Spring Roster

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by NRHorn, Mar 10, 2019.

  1. NRHorn

    NRHorn 2,500+ Posts

    • Like Like x 2
  2. Vol Horn 4 Life

    Vol Horn 4 Life Good Bye To All The Rest!

    There are names on that list I've never heard before. As an example Freshman WR #19 Kartik Akkihal. Do they include walk on's?
     
  3. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    Yes.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  4. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    I must admit, that I'm really happy to have Demarco back. With our lack of RB with size, he is great addition as a guy that can play the roll of fullback when we need one. I'm hoping they will train him to be both a linebacker and RB.
     
  5. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    Here is TFB on the Spring OL (noting Braun doesnt arrive until Summer)
    My 2 cents -- This is as much OL depth as I can remember going back to the last few seasons of Mack Brown. It seems like every season all this time we were always one injury away from disaster. Not anymore.

    Offensive Line
    Starters
    LT: Samuel Cosmi (6’6 295) Sophomore
    LG: Tope Imade (6’5 340) Junior OR Junior Angilau (6’6 300) Freshman
    C: Zach Shackelford (6’4 305) Senior
    RG: Derek Kerstetter (6’5 305) Junior
    RT: Denzel Okafor (6’4 315) Junior

    Projected Backups:
    LT: Reese Moore (6’6 300) Freshman OR Tyler Johnson (6’6 315) Freshman
    LG: Junior Angilau (6’6 300) Freshman OR Tope Imade (6’5 340) Junior
    C: Rafiti Ghirmai (6’5 300) Freshman
    RG: J.P. Urquidez (6’6 300) Junior OR Tyler Johnson (6’6 315) Freshman
    RT: Christian Jones (6’5 305) Freshman

    What We Know: Texas has eleven scholarship Offensive Linemen at the start of spring practices and they’re all healthy. They return two starters from an Offensive Line that was the best that Texas has had in recent years. The bad news is Texas lost LT Calvin Anderson, LG Patrick Vahe, and RT Elijah Rodriguez to graduation. The good news is that Texas has one of the best Offensive Line Coaches in the country in Herb Hand. Senior Center Zach Shackelford has played in 40 games (27 starts) in his career and will be looking to build off of a Junior season that earned him First Team All-Big XII honors from the Associated Press. Redshirt Sophomore Samuel Cosmi was a Freshman All-American selection and will transition over to the left side, where he should have no issues with his excellent feet. Junior Derek Kerstetter has played in 24 games (15 starts) and has experience at both Guard and Tackle. Junior Denzel Okafor redshirted in 2018, but has played in 24 games (4 starts) in his career and will get the first opportunity with the first-team at Right Tackle.

    What We Hope: Kerstetter wasn’t a full time starter last season and Okafor wasn’t a part of the rotation at all, but the two Juniors are far from inexperienced. Both players are also possibly interchangeable with their flexibility to play Guard and Tackle, meaning that there are ways that Coach Hand can tinker with his line without necessarily having to remove or replace anyone. The hope is that Kerstetter and Okafor can develop some chemistry on the right side together this spring. Redshirt Freshmen Reese Moore and Christian Jones have been acclimating very well. The hope is that they can provide some depth at the Tackle positions and possibly even push for playing time if there were to be any injuries or if Okafor struggles.

    What to Watch for: Texas was able to redshirt their entire 2018 Freshman class and they are joined by a consensus top-100 2019 national recruit, Tyler Johnson, this spring as an early enrollee. Redshirt Freshman Junior Angilau was an All-American coming out of High School and has drawn positive reviews all offseason. The Left Guard position is one that is unsettled and will likely remain that way until the fall. Fourth-year Junior Tope Imade has yet to participate in any live action for Texas. The expectation is that the massive road grader will be a contributor in the Texas rotation in 2019. He has an opportunity to earn the starting job this spring, but will have to beat out some talented younger players, not to mention Georgia Tech grad transfer Parker Braun, a 2-time All-ACC selection, who will arrive in the summer and is expected to contribute immediately

    Open Post | Weekend, March 15th - 17th - The Football Brainiacs - UT Edition
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Hot Hot x 1
    Last edited: Mar 15, 2019
  6. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    This really does help me feel better about next Fall. We're losing 3 important cogs from last year.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  7. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    Friday Depth Chart per TFB

    DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
    We finally got a good idea of what the defensive depth chart will look for the Longhorns for the spring.
    Note - Anthony Cook, De’Gabriel Floyd, Brandon Jones and Marqez Bimage (green non-contact jersey) were all guys that were held out of defensive team drills.

    First Team:
    DE: Malcolm Roach
    DT: Gerald Wilbon
    DE: TaQuon Graham
    Rover: Ayodele Adeoye
    LB: Jeffrey McCulloch
    LB: Joseph Ossai
    Nickel: BJ Foster
    CB: Jalen Green
    CB: Kobe Boyce
    S: Caden Sterns
    S: Chris Brown

    Second Team:
    DE: Moro Ojomo
    DT: Jamari Chirsholm
    DE: Marqez Bimage
    Rover: Caleb Johnson
    LB: Byron Vaughns
    LB: Cort Jaquess (De’Gabriel Floyd)
    Nickel: Josh Thompson
    CB: Donovan Duvernay
    CB: D’Shawn Jamison
    S: Montrell Estell
    S: Demarvion Overshown

    Open Post | Tuesday, March 19th - The Football Brainiacs - UT Edition
     
  8. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    Some practice notes - same link^

    -WR Brennan Eagles looks a full 230 pounds, yet he is still running like he is 200. S/o Yancy McKnight

    -Quarterback Sam Ehlinger looked crisp Friday. He also assumed the leadership role and was coaching up the younger guys in their throwing mechanics.

    -WR Joshua Moore is going to be real tough to keep off the field. He is a legit receiver and adds a different dimension to the Texas offense with his quickness.

    -WR Bru McCoy runs, catches and lines up in an unorthodox manner, but it certainly works.

    -RB Kirk Johnson is going to have a role this season for the first time in his Texas career. In person, Kirk may be the most impressive specimen at the position and has the speed and quickness that is certainly desired.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Hot Hot x 1
  9. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Young man deserves a chance - he just has to stay healthy.
     
    • Agree Agree x 5
  10. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    Before all the injuries, he was getting compared to some of the greats
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    I'm more than happy with the depth chart of our dline. we have starters that are actually more talented than the guys that just left, but not as experienced. Behind them are some very talented guys who will eventually step up when the light fully comes on for them. The key is when the game begins to slow down for them.

    Linebacker is a position that interests me more than anything on the defensive side. On the one hand, I love the guys we have penciled in as starters, I think they are going to be great next year. On the other hand, we don't have a lot backing them up and it's going to be interesting to see how fast the young guys can catch on and prove they can be trusted in a game situation.

    It's a credit to the DB coaches that I feel like we are in such good hands I'm not one bit concerned with what they are doing back there. I know these guys are going to get the job done. My biggest concern is getting reps for everyone.
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
  12. Austin_Bill

    Austin_Bill 2,500+ Posts

    When I think of Kirk, that Eminem song from the movie 8 mile comes to mind. He has one chance to seize the moment and make his dreams come true.

    I'm really pulling for him, I hope he ends his career on a very high note, and I'm also hoping he can get a medical red shirt and then come back for one more.
     
    • Agree Agree x 5
  13. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    I really like those two Rovers. I'm excited to watch them play.
     
  14. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    This is such good news. Around a month ago, seemingly everybody (including myself) was worried about RB depth. Now, we've got Ingram, Whittington (who will play RB instead of WR), Kirk Johnson (apparently full speed now), Danny Young, and a few others. Not shabby depth for a 1 back set.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  15. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    A lot here to unpack but a lot of GOOD news on the OL.

    Experience returning and talented depth we didnt see a few years ago. The OL and DL is where it starts - you control / dominate here and you will win most games. Parker Braun coming in will be much like Calvin Anderson addition.... perhaps better.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2019
  16. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    :bow: Nailed it! :bow:
     
  17. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    TFB/Darius Terrell on whether we lose juniors again after this season ....

    " ..... Unlike the past two years, I don’t believe that Texas will have to worry about any draft-eligible underclassmen leaving early after this season. Regardless of how great of a year he has in 2019, I have an extremely difficult time seeing Sam Ehlinger declare early, he bleeds Burnt Orange and the 2020 QB class in the NFL Draft is expected to be a very strong one.

    Redshirt Sophomore OL Samuel Cosmi may currently be the best NFL prospect on the roster, but he is unproven as a Left Tackle and is currently considered light (290lbs) by NFL standards. I believe that Cosmi has a chance to be a 1st-Round selection after his Junior season in 2021 if he stays on his current trajectory and continues to get stronger. You cannot teach his athleticism, feet, or mean streak. He compares favorably to Connor Williams, who went 50th overall in 2018, especially if he avoids any durability issues.

    There is a gap between the rising seniors and rising sophomores. Tom Herman’s transition class in 2017 had some gems (Ehlinger & Cosmi), but was low on numbers and is the reason that so many Freshmen were forced into action last season.

    Next year’s NFL Combine won’t see a ton of Longhorns in it, but those that do get invited will have a better chance of hearing their names called during the draft than this year’s group.

    Texas has a chance to really be “back” and represented very well in the 2021 Draft. Texas has numerous potential early-round picks in the program for the first time in what seems like a long time."

    The link also has predictions on which players they think will be drafted by the NFL, which "have a chance," and the dark horses to be drafted
    Open Post | Weekend, May 3rd - 5th - The Football Brainiacs - UT Edition
     
  18. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2019
  19. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    Also
    Tope Imade at 350
    Willie Tyler 340
    Ossai at 6'4,245
    Roach 6'3,290
    Bimage 6'2,270
    Mpagi 6'5,260
    Ojomo 6'3,280
    Myron Warren 6'2,270
    Wilbon 6'3,325
    Overshown 6'4,210
    Tyler Owens 6'2,205
     
  20. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Hmmmmm. Interesting.

    As long as it's "quality" weight, I'm all for big interior linemen. I wouldn't think Yancy McKnight would sit around idly and let a bunch of linemen pork up into immobile fat guys. Also, I think it's now pretty well settled that Sweat is slated for the NT position.
     
  21. mchammer

    mchammer 10,000+ Posts

    Olomo pretty large for what ought to be his freshman year.
     
  22. NRHorn

    NRHorn 2,500+ Posts

    Geez, Owens looks huge.
    Colburn is a FR? Oh boy.
     
  23. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    Coburn especially. If he can play at that weight and still get a push, it will be wunderbar. The traditional 3-4 NT just needed to be immovable, tie up 2 blockers. But Orlando needs them to do more than just not surrender ground. They have to be able to move and even chase. Humans this big who can do that are hard to find. But maybe we actually have one here?
     
    • Like Like x 1
  24. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Agree in total.

    Coburn (only a redshirt Freshman) is the rising star and BAMF on the DL. His potential is at the All-American / Outland trophy level before he leaves the 40. I wouldn't be surprised if he pushes out Wilbon for the starting position by mid season or OU, though the NT position should always have frequent rotation. Men over 325 lbs need the occasional breather after fighting double teams and chasing down QBs and RBs.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1

Share This Page