serve as interim head coach.

Sategna is also a prominent coach in international track and field. He was an assistant throwing coach with the U.S. track team at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where former Longhorns Ryan Crouser and Michelle Carter each won gold in the shot put. He was the USA men's head coach at the 2017 world championships in London.

Sategna's attorney, Butch Hayes, who represented Sategna through the misconduct probe, declined immediate comment Thursday. Texas is currently fighting a sex and race discrimination lawsuit filed by Kearney after she was fired.

 

[Constant 6825]

35 minutes ago, texifornia said:

Looks like every 30-something football coach, not exactly a unique look

Wait til you see him in a quarter zip with the sleeves pulled back mid forearm. 

[Beau Vine 55623]

3 hours ago, Huckleberry said:

Now it certainly doesn't mean one guy can't be good, but Purdue this year was historically terrible as we all know. I have them as the 8th worst power conference team this century ahead of only a couple of Duke squads, a couple of Kansas squads, an Indiana team, and the infamous 2008 Apple Cup participants.

[Teamdirtyleg 1138]

32 minutes ago, Ricky's one-hitter said:

Also, this one

 

 

This guy.  Somehow my daughter (no pics) at Bama knows. Maybe had a class together or part of a larger group that hang out a little, I don't remember, it was a couple of years ago.  But he was shooting his shot, a lot, at my daughter.  "Lets make D1 babies".  I hope this dipshit ends up in the FCS

[Mitch Cumsteen 18879]

I absolutely love Baxter, but he showed up to campus hurt, was hurt on and off again last season, and then blew out his knee before this season. I hope to hell he comes back at 100% and has a spectacular year before going pro, but the injury track record isn't great. How much can you depend on him? 

[SydneyCarton 48996]

6 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

I'll get mocked and eyerolled on this, so be it. I had fumblitis in the 7th grade. 12 year old me was psyched out about the shit in ways I have never been elsewhere in my life. Couldn't fix it. Every time a handoff to me was called in the huddle, people openly bitched about it. I fumbled once on a long almost touchdown run, wide open down the sidelines and no one within 10 yards of me. Whoop! Right out of bounds.

Came back for 5 more seasons of football, touching the ball 8-25 times a game and fumbled twice in five years, both on perfect punchouts by the defender. No clue how it works for grown adults, but that shit is brutal on the mental end.

No thanks. That dude defines mediocrity for highly rated WRs. 

He was valued enough in this last cycle by the staff to merit a significant NIL placement. I think if they can get him back, they'd absolutely take him. 

CloseToJaydoning, imo. 

[Longhornlove 5097]

3 minutes ago, Red Five said:

If you're ranking our best safeties since Earl Thomas, where do you slot Taaffe? Sounds nuts, but he's really good. 

Funny considering all the idiots on this site that wanted him gone based on him being a white walk-on. He was our most consistent safety last year and nothing has changed this year beyond being surrounded by better players than he had before. He deserves every bit of praise we or anyone else can give him. If he wants to come back, sign me up, the dude is a baller.

[closetojumping 64730]

2 minutes ago, Mitch Cumsteen said:

I absolutely love Baxter, but he showed up to campus hurt, was hurt on and off again last season, and then blew out his knee before this season. I hope to hell he comes back at 100% and has a spectacular year before going pro, but the injury track record isn't great. How much can you depend on him? 

The injury this summer was a stupid thing. Late hit on him after a play was whistled dead by a try-hard trying to standout to the coaches. I agree with what you're saying, nonetheless.

[Ricky's one-hitter 9446]

1 minute ago, Longhornlove said:

Funny considering all the idiots on this site that wanted him gone based on him being a white walk-on. He was our most consistent safety last year and nothing has changed this year beyond being surrounded by better players than he had before. He deserves every bit of praise we or anyone else can give him. If he wants to come back, sign me up, the dude is a baller.

He's not the same player, though. We'd always heard about Taafe as a player with "obvious physical limitations", exactly the same way they'd talk about Jerrin Thompson. But Taafe has gotten faster and stronger since last year and those physical limitations don't show up on film like they used to. It helps Taafe that we have better corners, but he's improved significantly. 

[Longhornlove 5097]

1 minute ago, Ricky's one-hitter said:

He's not the same player, though. We'd always heard about Taafe as a player with "obvious physical limitations", exactly the same way they'd talk about Jerrin Thompson. But Taafe has gotten faster and stronger since last year and those physical limitations don't show up on film like they used to. It helps Taafe that we have better corners, but he's improved significantly. 

Taafe was faster than anyone was willing to admit to begin with. I never said he didn't improve, of course he has. He is a better athlete than anyone has given him credit for. My point stands. He was our most consistent safety las year as well as this year. I personally neb=ver bashed hime for any reason including being a white walk-on. Some in this thread did however.

Quite embarrassing to bash a kid who walked on here because he loved the school yet had other offers. He has risen to the occasion by getting playing time, then starting, then earning a scholarship while being a leader throughout it all. Just last offseason people were hoping he got replaced. I honestly can't speak highly enough of him. Not to mention his close friendship with Arch.

[MuellerHorn 4560]

13 minutes ago, Red Five said:

If you're ranking our best safeties since Earl Thomas, where do you slot Taaffe? Sounds nuts, but he's really good. 

Draft (round):

2010: Thomas (1st)

- - -

2013: Vaccaro (1st)

2015: M Thompson (5th), Diggs (6th)

2018: Elliott (6th)

2020: Jones (3rd)

2021: Sterns (5th)

Vaccaro, Diggs, Elliott, and Jones had (or are having) productive NFL careers. Thompson and Sterns had much shorter stints. The first four all had more college production Taaffe currently does, but he's not far behind. However, Mookie is having a hell of a season this year. It's hard to rank them, because Taaffe has a much better defense around him than the others.

[Tex-19 2942]

I can't see Blue getting drafted. Gibson just got a deal with Maserati Austin so I assume he's not portaling? RB room is pretty crowded, I could see Blue in the portal although Baxter's health is a wild card

Golden and Taafe returning would be huge. I'm guessing both are mid to late rounders so could go either way but no real clue.

What's the NFL projection on Trey Moore? Does he return or go pro?

[Atticus 4162]

Taaffe’s tangibles are great, but his intangibles are what set him apart. All he’s done is prove people wrong and I don’t expect him to fail at the next stage either. 
 

Don’t let him get isolated on a fast or quick receiver and he’ll thrive back there. 

[LCHorn 2731]

34 minutes ago, Red Five said:

If you're ranking our best safeties since Earl Thomas, where do you slot Taaffe? Sounds nuts, but he's really good. 

Some of that might be system oriented.  It helps he’s had the same coach for the last four seasons, for example, and that Kwiatkowski a great coordinator without having the Manny Diaz like inconsistency that comes from trying to manage around inexperience (NIL are transfers are also to credit).  That said, he’s gotten better every season and hasn’t dropped a fucking gimme interception against Tech.  

[Tex-19 2942]

1 hour ago, closetojumping said:

I know it's early, but I just went through two sites, including PFF, regarding RBs for the 2025 draft.

1) Holy shit this is a deep class. 

2) Jaydon Blue wasn't listed on either site. Both sites had 30 or more TBs graded. 

This dude might not even get invited to the combine. 

Where do they have Golden? Mock Draft Database has him 6th round but I don't think it's reliable once you get past the 1st/2nd rounders

[LCHorn 2731]

19 minutes ago, Longhornlove said:

Quite embarrassing to bash a kid who walked on here because he loved the school yet had other offers.

Let’s be frank, I don’t think anyone is going to feel guilty taking a wait and see approach for yet another white kid from Westlake or Lake Travis.  Don’t blame the messenger, blame Greg, Mack, and Squints.  

[Tex-19 2942]

2 hours ago, closetojumping said:

FWIW to those who weren't there, Golden did not walk on SR night. I am unsure of the rules and such, so maybe he couldn't simply because he's not going to graduate any time soon or something, but that's likely not the case. I took it as an indicator that he wants to come back. I think the dude is a terrific college WR, so I would love to see that. He catches everything, plays tough, runs solid routes, has a workmanlike attitude within the program, is helpful on kick returns, etc. It would be great news if he returns.

I'm guessing the "Juniors" who walked were all redshirt juniors, so seniors in the academic sense, but I haven't looked at the list so that could be wrong. I don't think Kelvin or Cam walked though either and safe to say they're gone. Regardless, definitely hope Golden comes back and it wouldn't be too shocking if he did

[tokamak 6637]

1 hour ago, hookemATL said:

Nice set of starter bitchtits. Give it a few years and he’ll have an impressive rack of Heupels/Elkos. 

fuck ou

The average demographic of this website is 40-50 year old dads. Let's maybe tap the brakes on calling out bitchtits.

[Redneck Mutha 8139]

7 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

That said, he’s gotten better every season and hasn’t dropped a fucking gimme interception against Tech.  

Too soon.

[Js1 86385]

1 minute ago, Tex-19 said:

I'm guessing the "Juniors" who walked were all redshirt juniors, so seniors in the academic sense, but I haven't looked at the list so that could be wrong. I don't think Kelvin or Cam walked though either and safe to say they're gone.

Which is odd, because I thought Texas let the juniors who were likely to go pro walk to let them have a senior day. 

[Keef 839]

Taaffe has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and he hasn't missed tackles this year, including some difficult ones in space.  He's playing as well as Elliott did in his junior year.

[closetojumping 64730]

5 minutes ago, Tex-19 said:

Where do they have Golden? Mock Draft Database has him 6th round but I don't think it's reliable once you get past the 1st/2nd rounders

He's not currently on PFF's big board, but no one should take much stock in that yet. Guys like Moose Muhammad and 3 WRs from CU not named Hunter are currently on there. I see a bunch of spares that are not going to project better than Golden at the combine or in film review. 

[Longhornlove 5097]

8 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

wait and see

The comments I were reading were far from "wait and see", more like torches and pitchforks from some.

[LCHorn 2731]

1 hour ago, HtownHorn said:

Based on my limited conversations with his family at the Cotton Bowl, he's one and done at Texas. They were pissed with the lack of targets, but he's been our only reliable and healthy WR over the back half of the season. NIL can change minds, but right now I would say he's moving on to the NFL.

I’m going to be wildly presumptive on this, but Nahlin has a type and he gets real excited about these Houston suburban kids with Dads who will talk to him.  He was pushing Golden hard as a recruit (unofficial mouthpiece for family, imo) and Texas only half-heatedly came with a late offer after missing on some others (if I recall correctly, WR recruiting was kind of a mess that year).  
 

Anyway, that kind of red-ass usually seems to lend itself to an exaggerated sense of self-importance on the field and Golden doesn’t play like that AT ALL, particularly in a position group typically filled with prima donnas.  I wonder if his parents are a little over protective of what they think their kid deserves, and he by comparison just wants to get after it on the field.  

[Bodacious Bevo 3659]

Personally I’d have Taaffe as a round 3-4 guy with the important caveat of not having all-22 so DBs are hard to grade

[Kwix 2435]

 

[HtownHorn 15184]

1 minute ago, LCHorn said:

I’m going to be wildly presumptive on this, but Nahlin has a type and he gets real excited about these Houston suburban kids with Dads who will talk to him.  He was pushing Golden hard as a recruit (unofficial mouthpiece for family, imo) and Texas only half-heatedly came with a late offer after missing on some others (if I recall correctly, WR recruiting was kind of a mess that year).  
 

Anyway, that kind of red-ass usually seems to lend itself to an exaggerated sense of self-importance on the field and Golden doesn’t play like that AT ALL, particularly in a position group typically filled with prima donnas.  I wonder if his parents are a little over protective of what they think their kid deserves, and he by comparison just wants to get after it on the field.  

The conversation was based on his preceived draft grade dropping by being ignored. Though statisically this is his best season, maybe the 2nd half of the season cooled their jets, and I hope he would return. He's a great team player and he would be missed.

[closetojumping 64730]

9 minutes ago, Kwix said:

 

Another highly rated bust from the 2022 cycle. He sparsely received snaps this season. I'm sure he's expecting to get paid. I'd say "good luck" to him but he was one of the constant shit talkers along with talentless assclown Bobby Taylor during the 2022 cycle. I'm guessing some old stuff in his twitter timeline is pretty hilarious, going of off memory. 

BTW, that's 18, I think, out of 30 signees from the vaunted 2022 class that have now fully busted at ATM. 

Edited December 5 by closetojumping