Texas Longhorns: Bruce Chambers
Who could Longhorns hire as RBs coach? 
December, 12, 2012
12/12/12
3:47
PM CT
By
Carter Strickland | ESPN.com
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas has made it official: The Longhorns are looking for a running backs coach.
Oh yeah and Bryan Harsin is gone, Major Applewhite is now calling plays as the co-offensive coordinator, Darrell Wyatt has been elevated to co-offensive coordinator, Stacy Searels is now the assistant head coach for offense, and Bruce Chambers is in the primary staffer in charge of coordinator recruiting.
But forget all the Scrabble-tile shifting of titles at Texas for a moment, the Longhorns are in the market for a new running backs coach. Now all they have to do is figure out what type of qualities that coach must possess.
Oh yeah and Bryan Harsin is gone, Major Applewhite is now calling plays as the co-offensive coordinator, Darrell Wyatt has been elevated to co-offensive coordinator, Stacy Searels is now the assistant head coach for offense, and Bruce Chambers is in the primary staffer in charge of coordinator recruiting.
But forget all the Scrabble-tile shifting of titles at Texas for a moment, the Longhorns are in the market for a new running backs coach. Now all they have to do is figure out what type of qualities that coach must possess.
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RB Kyle Hicks flips from Texas to TCU
December, 3, 2012
12/03/12
2:27
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
ESPN 300 running back Kyle Hicks (Arlington, Texas/Martin) can’t deny what his heart is feeling.
William Wilkerson/ESPN.comKyle Hicks said he has formed a bond at TCU and that's where his 'heart is at.'For the last few months he has contemplated the idea of playing football closer to home, closer to his mother and close to his good friend and former high school teammate Devonte Fields.
Today, his heart couldn’t take it any longer.
Hicks called Texas co-recruiting coordinator Bruce Chambers and told him he had decided to switch commitments from the Longhorns to TCU.
“One, I get to play for an outstanding football team,” Hicks said. “Two, I get a good education from a private school, and three, it is 15 minutes from home.”
Hicks was Texas’ lone running back recruit in the Class of 2013. He had been committed to the Longhorns since Feb. 18.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Hicks said. “Talking to Chambers on the phone, my body was shaking. I never thought I would decommit from Texas. I created a big bond with Chambers for nine months. Just to decommit was the hardest thing ever.
“Of course he was disappointed. He wanted to know why. It was just a decision I had to make.”
Martin coach Bob Wager was in his office with Hicks when Hicks made the call to Chambers.
“He’s been agonizing over it for months,” Wager said. “He just called Coach Chambers 15 minutes ago in my office. Torn up, distraught, very apologetic. But very sincere. It’s the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. I was there watching him, and pain was showing all over his face.”
Hicks (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) is rated at No. 20 among running backs and No. 219 overall in the country.
He had to step in at quarterback for Martin this season and fared well. He threw for 458 yards and six touchdowns without an interception. But his bread and butter was still the run, which he did 177 times to the tune of 1,113 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Hicks tore his left ACL and meniscus Oct. 26 and is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday. It was the second serious injury for him in the last two seasons.
Last year, during the third round of the playoffs, he broke his foot on the first play of Martin’s game against Euless Trinity. He continued to play and finished the game with 20 carries for 113 yards and a 19-yard, game-clinching touchdown.
Hicks is confident that he’ll be fully healthy in six months and ready for fall camp with the Frogs.
“It was where my heart is at,” Hicks said. “I feel at home with TCU. Whenever I got the chance to visit TCU I just knew that was where I wanted to be. Great football team and it’s close to my mom. I can’t pass that down.”
William Wilkerson/ESPN.comKyle Hicks said he has formed a bond at TCU and that's where his 'heart is at.'Today, his heart couldn’t take it any longer.
Hicks called Texas co-recruiting coordinator Bruce Chambers and told him he had decided to switch commitments from the Longhorns to TCU.
“One, I get to play for an outstanding football team,” Hicks said. “Two, I get a good education from a private school, and three, it is 15 minutes from home.”
Hicks was Texas’ lone running back recruit in the Class of 2013. He had been committed to the Longhorns since Feb. 18.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Hicks said. “Talking to Chambers on the phone, my body was shaking. I never thought I would decommit from Texas. I created a big bond with Chambers for nine months. Just to decommit was the hardest thing ever.
“Of course he was disappointed. He wanted to know why. It was just a decision I had to make.”
Martin coach Bob Wager was in his office with Hicks when Hicks made the call to Chambers.
“He’s been agonizing over it for months,” Wager said. “He just called Coach Chambers 15 minutes ago in my office. Torn up, distraught, very apologetic. But very sincere. It’s the hardest thing he’s ever had to do. I was there watching him, and pain was showing all over his face.”
Hicks (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) is rated at No. 20 among running backs and No. 219 overall in the country.
He had to step in at quarterback for Martin this season and fared well. He threw for 458 yards and six touchdowns without an interception. But his bread and butter was still the run, which he did 177 times to the tune of 1,113 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Hicks tore his left ACL and meniscus Oct. 26 and is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday. It was the second serious injury for him in the last two seasons.
Last year, during the third round of the playoffs, he broke his foot on the first play of Martin’s game against Euless Trinity. He continued to play and finished the game with 20 carries for 113 yards and a 19-yard, game-clinching touchdown.
Hicks is confident that he’ll be fully healthy in six months and ready for fall camp with the Frogs.
“It was where my heart is at,” Hicks said. “I feel at home with TCU. Whenever I got the chance to visit TCU I just knew that was where I wanted to be. Great football team and it’s close to my mom. I can’t pass that down.”
A few months ago junior college tight end Beau Sandland (Woodland Hills, Calif./Pierce College) reached out to his coaches to see if they had any contacts at Texas.
They did, and on Monday, Longhorns tight ends coach Bruce Chambers’ met with the 6-foot-6, 255-pound prospect.
“I was under the impression that they don’t recruit outside of the state of Texas, which I know they don’t very often,” said Sandland, who caught 20 passes for 265 yards and two scores last season. “When they do, I knew it was kind of a double-whammy against me because I know they don’t go the juco route that often. So when he stopped by I was pleasantly surprised. I’m glad I’m on their radar and I got some interest from them. They definitely have a ton of interest from me.”
They did, and on Monday, Longhorns tight ends coach Bruce Chambers’ met with the 6-foot-6, 255-pound prospect.
“I was under the impression that they don’t recruit outside of the state of Texas, which I know they don’t very often,” said Sandland, who caught 20 passes for 265 yards and two scores last season. “When they do, I knew it was kind of a double-whammy against me because I know they don’t go the juco route that often. So when he stopped by I was pleasantly surprised. I’m glad I’m on their radar and I got some interest from them. They definitely have a ton of interest from me.”
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UT expecting 200-plus 2014 prospects
March, 30, 2012
3/30/12
8:30
AM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
In the hierarchy of organization you might find The Container Store and your grandmother’s linen closet at the top of the list.
Not far behind, though, would have to be the 2012 version of Mack Brown’s coaching staff.
This time last year, as Texas neared the kickoff of its annual Orange-White game, they were, in essence, running around like kids in an Easter egg hunt. With so many coaches still trying to adjust to their new surroundings, the Longhorns had yet to identify the state’s top targets and entertained only about 25 sophomores at the game.
Not far behind, though, would have to be the 2012 version of Mack Brown’s coaching staff.
This time last year, as Texas neared the kickoff of its annual Orange-White game, they were, in essence, running around like kids in an Easter egg hunt. With so many coaches still trying to adjust to their new surroundings, the Longhorns had yet to identify the state’s top targets and entertained only about 25 sophomores at the game.
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MANSFIELD, Texas – The Longhorns might soon have their first tight end commit for the 2013 class with Durham Smythe (Belton, Texas/Belton) expected to decide between Texas and Stanford on Friday or Saturday.
Whether Smythe chooses Texas or not won’t change the Longhorns’ stance on Mansfield tight end Trent Gow. They want to take two tight ends in 2013 and are interested in Gow. They are simply still in an evaluation mode.
“[Tight endd coach] Bruce Chambers called [Mansfield] Coach [Jeff] Hulme last week and told me to wait until the spring.”
Whether Smythe chooses Texas or not won’t change the Longhorns’ stance on Mansfield tight end Trent Gow. They want to take two tight ends in 2013 and are interested in Gow. They are simply still in an evaluation mode.
“[Tight endd coach] Bruce Chambers called [Mansfield] Coach [Jeff] Hulme last week and told me to wait until the spring.”
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TE Hobbs seeing more interest from Texas
December, 12, 2011
12/12/11
7:30
PM CT
By
William Wilkerson | ESPN.com
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Longhorns still don’t have a tight end commitment for 2012, but they continue to show interest in one from the Dallas metroplex.
Two-star recruit Vincent Hobbs (Mesquite, Texas/Horn) was informed by his coach Monday that Texas tight ends coach and co-recruiting coordinator Bruce Chambers would be at his basketball game on Friday.
“Hopefully I will learn a little bit more about what is going on,” said Hobbs, who has a 73 grade from Scouts Inc. and is rated as the No. 99 tight end overall. “This will be his second game.”
Two-star recruit Vincent Hobbs (Mesquite, Texas/Horn) was informed by his coach Monday that Texas tight ends coach and co-recruiting coordinator Bruce Chambers would be at his basketball game on Friday.
“Hopefully I will learn a little bit more about what is going on,” said Hobbs, who has a 73 grade from Scouts Inc. and is rated as the No. 99 tight end overall. “This will be his second game.”
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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.