Texas Longhorns

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Longhorns relied on plenty of their usual suspects to overcome Baylor 56-50 on Saturday. But there were some lesser-known players who contributed greatly to Texas ending the Bears’ two-game winning streak in the series.

Safety Josh Turner and tight end M.J. McFarland played arguably their best games as Longhorns and could see expanded roles because of their efforts.

Turner is listed as the backup to Kenny Vaccaro at strong safety but really played a starting role because Texas had to stay in its dime package to match Baylor’s five-wide sets.

He really made his presence known over a two-play period in the middle of the second quarter with the game tied at 28-28. The smaller Turner, who is listed at 6-foot and 177 pounds, stuffed Baylor quarterback Nick Florence for no gain and followed that up by intercepting him on the following snap.

“It was a great read,” Turner said. “It mainly came from our defensive line. They had a great push, and I was in the right place at the right time.”

After an official review upheld the pick, Texas took the ball and capped a five-play drive with a Johnathan Gray 25-yard touchdown, his first score as a Longhorn. The Longhorns never trailed again.

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Each week, HornsNation will update how Texas players mentioned on preseason award watch lists fared in their most recent game. Here is what transpired in the game against Oklahoma:

CB Quandre Diggs, So.: Paul Hornung Award, CFPA Special Teams
Diggs scooped up a blocked extra point and ran it back for two points. He had two tackles.

DE Alex Okafor, Sr.: Hendricks, Walter Camp, Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik Award, CFPA Defensive Award
Okafor had three tackles and one tackle for loss.

DE Jackson Jeffcoat, Jr.: Hendricks, Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik Award, CFPA Defensive Award
Jeffcoat tore his pectoral muscle and had to leave the game after 40 plays. He is out for the season.

RB Malcolm Brown, So.: Maxwell, Preseason All-Big 12 Team, Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Brown was out with a sprained ankle.

S Kenny Vaccaro, Sr.
Vaccaro had nine tackles.

OL Mason Walters, Jr.: Outland, Lombardi
Walters and the offensive line struggled in run-blocking as Texas only had 74 yards rushing and two first-half first downs.

LB Jordan Hicks, Jr.: Lombardi
Hicks was injured and did not play.

CB Carrington Byndom, Jr.: CFPA Defensive Award
Byndom had an interception returned for a touchdown and 10 tackles.

WR D.J. Monroe, Sr.: CFPA Special Teams
Monroe had one kickoff return for 17 yards.

TE D.J. Grant, Sr.: CFPA Offensive Awards
Grant had two catches for 18 yards.

WR Mike Davis, Jr.: Biletnikoff
Davis had five ctaches for 89 yards including a 44-yard touchdown.

Each week HornsNation will update how Texas players mentioned on preseason award watch lists fared in their most recent game. Here is what transpired in the game against West Virginia:

CB Quandre Diggs, So.: Paul Hornung Award, CFPA Special Teams
Diggs had three tackles and two pass breakups.

DE Alex Okafor, Sr.: Hendricks, Walter camp, Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik Award, CFPA Defensive Award
Okafor had two sacks, forced two fumbles, blocked a field goal and had three quarterback hurries.

DE Jackson Jeffcoat, Jr.: Hendricks, Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik Award, CFPA Defensive Award
Jeffcoat had four tackles, a tackle for loss, half a sack, recovered a fumble for a touchdown and had a quarterback hurry.

RB Malcolm Brown, So.: Maxwell, Preseason All-Big 12 Team, Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Brown was out with a sprained ankle.

S Kenny Vaccaro, Sr.
Vaccaro had 11 tackles and one tackle for loss.

OL Mason Walters, Jr.: Outland, Lombardi
Walters and the offensive line struggled in the run blocking but did help the team produce 38 points on offense.

LB Jordan Hicks, Jr.: Lombardi
Hicks was injured and did not play.

CB Carrington Byndom, Jr.: CFPA Defensive Award
Byndom had four tackles and blocked a punt.

WR D.J. Monroe, Sr.: CFPA Special Teams
Monroe had a 10-yard kickoff return.

TE D.J. Grant, Sr.: CFPA Offensive Awards
Grant had two catches for 30 yards.

WR Mike Davis, Jr.: Biletnikoff
Davis had three catches for 20 yards.

Each week HornsNation will update how Texas players mentioned on preseason award watch lists fared in their most recent game. Here is what transpired in the game against Oklahoma State:

CB Quandre Diggs, So.: Paul Hornung Award, CFPA Special Teams
Diggs had six tackles and three pass breakups.

DE Alex Okafor, Sr.: Hendricks, Walter camp, Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik Award, CFPA Defensive Award
Okafor had six tackles and a sack. He has had three sacks in the past two games.

DE Jackson Jeffcoat, Jr.: Hendricks, Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik Award, CFPA Defensive Award
Jeffcoat had seven tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack.

RB Malcolm Brown, So.: Maxwell, Preseason All-Big 12 Team, Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Brown sprained his ankle early and only managed seven yards.

S Kenny Vaccaro, Sr.
Vaccaro had five tackles, a tackle for loss and the picked off a pass that set up a Texas touchdown.

OL Mason Walters, Jr.: Outland, Lombardi
Walters and the offensive line struggled in the run blocking but helped lead the team to two touchdowns in the final five minutes.

LB Jordan Hicks, Jr.: Lombardi
Hicks was injured and did not play.

CB Carrington Byndom, Jr.: CFPA Defensive Award
Byndom had five tackles.

WR D.J. Monroe, Sr.: CFPA Special Teams
Monroe had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

TE D.J. Grant, Sr: CFPA Offensive Awards
Grant had a 29-yard catch on fourth and six to set up what would be the game-winning touchdown.

WR Mike Davis, Jr: Biletnikoff
Davis had four catches for 49 yards including a 32-yard catch in the last minute to set up Texas’ game-winning touchdown.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- The way Mack Brown tells it, Texas had Oklahoma State right where the Longhorns wanted it. The Longhorns were up one, OSU was driving, time had become a factor and the entire crowd against them. Yep, perfect position, said Brown.

"I told them that this was perfect," the Texas coach said. "We told the defense that if they held them to a field goal, we would win the game. We told the offense the same thing. You’re going to hold them to a field goal, and you’re going to win the game."

The defense did hold. But the offense very nearly didn't hold up to its end of the bargain. Texas faced a fourth and six in its own territory before David Ash hit D.J. Grant for a 29-yard gain. But once that first down was secure, Brown was secure in the win.

"Usually, in those one-minute drills that we’ve been so good at, if you make the first first-down, you get it," he said. "The first one is the hardest one. The crowd’s against you, everybody is pumped up and the players were jacked up."

Speed thrills
Texas realized fairly quickly it could not keep up with the Oklahoma State fast-paced offense. So to counteract things, the Longhorns decided to speed the Cowboys up on defense as well.

"That’s why we increased our tempo at the same time and tried to wear them out," Brown said. "Possession was the difference in the end. They couldn’t score because they didn’t have the ball. We weren’t scoring as fast as they were, but we were pounding them and pounding them and our offensive line took over the last few drives."

Texas scored on three of its last four possessions and had 280 of its 440 yards in the second half.

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STILLWATER, Okla. -- This time, there was no time for David Ash to lean on his running game. A go-ahead touchdown drive with seven runs and two short passes didn't put Texas ahead for long enough, and down two points, Texas had 2 minutes, 34 seconds to become the first team to win in Stillwater since Oklahoma won a Big 12 South title at Boone Pickens Stadium in 2010.

The Longhorns sideline wasn't lacking for confidence in the eventual 41-36 victory over Oklahoma State that sent Texas to 4-0 and, most likely, into the top 10.

Texas coach Mack Brown was clear with his defense on the previous drive: "Hold them to a field goal, and we're going to win the game," he said.

"We were going to win the game," running back D.J. Monroe said. "That's just our mentality."

Ash stared a fourth-and-6 in the face with the Cowboys crowd louder than it had been all night. With three receivers on his left, Ash dropped back and hit D.J. Grant over the middle for a 29-yard gain on a play he admitted after the game was his first read all along.

The Cowboys were taking away the sidelines and his check-down throws to running backs. He had to get adventurous and test the middle of OSU's defense.

"It was not a time to be scared to make a mistake," Ash said. "It was a time to give it everything you had."

Two plays later, Ash indulged receiver Mike Davis, who, earlier in the night, begged him for a another chance after dropping what would have been a long touchdown grab. Blanketed by a future NFL cornerback in Justin Gilbert, Ash let it fly. Davis hauled in a jump ball for a 32-yard gain down to the 5-yard-line and Texas was officially in position to log the biggest victory for the program since a Big 12 title win at Cowboys Stadium over Nebraska all the way back in 2009.

"He will not be under any more pressure than this, and he couldn't have done this this time last year. He's really grown up," Brown said. "He's the leader of this football team."

When it was over, Brown joined his quarterback for a triumphant trot past a delirious pocket of Texas fans in the northeast corner of the stadium. Both flashed a "Hook 'Em" hand sign on their way to the locker room with a feeling that has been all too unfamiliar in Austin these past few years.

One drive to win a game, and Texas' quarterback led it to victory.

"It's a lot of fun. When you grow up and learn the position, it's what you dream of. What you lay down at night thinking about," Ash said. "Joe Montana, Joe Cool. Tom Brady. The guys that did it in the clutch."

Texas' brand-new quarterback grew up Saturday night. It's one thing to stay calm in blowouts against New Mexico or even on the road at Ole Miss. It's another to do so on the road against a team that beat you at home in each of the past two seasons on the way to 23 wins in two years. It's another to do so against that team facing a game-deciding drive when the probability of a loss is high.

Ash's teammates couldn't stop talking about his poise and composure in the difficult, frenzied environment.

"He stayed real composed the whole time and that's how we like him," Monroe said. "We don't like him to get all frustrated. We like him to stay the David Ash that we know: quiet, calm and collected."

He finished 30-of-37 for 304 yards, and three touchdowns, just one fewer touchdown than he threw all of last season.

"The four games this year, he's been near perfect," Brown said. "He's run the offense well and he didn't get flustered tonight, even with the sacks, because we didn't do as many things up front well offensively."

He also threw his first interception of the season, but he bounced back to lead the Longhorns to a pair of go-ahead drives in the fourth quarter, including the final one that clinched the win. After the interception, Texas scored touchdowns on three of its final four drives.

"Last year, he had bad body language. He was hard on himself," Brown said. "He moved on, forgot it and left it alone."

Texas was better off for it on Saturday night, and the scoreboard showed the evidence.

"He's a lot more mature, and he makes better reads," said receiver Jaxon Shipley, who caught all three of Ash's touchdown passes. "He's always had a great arm, but he's making a lot better decisions this year."

That will lead to plenty more outcomes like Texas saw Saturday, and maybe even a few more heroics.

Texas survived a back-and-forth 41-36 thriller in Stillwater, Okla., to move to 4-0 on the season.

It was over when: Oklahoma State wide receiver Charlie Moore was knocked out of bounds on the final whistle. The Cowboys took a 36-34 lead with 2:34 left in the game, but Texas came right back with an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to secure its biggest victory of the season yet.

Game ball goes to: David Ash delivered his signature moment as quarterback of the Longhorns, leading Texas on a fourth-quarter touchdown drive to win the game. During the final drive, Ash coolly hit D.J. Grant on fourth-and-6 for a 29-yard first down, and lofted a pass to Mike Davis 32 yards to the Oklahoma State 5-yard line.

Stat of the game: Texas was lethal on third and fourth downs. The Longhorns converted 9 of 17 third downs, and all three of their fourth-down attempts, including Ash’s crucial completion to Grant. Texas has been tremendous on third down all season and Saturday night was no different.

Unsung hero of the game: Ash’s favorite target, Jaxon Shipley, had only five receptions. But three of them went for touchdowns. Shipley burned the Cowboys secondary twice for scores in the first quarter, then went up and snagged his third touchdown on a jump ball to give the Longhorns a 28-20 lead in the third quarter.

What it means: Texas’ victory sets up a showdown with undefeated West Virginia in Austin next weekend. The winner could be in the driver’s seat in what’s becoming a wide-open Big 12 race.

Each week HornsNation will update how Texas players mentioned on preseason award watch lists fared in their most recent game. Here is what transpired in the game against Ole Miss:

CB Quandre Diggs, So.: Paul Hornung Award, CFPA Special Teams
Diggs had two interceptions and now has three on the season.

DE Alex Okafor, Sr.: Hendricks, Walter camp, Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik Award, CFPA Defensive Award
Okafor had two sacks and three total tackles.

DE Jackson Jeffcoat, Jr.: Hendricks, Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik Award, CFPA Defensive Award
Jeffcoat had a sack and a pass breakup.

RB Malcolm Brown, So.: Maxwell, Preseason All-Big 12 Team, Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Brown had 128 yards rushing with two touchdowns and another 15 yards receiving.

S Kenny Vaccaro, Sr.: Thorpe, Chuck Bednarik AwardVaccaro had five tackles.

OL Mason Walters, Jr.: Outland, Lombardi
Walters was part of an offensive line that helped produce 676 total yards including 350 rushing yards..

LB Jordan Hicks, Jr.: Lombardi
Hicks had three tackles but injured his hip.

CB Carrington Byndom, Jr.: CFPA Defensive Award
Byndom had four tackles

WR D.J. Monroe, Sr.: CFPA Special Teams
Monroe had a 10-yard touchdown run.

TE D.J. Grant, Sr: CFPA Offensive Awards
Grant had two catches for seen yards and a touchdown

WR Mike Davis, Jr: Biletnikoff
Davids had five catches for 124 yards and a touchdown.

Each week HornsNation will update how Texas players mentioned on preseason award watch lists fared in their most recent game. Here is what transpired in the game against New Mexico:

CB Quandre Diggs, So.: Paul Hornung Award, CFPA Special Teams
Diggs had an interception, five tackles and a punt return for 35 yards.

DE Alex Okafor, Sr.: Hendricks, Walter camp, Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik Award, CFPA Defensive Award
Okafor had one tackle and a quarterback hurry.

DE Jackson Jeffcoat, Jr.: Hendricks, Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik Award, CFPA Defensive Award
Jeffcoat had five tackles, including two and half for loss, forced a fumble and had a sack.

RB Malcolm Brown, So.: Maxwell
Brown rushed twice for five yards. He had two catches for 23 yards.

S Kenny Vaccaro, Sr.: Thorpe, Chuck Bednarik Award
Vaccaro had seven tackles and a fumble recovery.

OL Mason Walters, Jr.: Outland, Lombardi
Walters was part of an offensive line that helped produce 146 rushing yards.

LB Jordan Hicks, Jr.: Lombardi
Hicks had a team-high nine tackles including one and half tackles for loss.

CB Carrington Byndom, Jr.: CFPA Defensive Award
Byndom had one tackle.

WR D.J. Monroe, Sr.: CFPA Special Teams
Monroe two rushes for 10 yards including a six-yard touchdown run.

TE D.J. Grant, Sr: CFPA Offensive Awards
Grant had two catches for 22 yards

WR Mike Davis, Jr: Biletnikoff
David had three catches for 30 yards including a 22-yard touchdown.

Each week HornsNation will update how Texas players mentioned on preseason award watch lists fared in their most recent game. Here is what transpired in the opener against Wyoming:

CB Quandre Diggs, So.: Paul Hornung Award, CFPA Special Teams
Diggs had two returns for 35 yards. He finished with one tackle on defense.

DE Alex Okafor, Sr.: Hendricks, Walter camp, Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik Award, CFPA Defensive Award
Okafor had five tackles, including an 8-yard sack.

DE Jackson Jeffcoat, Jr.: Hendricks, Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik Award, CFPA Defensive Award
Jeffcoat had a team-high nine tackles.

RB Malcolm Brown, So.: Maxwell
Brown rushed 14 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. He also had two catches for 15 yards.

S Kenny Vaccaro, Sr.: Thorpe, Chuck Bednarik Award
Vaccaro had one interception and forced another. He finished with six tackles.

OL Mason Walters, Jr.: Outland, Lombardi
Walters was part of an offensive line that helped produce 286 rushing yards.

LB Jordan Hicks, Jr.: Lombardi
Hicks had eight tackles, including one for a 3-yard loss.

CB Carrington Byndom, Jr.: CFPA Defensive Award
Byndom had one interception and four tackles including one for a 1-yard loss.

WR D.J. Monroe, Sr.: CFPA Special Teams
Monroe had five carries for 36 yards and a touchdown. He also had one reception for 15 yards.

TE D.J. Grant, Sr: CFPA Offensive Awards
Grant had one reception for four yards.

WR Mike Davis, Jr: Biletnikoff
Davis had four catches for 40 yards.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Believe it or not, there was a time not long ago when tight end was a position of strength for the Longhorns.

David Thomas caught everything thrown his way while acting as Vince Young's security blanket during Texas’ run to the 2005 BCS national championship. When he left for the NFL, the Longhorns made a seamless transition to Jermichael Finley, a better athlete who produced at such a rate that he only stayed for two years before being picked 91st overall by the Green Bay Packers.

The evolution of the position was supposed to continue upward with the arrival of Californian Blaine Irby, and his wavy surfer-boy hair, in 2007. But injuries decimated his career, which he finished on a high note during his senior season in 2011, by playing in all 13 games.

Not only did Irby miss all of 2009 and 2010 with a knee injury but his backup, current Longhorns senior D.J. Grant, was also relegated to the sideline over that span with a knee injury of his own.

That left Texas with little wiggle room at a position that seems to still be recovering from seasons devoid of a certifiable pass threat. It’s a recovery process that seems to be lingering as the 2012 season rapidly approaches.

Texas head coach Mack Brown listed tight ends as one of his two main concerns when he met with the media on Wednesday. In the Longhorns’ first scrimmage of fall camp, Brown said that they dropped at least five passes and that they “did not get done what we want to get done.”

What they want to get done varies. The position has always been an essential part of co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin’s offensive philosophy.

Whether it’s putting them in a three-point stance and asking them to seal the edge, motioning them to H-back or out wide to create mismatches with slower linebackers and smaller defensive backs, Harsin, who coached Boise State's tight ends from 2002-05, has always made tight ends a vital part of his game plan.

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