Spring position review: Tight end 
February, 14, 2012
2/14/12
8:30
AM CT
By
Carter Strickland | ESPN.com
After listening to Mack Brown prattle on about the lack of tight ends and how maybe Reggie Wilson or Chris Whaley or Caleb Bluiett or Malcom Brown or Dalton Santos or any of a handful of other defensive players could be moved to that position, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz had to speak up.
“Are we going to play 12 tight ends?” the Texas defensive coordinator said. “Every time you all mention something, every player on defense now is going to be a tight end.”
Diaz might have been exaggerating, but Texas is searching high, low and on the other side of the ball for a tight end. It has not yet found anyone to fill the position that really has statistically been a non-factor since Jermichael Finley left following the 2007 season.
“Are we going to play 12 tight ends?” the Texas defensive coordinator said. “Every time you all mention something, every player on defense now is going to be a tight end.”
Diaz might have been exaggerating, but Texas is searching high, low and on the other side of the ball for a tight end. It has not yet found anyone to fill the position that really has statistically been a non-factor since Jermichael Finley left following the 2007 season.
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The race for the Big 12 title appears to be a two-team affair between Missouri and Kansas. The rest of the league, however, is in a state of flux. Here are this week’s power rankings:
1. Missouri: Aided by Oklahoma's porous free throw shooting, the Tigers escaped Norman with a three-point victory last week before dismantling Baylor at home Saturday. On Wednesday they get to avenge last month’s loss to Oklahoma State when they take on the Cowboys in Columbia. Marcus Denmon has made 14 of his previous 26 attempts from 3-point range.
2. Kansas: The Jayhawks looked like a totally different team last week thanks to the emergence of Jeff Withey. The 7-foot center scored a career-high 25 points in Wednesday’s win at Baylor before erupting for 18 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocks Saturday against Oklahoma State. Kansas travels to Manhattan to play Kansas State on Big Monday. Bill Self’s squad defeated the Wildcats by 18 points on Jan. 4. Expect a closer game on the road.
1. Missouri: Aided by Oklahoma's porous free throw shooting, the Tigers escaped Norman with a three-point victory last week before dismantling Baylor at home Saturday. On Wednesday they get to avenge last month’s loss to Oklahoma State when they take on the Cowboys in Columbia. Marcus Denmon has made 14 of his previous 26 attempts from 3-point range.
2. Kansas: The Jayhawks looked like a totally different team last week thanks to the emergence of Jeff Withey. The 7-foot center scored a career-high 25 points in Wednesday’s win at Baylor before erupting for 18 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocks Saturday against Oklahoma State. Kansas travels to Manhattan to play Kansas State on Big Monday. Bill Self’s squad defeated the Wildcats by 18 points on Jan. 4. Expect a closer game on the road.
Texas chances in remaining games
February, 13, 2012
2/13/12
1:30
PM CT
By
Carter Strickland | ESPN.com
It took 24 games and 20 minutes but Rick Barnes was finally satisfied, wait, strike that, almost giddy, with the way his Texas team played on both ends of the floor.
“I’ve been doing this a long time,” Barnes said after Texas’ 75-64 win over Kansas State. “And I sat there in the second half and enjoyed it.
“I love teams that get after people on the defensive end and I love teams that attack on the offensive end. They are in a constant attack mode and that is what we have told our team since they have been here.”
Texas will have to be on the attack as it goes down the stretch. With the current three-game winning streak, Texas (16-9, 6-6) has now pulled to .500 in the Big 12. If Texas can remain at .500 or better through the remaining six games, odds are it will make it into the NCAA tournament for the 14th straight year.
Here is the schedule down the stretch and what Texas’ chances are in each of those games:
Oklahoma (13-11, 3-9): Texas will play the Sooners twice beginning with a game Tuesday night in Norman. Two of the Sooners’ three Big 12 wins have come against Kansas State so there is little doubt Lon Kruger’s group has the ability to pull an upset over Texas. Oklahoma has lost four straight. One of those was by three to No. 4 Missouri. But Missouri seems to play a lot of close games. So that game might be more of an indictment of Missouri than an endorsement of OU’s style of play.
The one OU player Texas will have to watch for is guard Steve Pledger. The junior is shooting 46 percent from beyond the arc and much like Texas’ J’Covan Brown, can get hot. But Pledger struggles finding his shot outside of the offensive sets. That should help Texas’ defense.
Chances of a sweep: 80 percent
Oklahoma State (12-13, 5-7): Texas had some trouble with the Cowboys the first time around before finally putting together a run in the second half to win by 10. But this game is on the road, and the Cowboys have proven to be difficult at home with wins over No. 4 Missouri and Iowa State in the past two weeks.
Oklahoma State gives Texas trouble on the inside because of the length of the interior players -- LeBryan Nash and Michael Cobbins. Both are very good leapers and shot blockers. Texas center Clint Chapman struggles with his back to the basket against those types of players.
“I’ve been doing this a long time,” Barnes said after Texas’ 75-64 win over Kansas State. “And I sat there in the second half and enjoyed it.
“I love teams that get after people on the defensive end and I love teams that attack on the offensive end. They are in a constant attack mode and that is what we have told our team since they have been here.”
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Peter G. Aiken/Getty ImagesTexas had success against Baylor's Pierre Jackson, but can the Longhorns duplicate that success again?
Peter G. Aiken/Getty ImagesTexas had success against Baylor's Pierre Jackson, but can the Longhorns duplicate that success again?Here is the schedule down the stretch and what Texas’ chances are in each of those games:
Oklahoma (13-11, 3-9): Texas will play the Sooners twice beginning with a game Tuesday night in Norman. Two of the Sooners’ three Big 12 wins have come against Kansas State so there is little doubt Lon Kruger’s group has the ability to pull an upset over Texas. Oklahoma has lost four straight. One of those was by three to No. 4 Missouri. But Missouri seems to play a lot of close games. So that game might be more of an indictment of Missouri than an endorsement of OU’s style of play.
The one OU player Texas will have to watch for is guard Steve Pledger. The junior is shooting 46 percent from beyond the arc and much like Texas’ J’Covan Brown, can get hot. But Pledger struggles finding his shot outside of the offensive sets. That should help Texas’ defense.
Chances of a sweep: 80 percent
Oklahoma State (12-13, 5-7): Texas had some trouble with the Cowboys the first time around before finally putting together a run in the second half to win by 10. But this game is on the road, and the Cowboys have proven to be difficult at home with wins over No. 4 Missouri and Iowa State in the past two weeks.
Oklahoma State gives Texas trouble on the inside because of the length of the interior players -- LeBryan Nash and Michael Cobbins. Both are very good leapers and shot blockers. Texas center Clint Chapman struggles with his back to the basket against those types of players.
Bracketology: Texas off the bubble?
February, 13, 2012
2/13/12
10:52
AM CT
By HornsNation staff | ESPN.com
It's amazing what a three-game winning streak will do for a team's tournament chances.
Coming off wins over Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Kansas State, Texas seems to be off the bubble and firmly in the NCAA tournament.
In the latest Bracketology, Joe Lunardi has the Longhorns as a No. 12 team facing No. 5 seed Gonzaga in Nashville in the South Region.
Here's the full bracket.
The bracket odds further highlight Texas' position.
The Longhorns are one of the last four teams to earn a first-round bye which means they avoid playing in the First Four matchups to start the tournament.
Coming off wins over Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Kansas State, Texas seems to be off the bubble and firmly in the NCAA tournament.
In the latest Bracketology, Joe Lunardi has the Longhorns as a No. 12 team facing No. 5 seed Gonzaga in Nashville in the South Region.
Here's the full bracket.
The bracket odds further highlight Texas' position.
The Longhorns are one of the last four teams to earn a first-round bye which means they avoid playing in the First Four matchups to start the tournament.
Spring position preview: Offensive line
February, 13, 2012
2/13/12
9:53
AM CT
By
Carter Strickland | ESPN.com
Texas wants to run the ball.
It now has the offensive line to do just that.
A year removed from being a good running team against bad defenses -- Kansas and Texas Tech -- and a below average running team against good defenses -- Oklahoma, Texas A&M -- the Longhorns appear to now have the personnel to consistently move every defense off the ball.
It now has the offensive line to do just that.
A year removed from being a good running team against bad defenses -- Kansas and Texas Tech -- and a below average running team against good defenses -- Oklahoma, Texas A&M -- the Longhorns appear to now have the personnel to consistently move every defense off the ball.
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Texas' offense growing on Dontre Wilson
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
9:01
PM CT
By
Max Olson | ESPN.com
Dontre Wilson is 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds. No matter where you plug him into an offense, he’ll provide explosive plays when he’s got the ball.
And that was the No. 1 question Wilson needed answered when he sat down with Texas coaches on Sunday: What are you going to do with me?
With a running back committee of Malcolm Brown, Joe Bergeron and Johnathan Gray already locked up for years to come, Texas is looking for a versatile change-up back for the future.
And that was the No. 1 question Wilson needed answered when he sat down with Texas coaches on Sunday: What are you going to do with me?
With a running back committee of Malcolm Brown, Joe Bergeron and Johnathan Gray already locked up for years to come, Texas is looking for a versatile change-up back for the future.
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Darius James impressed Texas offer
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
8:36
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
The Longhorns have long been one of Darius James top schools, and they did nothing but improve their stock after the versatile lineman from Harker Heights, Texas, attended his first junior day on Sunday.
“It went real good. I saw a lot of people and saw a lot of things I like,” he said. “I didn’t see anything I didn’t like. It was really fun.”
James was one of the first players to get offered by Mack Brown after the recruits had breakfast. Texas joined an offer sheet that already included Baylor, Texas A&M, and Tulsa.
“It went real good. I saw a lot of people and saw a lot of things I like,” he said. “I didn’t see anything I didn’t like. It was really fun.”
James was one of the first players to get offered by Mack Brown after the recruits had breakfast. Texas joined an offer sheet that already included Baylor, Texas A&M, and Tulsa.
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Vincent Taylor, James White miss junior day
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
8:25
PM CT
By
Max Olson | ESPN.com
One expected visitor who didn’t show up on Sunday was Vincent Taylor (San Antonio/Madison), but that wasn’t the defensive lineman’s fault.
Taylor and his father were driving home Saturday night from a trip to Texas Tech when a tire blew on Interstate 10 near Kerrville.
“We didn’t get home until two in the morning, so I wasn’t able to make it to Texas,” Taylor said. “I was upset knowing I had my mind set on going to Texas for their junior day to meet all the coaching staff.”
Taylor and his father were driving home Saturday night from a trip to Texas Tech when a tire blew on Interstate 10 near Kerrville.
“We didn’t get home until two in the morning, so I wasn’t able to make it to Texas,” Taylor said. “I was upset knowing I had my mind set on going to Texas for their junior day to meet all the coaching staff.”
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Raulerson impressed with Seals-Jones
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
8:05
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
Jake Raulerson is tired.
Thunderous yawns were a theme of the conversation as he drove back to Celina Sunday night from Texas’ junior day.
But this is what he signed up for, to be the “bell cow” of Texas’ 2013 recruiting class and help sell the Longhorns to other prospects after becoming the first commitment on Feb. 3.
Thunderous yawns were a theme of the conversation as he drove back to Celina Sunday night from Texas’ junior day.
But this is what he signed up for, to be the “bell cow” of Texas’ 2013 recruiting class and help sell the Longhorns to other prospects after becoming the first commitment on Feb. 3.
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With offer, Texas tops Smythe's list
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
7:31
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
The Longhorns didn’t waste any time letting Durham Smythe (Belton, Texas/Belton) know how they felt about him by offering him a scholarship on Sunday. But the 6-foot-6, 230-pounder is not in a rush to make a decision.
However, he did come away thoroughly impressed with his trip down to Austin.
“Overall I was really impressed. Coming in to today academics and athletics, the combination, was going to play a big part in my decision. I knew that Texas was top of the line,” he said. “What really caught my attention, and something that I didn’t expect, was the family-like atmosphere and how close the coaches and players seem to each other. It was really comfortable. That really stood out to me.”
However, he did come away thoroughly impressed with his trip down to Austin.
“Overall I was really impressed. Coming in to today academics and athletics, the combination, was going to play a big part in my decision. I knew that Texas was top of the line,” he said. “What really caught my attention, and something that I didn’t expect, was the family-like atmosphere and how close the coaches and players seem to each other. It was really comfortable. That really stood out to me.”
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Hicks gets offer and a lot to think about
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
6:53
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
Before the week began, Kyle Hicks (Arlington, Texas/Martin) wasn’t too sure where he stood with Texas and if he was even on the Longhorns’ radar.
By Sunday, after a visit to Texas’ first junior day, he left Austin with a scholarship offer and a whole lot of burnt orange on his mind.
“The campus is really great, the coaches were very nice to me,” Hicks said. “It was just a great visit.”
By Sunday, after a visit to Texas’ first junior day, he left Austin with a scholarship offer and a whole lot of burnt orange on his mind.
“The campus is really great, the coaches were very nice to me,” Hicks said. “It was just a great visit.”
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Ra'Shaad Samples offered; will decide soon
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
6:28
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
Things are moving in a very positive direction between Texas and receiver Ra'Shaad Samples (Dallas/Skyline).
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound receiver was one of two receivers to attend Texas’ first junior day. And like Jake Oliver (Dallas/Jesuit), he headed back to the Metroplex with a scholarship offer.
“I liked it a lot. Everything was nice,” Samples said. “I like the way Coach [Darrell] Wyatt told me they were going to use me and plan on opening things up a little bit. It was probably one of my favorite [visits] so far.”
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound receiver was one of two receivers to attend Texas’ first junior day. And like Jake Oliver (Dallas/Jesuit), he headed back to the Metroplex with a scholarship offer.
“I liked it a lot. Everything was nice,” Samples said. “I like the way Coach [Darrell] Wyatt told me they were going to use me and plan on opening things up a little bit. It was probably one of my favorite [visits] so far.”
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Naashon Hughes not offered at junior day
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
5:59
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
It appears as though the Longhorns are going to take their time recruiting the linebacker position for 2013.
Having just signed four in the 2012 class, Texas only had one linebacker attend its first junior day on Sunday in Naashon Hughes (Harker Heights, Texas/Harker Heights). He was not offered.
“[Manny Diaz] and I talked about offers and all of that,” Hughes said. “Right now they haven’t offered anyone at my position and that I was probably their No. 1 guy if they did take anybody.”
Having just signed four in the 2012 class, Texas only had one linebacker attend its first junior day on Sunday in Naashon Hughes (Harker Heights, Texas/Harker Heights). He was not offered.
“[Manny Diaz] and I talked about offers and all of that,” Hughes said. “Right now they haven’t offered anyone at my position and that I was probably their No. 1 guy if they did take anybody.”
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Manning, Swoopes talk junior day visit
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
5:54
PM CT
By
Max Olson | ESPN.com
Dallas Kimball defensive tackle Justin Manning said the junior day was "pretty good." He did get an offer and called the honor "a blessing," but he never thought about committing. He said he spent a lot of time touring the campus and talking with Ra'Shaad Samples about their high school seasons.
Manning sat down with Mack Brown for 10 minutes and the coach told him he's a high priority among their defensive line targets.
"They said I'm their No. 1 guy. That feels good," he said.
Manning sat down with Mack Brown for 10 minutes and the coach told him he's a high priority among their defensive line targets.
"They said I'm their No. 1 guy. That feels good," he said.
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Join the junior day discussion
February, 12, 2012
2/12/12
1:39
PM CT
By HornsNation Staff | ESPN.com
Texas' first junior day of the year is underway. Insiders can join our live discussion in the Light The Tower forum.
Here's the open thread.
Here's the open thread.
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ABOUT HORNSNATION
Sean Adams
Sean Adams has covered the Texas Longhorns and college football for the last 12 years as a writer and radio host. Sean co-hosts "The Big Show" with Erin Hogan each afternoon on ESPN Austin 104.9 The Horn. He lives with his family in Round Rock, Texas. Email him at thisean@gmail.com.
Max Olson
Max Olson joined ESPN in 2012 after covering the University of Nebraska for the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald and high school and college sports for the World-Herald and Rivals.com. Olson is a University of Nebraska graduate and lives in Austin, Texas. Email him at maxolsonespn@gmail.com.
Carter Strickand
Carter Strickland joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Georgia for Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the University of Oklahoma for The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman and Washington State University for The (Spokane, Wash.) Spokesman-Review. Strickland lives with his wife and family in Austin. Email him at cstrickland70@gmail.com.
William Wilkerson
William Wilkerson joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering high school sports, college sports and the Texas Rangers over four years at the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram. William is a University of Texas graduate and lives in Austin. He can be reached at wilkerson.espn@gmail.com.