Texas Longhorns

As spring camps begin, we'll offer up a preview and let you know what to watch for in each team's 15 practices over the next couple of months. Texas will start spring practice first, so today we start with the Longhorns.

Schedule: The Longhorns begin spring practice on Thursday and will host a spring game on March 30.

What's new: Offensive playcalling duties have fallen to co-coordinator Major Applewhite now, who was promoted when partner Bryan Harsin left to become Arkansas State's head coach. Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz mulled a move after the season, but ultimately stuck around to help revive a defense that struggled in 2012.

On the mend: Defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat will likely be limited after undergoing surgery on a torn pectoral, but linebacker Jordan Hicks should return following a hip injury that cost him his 2012 season and a sexual assault charge that was eventually dropped stemming from an incident during the Longhorns' bowl trip.

Stepping up: Kenny Vaccaro's versatility will be tough to replace, but figuring out who will try and fill his role at safety will be huge for Texas' defense during the spring. My money is on Mykkele Thompson, but don't rule out junior Josh Turner or even a position move for physical junior cornerback Quandre Diggs.

New faces: Texas is welcoming a handful of early enrollees this spring, headlined by quarterback Tyrone Swoopes. Offensive lineman Jake Raulerson, the 2013 class' first commit, is also enrolled along with linebacker Deoundrei Davis and tight end Geoff Swaim, the nation's No. 4 junior college player at the position.

Breaking out: Linebacker Peter Jinkens already made an impact as a true freshman, but don't be surprised if he leaves spring practice with a starting gig, beating out a few older players like Steve Edmond and Kendall Thompson. Jinkens earned a start against Iowa State and snagged an interception in Texas' Alamo Bowl win over Oregon State, but the 6-foot-1, 213-pounder from Dallas could be a budding star in a linebacking corps that needs help after a disappointing 2012.

Under the radar: Texas struggled in the kicking game throughout 2012, making just 11 of 19 attempts, the lowest percentage of any Big 12 team. Nick Jordan had to carry the load as a freshman while Penn State transfer Anthony Fera battled a groin injury. They'll be back to battle this spring, and though it won't get much attention in a camp loaded with intrigue, its importance can't be overstated for a team that doesn't hang points by the buckets and played in six games decided by one possession a year ago.

All eyes on: Quarterback David Ash. Being just OK is no longer acceptable. He was reasonably efficient last season with a passer rating of over 153, but faltered late in the season and struggled with inconsistency. If Texas is going to be great, he has to be great, and most importantly, consistent. No more well-deserved benchings in favor of Case McCoy. Ash limited his interceptions and was fifth in the league in passer rating, but he's got to be even better as a junior.

Texas linebacker Jordan Hicks has not been ruled out for the remainder of the season, but he will not play against Texas Tech this weekend.

The junior outside linebacker was not listed on the Longhorns depth chart on Monday for the first time this season. He suffered a groin injury against Ole Miss on Sept. 15 and has not appeared in a game since.

According to a UT spokesperson, Texas has not made a determination on whether Hicks is done for the year.

“He’s really trying hard to get back,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. “Obviously we thought it would be two to three weeks, and now we’re going on seven or eight.

“He wants to play. He was out there running with [strength coach] Bennie [Wylie] yesterday trying to see if he could get back, and they did not think he’d come far enough to play this Saturday.”

If he doesn’t play another game, Texas will seek a medical redshirt after the season for Hicks, a third-year junior. He would have two more years of eligibility. Hicks is expected to qualify for a medical redshirt because he played no more than three contests or 30 percent of this season.

Texas’ run defense has struggled considerably since Hicks went down, and the Longhorns have relied on sophomores Kendall Thompson and Tevin Jackson in his place. His absence has been significant from a leadership standpoint as well.

“He’s our defensive leader,” cornerback Quandre Diggs said. “He’s been that guy to get us going all the time. He goes out and he makes plays and he makes everyone feel a whole lot more comfortable. We have guys that have got to step up.”

Brown also said Monday that running back Malcolm Brown’s status for Saturday’s game against Texas Tech hasn’t been decided and will be evaluated depending on if he practices. Brown has missed Texas’ past four games with an ankle injury.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Steve Edmond doesn’t need much to be happy.

An avid fisherman, Texas’ sophomore middle linebacker could probably get by with a tackle box and fishing pole and be at peace with the world.

This Saturday, though, the Longhorns are going to need him to turn into the tackle box they recruited him to be in 2011.

He has been as close to that as Texas has had through three games this season. His 22 tackles are second on the team to Jordan Hicks’ 23. Edmond has two tackles for loss along with that 22-yard interception he returned last weekend for a touchdown against Ole Miss.

But the Longhorns could be without Hicks when they travel Saturday to Oklahoma State. The junior linebacker suffered a hip injury against the Rebels and is still not 100 percent. His status for Texas’ Big 12 opener is still in question.

Whether or not Hicks steps on the field, Edmond is going to be asked to take on much more of a leadership role as the most experienced of the group. And by "experienced" we’re talking about someone who played in 12 games as a true freshman, but did so in a limited role, making just 16 tackles.

(Read full post)

The bye week comes at a relatively good time for the Longhorns from an injury standpoint. After a fall camp of little to no injuries, Texas will use this week to rest and re-evaluate three key players in linebacker Jordan Hicks, running back Joe Bergeron and kicker Anthony Fera.

Hicks was knocked from the Ole Miss game in the second quarter with what was called a hip injury. Bergeron was banged up and had to come out in the second half. Fera, a transfer from Penn State, pulled his hamstring prior to arriving in Austin.

“The health of Anthony Fera, Jordan Hicks and Joe Bergeron will be limited this week and we will know more on Sunday. They will be limited this week,” head coach Mack Brown said.

All three players are vastly important to Texas’ success. Hicks, for one, is the foremost-experienced linebacker and one of the leaders of the defense. When he went out against Ole Miss the defense admittedly “panicked.”

If he is limited or unable to go against Oklahoma State next week the Longhorns will have to rely on the relative inexperience of backups Kendall Thompson, Tevin Jackson and freshman Dalton Santos.

“That’s what the next three days will be for,” Brown said. “We will look at some different guys there this week and see who has improved the most. Santos has a banged up calf too so he will be limited a little bit even though he will be out there some. We have to find some guys there.”

Brown did say that Texas would be in more nickel coverage over the next few weeks because of the pass-heavy Big 12, so the Longhorns could mask his absence with another defensive back.

Fera is a player that Texas would really like to have back in time to play in the type of hostile environment that Stillwater will be. The Longhorns have been woefully inconsistent in field goals this season, having to rely on freshman Nick Jordan.

“We haven’t done anything with Anthony since he pulled his groin three or four weeks ago,” Brown said. “We haven’t even seen him kick. So we will reevaluate those guys on Monday.”