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Good stuff St. Francisco!
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LONGHORNS LAND FIRST TWO RECRUITS OF THE SEASON
It only took one week for Texas to land their first two recruits of the season. First up is punter Blake Paris, a four-star prospect out of Lewisville, Texas who is ranked as the #3 punter in the nation. He may not have the most accurate leg in town, but Paris more than makes up for it with tremendous strength. With senior Alex King graduating at the end of this year, Paris will have an excellent shot at securing the starting spot at punter as a true freshman in 2013. But the team is actively looking for another kicker or punter to add to the roster, so a redshirt year isn't out of the question. Also joining the team is cornerback Barry Morrow, a three-star prospect out of Monticello, Louisiana. With a national prospect ranking of #450, and a cornerback ranking of #51, Morrow didn't receive a lot of attention from other programs, but their loss is Texas' gain. In high school, he has displayed terrific speed, and outstanding skill in both man and zone coverage. Morrow has tremendous potential, and while he will almost certainly redshirt next season, it may not be long before he reaches the top of the depth chart.
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WEEK TWO
WYOMING COWBOYS (1-0, 1-0)
VS.
#21 TEXAS LONGHORNS (1-0, 0-0)
TEXAS WINS AGAIN IN UNCONVINCING FASHION
WITH A BRUTAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE ON THE HORIZON, THE LONGHORNS SHOULD BE WORRIED
In week two, the #21 Longhorns scored a double-digit victory over an inferior foe, but don't expect any celebrating in Austin. Two turnovers, twelve penalties, 17 points in six redzone trips, and an abysmal 3rd down conversion percentage were just some of the problems that plagued a Texas team still looking to come together as a unit. David Ash played much better in his second game, completing 57% of his 40 passes for 294 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Player of the game honors went to true sophomore Jaxon Shipley once again, who had 11 catches for 177 yards and a score. Groundwise, Malcolm Brown rushed for 100 yards off 18 carries. Defensively, the Longhorns recorded four interceptions, and limited the Cowboys to 237 yards of total offense and just two touchdowns, but the offensive missteps were nearly enough to wipe all of that hard work out. Texas begins conference play next week on the road against #21 Clemson, a contest that begins a five-game stretch against ranked Big XII opponents. Ready or not, the real season has come.
Wyoming Cowboys at Texas Longhorns Sep 1, 2012 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH SCORE Wyoming Cowboys (1-1, 1-0) 0 0 7 7 14 Texas Longhorns (2-0, 0-0) 14 3 14 0 31 Team Stats Comparison WYO TEX Total Offense 237 456 Rushing Yards 157 162 Passing Yards 80 294 First Downs 17 23 Punt Return Yards 6 56 Kick Return Yards 179 75 Total Yards 422 587 Turnovers 4 2 3rd Down Converstion 5-16 (31%) 3-12 (25%) 4th Down Conversion 1-2 (50%) 1-1 (100%) 2-Point Conversion 0-0 (0%) 0-0 (0%) Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals 2-2-0 (100%) 6-2-1 (50%) Penalties 3-35 12-102 Posession Time 26:17 33:43
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WEEK THREE
#19 TEXAS LONGHORNS (2-0, 0-0)
VS.
#21 CLEMSON TIGERS (1-0, 0-0)
On Saturday, the Longhorns rushed for more yards, passed for more yards, made more first downs, scored more points in the redzone, had fewer penalties, and won the time of possession battle. But ask the team how much it means after their 28-20 loss to #21 Clemson, and they'll tell you: absolutely nothing. Led by senior runningback Andre Ellington (pictured above), the Tigers overcame a 4th quarter deficit with fourteen unanswered points to end the game, and won their first-ever Big XII conference game 28-20.
Junior quarterback Tajh Boyd had a sub-par day under center, completing just 13 of 33 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown. His go-to man was true sophomore Sammy Watkins, who had five catches for 86 yards. Clemson's biggest offensive contributor was senior runningback Andre Ellington, who only carried the ball ten times, but rushed for 71 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Clemson's defense also performed well despite giving up 400 total offensive yards, recording three sacks and a key interception in the fourth quarter that kickstarted the team's comeback.
On the other side of the ball, David Ash had a rough day, completing just 40% of his 30 passes for 226 yards and an interception. Jaxon Shipley led the receiving corps once again with five catches for 91 yards, while senior Marquise Goodwin had four catches for 79 yards. Sophomore runningback Malcolm Brown performed well on the ground, rushing for 118 yards and a touchdown off 29 carries, while backup Joe Bergeron carried the ball seven times for 37 yards and a score. Texas' defense limited the Tigers to 292 yards of total offense and recorded a sack, but couldn't contain them when it mattered the most.
"it's a lack of execution, simple as that," said interim head coach Major Applewhite after the game. "We played well for the most part, but we couldn't get it done in those key situations. We were terrible on third down, and David (Ash) had some accuracy issues through the air. But one thing this team has is heart, so we'll get back on the practice field on Monday, and continue to improve as a team."
That improvement will need to come in a hurry, as the Longhorns will host another ranked conference opponent next week when the Kansas State Wildcats come to town. In their season opener against FCS Midwest, the Wildcats put on a show, walking away with a 63-0 victory after backup runningback Angelo Pease rushed for 195 yards and five touchdowns off 29 carries. But it's senior Collin Klein (QB) and junior John Hubert (HB) who truly lead the offense, as they look to break a demoralized Texas squad.
#19 Texas Longhorns at #21 Clemson Tigers Sep 8, 2012 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH SCORE #19 Texas Longhorns (2-1, 0-1) 7 10 3 0 20 #21 Clemson Tigers (1-1, 1-0) 14 0 0 14 28 Team Stats Comparison TEX CLEM Total Offense 400 292 Rushing Yards 174 110 Passing Yards 226 182 First Downs 23 14 Punt Return Yards 27 4 Kick Return Yards 80 131 Total Yards 507 427 Turnovers 1 0 3rd Down Converstion 4-15 (26%) 3-13 (23%) 4th Down Conversion 0-2 (0%) 0-1 (0%) 2-Point Conversion 0-0 (0%) 0-0 (0%) Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals 3-2-1 (100%) 2-2-0 (100%) Penalties 7-72 9-83 Posession Time 33:52 26:08
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ASH FACING INCREASING PRESSURE TO EXCEL AT QUARTERBACK
Being the starting quarterback at the University of Texas is no easy task...just ask sophomore David Ash, who after winning the starting job over junior Case McCoy in the spring has completed just 50% of his passes for 893 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions through three games this season. After struggling with accuracy issues in a 28-20 loss to conference foe Clemson, fans and experts across the country are beginning to question the coaching staff's decision to start Ash this season. With a bye week coming up, Case McCoy could usurp Ash at the starting spot if he under-performs next week against Kansas State.
TOP-RANKED FULLBACK COMMITS TO TEXAS
Texas' third commitment came in week three from the nation's top-ranked fullback, three-star prospect Jake O'Neal out of Richmond, Texas. With senior Ryan Roberson graduating at the end of the season, O'Neal stands an excellent job at occupying the starting spot as a true freshman next year over Alex De La Torre, who is redshirting this season. In high school, O'Neal has displayed an impressive balance of speed, strength, and talent in both running the ball and blocking. The team has been steadily increasing their focus on presenting a strong ground game over the last few seasons, and O'Neal could be a valuable asset to that unit.
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WEEK FOUR
.....
#11 KANSAS ST. WILDCATS (1-0, 0-0)
VS.
#21 TEXAS LONGHORNS (2-1, 0-1)
Texas opened the season with a 20-17 overtime victory over UCF, a close win that made fans and experts alike skeptical of the talent of this Longhorns team. After week four, it's clear that those fears were perfectly justified. While the offense failed to score a touchdown for the first time this season, Kansas State's talented trio of runningbacks had their way with Texas' front seven, resulting in a 21-6 victory that puts the Longhorns in an 0-2 hole in Big XII play.
Looking to earn the top spot in the revamped east division of the conference, the Wildcats are looking like serious contenders for the Big XII crown. Senior quarterback Collin Klein completed 8 of 17 passes for 156 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, and also rushed for 60 yards off 15 carries to lead his team to victory. His go-to man was senior Chris Harper, who had four catches for 105 yards and a score, including a 65-yard TD reception late in the fourth quarter that safely put the game away. But it was the play of the team's runningbacks that truly won the day, as junior John Hubert rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns off 18 carries, while backup Angelo Pease added 81 yards off 14 carries, the two men combining to average 5.3 yards per touch. Kansas State's defense certainly deserves a good amount of the credit as well, as they recorded three sacks, one interception, and held the Longhorns to just six points and no touchdowns in five redzone trips.
As for the Longhorns, their offense seems to be getting worse instead of better. David Ash completed just one of six pass attempts for 12 yards and threw an interception before being sidelined with a sore throwing shoulder. Backup Case McCoy finished out the day, and was shaky to say the least in his first action of the year, completing 6 of 16 passes for 66 yards. Malcolm Brown continued to be a dominant force on the ground, rushing for 193 yards off 28 carries for an average of 6.8 yards per touch, while backup runningback Joe Bergeron added 42 yards off nine carries, but not even that was enough to get Texas in the endzone on Saturday. The defense recorded three sacks and forced two turnovers, but failed to contain the opposition's ground game, and received little to no help from their offensive counterparts.
With David Ash's starting job in serious question, the Longhorns will have thirteen days to prepare for their next opponent, #21 Oklahoma State (2-1, 0-1). A 35-28 loss to Florida State has put the Cowboys in an early hole in the Big XII west race, but a talented defense and the runningback duo of juniors Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith are hoping to turn things around.
#11 Kansas State Wildcats at #21 Texas Longhorns Sep 15, 2012 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH SCORE #11 Kansas State Wildcats (2-0, 1-0) 0 7 7 7 21 #21 Texas Longhorns (2-2, 0-2) 0 3 0 3 6 Team Stats Comparison KSU TEX Total Offense 393 325 Rushing Yards 237 247 Passing Yards 156 78 First Downs 21 22 Punt Return Yards 34 15 Kick Return Yards 75 82 Total Yards 502 422 Turnovers 2 1 3rd Down Converstion 7-12 (58%) 5-15 (33%) 4th Down Conversion 0-0 (0%) 0-1 (0%) 2-Point Conversion 0-0 (0%) 0-0 (0%) Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals 4-2-0 (50%) 5-0-2 (40%) Penalties 6-61 7-57 Posession Time 28:57 31:03
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AROUND THE LEAGUE
-WEEK FIVE-
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QB CASE MCCOY TO START VS. OKLAHOMA STATE
A lackluster four-game stretch for David Ash has resulted in a 2-2 (0-2) record for the Longhorns to open the season, and prompted the coaches to make a change at quarterback. When the team takes the field to host the 17th ranked Cowboys in week six, it will be with junior quarterback Case McCoy at the helm, who will make his first start of the season after replacing Ash in a 21-6 loss to Kansas State last week. McCoy was less than spectacular in his first appearance this year, completing 6 of 16 passes for 66 yards, but the team felt it was time for a change regardless. Coaches were quick to point out that the quarterback situation is not set in stone, and another change could be in order if they see fit.
LONGHORNS ADD TWO MORE TO 2012 RECRUITING CLASS
The total number of commitments this season is up to five players after the team landed two more players this past week. Three-star prospect Charles Lambert out of Lubbock, Texas joins Blake Paris as the second prospect to commit at punter. Both players will certainly be in contention for the starting spot next season, but Lambert may have the upper edge with his balanced skill set of both power and accuracy. At cornerback, the team welcomes three-star prospect Jimmy Branch out of Mandeville, LA. Branch is a speedy cornerback who has displayed above-average skill in both man and zone coverage in high school, and will provide much-needed depth to a position that only features five players this season.
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You would think that by gaining THAT many rushing yards, the passing game would start to open up a bit more. And that Redzone offense...its offensive.haha.
Being a big school must be fun, being able to get recruits after one week. The earliest I've ever gotten someone to sign has been like, week 9. #smallschoolproblemsComment
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WEEK SIX
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#17 OKLAHOMA ST. COWBOYS (3-1, 0-1)
VS.
TEXAS LONGHORNS (2-2, 0-2)
Questions and controversy still surround the quarterback position following Saturday's game, but one very important thing has changed: the outcome of the games. Led by a stout rushing attack that he become the calling card of this offense, and an inspired defensive performance that gave the Cowboys fits all day long, the Longhorns snapped a two-game losing streak with a 23-21 victory over #17 Oklahoma State.
Junior quarterback Case McCoy didn't have the greatest debut, completing just 12 of 35 passes for 150 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. But he did earn a win in his first start, which will likely be enough to keep him in the driver's seat for one more week. The offensively was predictably led by the ground game, where Malcolm Brown rushed for 137 yards off 20 carries for an average of 6.8 yards per touch, and backup runningback Joe Bergeron carried the ball 14 times for 67 yards and a touchdown. But defense is where the team truly excelled, recording four sacks and limiting the Cowboys to 273 yards of total offense, and just 56 rushing yards. Their biggest contributor was senior Kenny Vaccaro (FS), who returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
As for the Cowboys, their comeback attempt fell just short. True freshman quarterback Wes Lunt completed 17 of 34 passes for 217 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. His go-to man was senior Tracy Moore, who had four catches for 74 yards and two scores. Trailing 23-7 in the second half, Lunt connected with Moore twice to close the gap to just two points, but Texas' defense held firm when it mattered the most. Oklahoma State's defense was led by junior Shaun Lewis (OLB), who recorded eight tackles and two interceptions, but not even that was enough to knock off a determined Longhorns squad as the Cowboys fell to 0-2 in conference play.
Bolstered by their first conference win of the season, the Longhorns will stay at home next week to host #5 West Virginia (4-0, 2-0), a new and talented addition to the Big XII. The Mountaineers have had little trouble up to this point, winning three of their four games by double digits. The team boasts the nation's top-ranked passing offense, averaging 345 yards per game through the air. That success can be attributed to senior quarterback Geno Smith, who has completed 53% of his passes for 1,379 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions this year. His biggest targets are senior Tavon Austin and junior Stedman Bailey at wide receiver, who each average over 100 yards per game, and have combined to catch seven of the team's eleven receiving TDs.
#17 Oklahoma State Cowboys at Texas Longhorns Sep 29, 2012 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH SCORE #17 Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-2, 0-2) 7 0 7 7 21 Texas Longhorns (3-2, 1-2) 6 10 7 0 23 Team Stats Comparison OKST TEX Total Offense 273 388 Rushing Yards 56 238 Passing Yards 217 150 First Downs 11 26 Punt Return Yards 19 17 Kick Return Yards 114 60 Total Yards 406 465 Turnovers 1 3 3rd Down Converstion 5-13 (38%) 10-16 (62%) 4th Down Conversion 0-1 (0%) 0-0 (0%) 2-Point Conversion 0-0 (0%) 0-0 (0%) Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals 2-2-0 (100%) 3-2-1 (100%) Penalties 7-55 6-40 Posession Time 26:06 33:54
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WEEK SEVEN
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#5 WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS (4-0, 2-0)
VS.
#23 TEXAS LONGHORNS (3-2, 1-2)
Given their track record through the first five games of the season, #23 Texas came in as a underdog in Saturday's contest despite playing at home. Up against undefeated #5 West Virginia and their top-ranked passing attack, fans and experts alike didn't give the team much of a chance. But seven weeks into the 2012 regular season, it looks as though the Longhorns may finally have found their rhythm. Led by a ground game that racked up 245 yards and two touchdowns, and a defense that smothered Geno Smith and the Mountaineers, Texas improved to 4-2 (2-2) with a convincing 31-17 victory.
On his way to cementing himself as the team's permanent starter at quarterback, junior Case McCoy completed 6 of 11 passes for 54 yards and a touchdown before being forced out of the game after taking his second sack of the day. Concerned that the young QB may have sustained a concussion, the coaches benched him for the remainder of the contest. And so, it was David Ash who ultimately led the team to victory, completing 11 of 24 passes for 158 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. After the game, coaches were quick to note that Case McCoy would continue to be the team's starter so long as he received a clean bill of health from the doctors. Leading the receiving corps was Jaxon Shipley, who had five catches for 74 yards and a score, while senior Marquise Goodwin caught five balls for 73 yards. But the ground game is where the team truly excelled, as Big XII leading rusher Malcolm Brown carried the ball 21 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Backup Joe Bergeron also contributed heavily, rushing for 100 yards off 13 carries for an average of 7.6 yards per touch. The offense seemed to be firing on all cylinders Saturday despite continuing to have problems in the turnover department, racking up 457 yards of total offense, converting ten of their seventeen 3rd down tries, and scoring 31 points in seven redzone trips. Defensively, the Longhorns were outstanding once again, holding the Mountaineers to a season-low 200 total offensive yards and recording three sacks.
As for the Mountaineers, it's clear that the offense lives and dies by the play of senior quarterback Geno Smith, who completed just 11 of 33 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns as he was harassed by Texas' front seven all day. His go-to man was senior wide receiver Tavon Austin, who had six catches for 104 yards and two scores. While the passing attack struggled, the ground game was non-existent, managing just 45 yards off 21 carries amongst six different runners. West Virginia's defense recorded four sacks, two interceptions, and recovered a fumble, but couldn't stall the Texas offense enough to make a difference.
Back-to-back conference victories have put the Longhorns back in the hunt for a Big XII title, but their biggest match of the year is just around the corner. On Saturday, the Longhorns will take the field in Dallas, Texas to face off against arch-rival #2 Oklahoma (5-0, 3-0) in the Red River Rivalry, who are the only undefeated team left in the conference.
#5 West Virginia Mountaineers at #23 Texas Longhorns Oct 6, 2012 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH SCORE #5 West Virginia Mountaineers (4-1, 2-1) 0 3 14 0 17 #23 Texas Longhorns (4-2, 2-2) 5 0 7 17 31 Team Stats Comparison WVU TEX Total Offense 200 457 Rushing Yards 45 245 Passing Yards 155 212 First Downs 8 29 Punt Return Yards 13 66 Kick Return Yards 119 62 Total Yards 332 585 Turnovers 0 3 3rd Down Converstion 5-14 (35%) 10-17 (58%) 4th Down Conversion 0-1 (0%) 2-3 (66%) 2-Point Conversion 0-0 (0%) 0-0 (0%) Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals 1-1-0 (100%) 7-4-1 (71%) Penalties 6-52 6-40 Posession Time 21:06 38:54
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FOUR MORE PLAYERS COMMIT TO TEXAS IN WEEK SEVEN
The Longhorns nearly doubled their amount of recruits in week seven with the addition of four more players. Four-star prospect Raishaun Blanco (TE) of Aspen, Colorado is just the team's second offensive recruit of the season. Blanco was ranked as the 4th best recruit out of Colorado, and may end up being one of the most valuable members of the 2012 recruiting class. Blanco has a very balanced skillset, exhibiting talent in both blocking and receiving, and with seniors Barrett Matthews and D.J. Grant on their way out, he will stand an excellent chance at securing the starting spot as a true freshman next year as he competes for the honor with M.J. McFarland. In the secondary, the team grabbed commitments from four-star prospects Chris Fogle (FS) and Willie Singletary (SS). Fogle is the top-ranked free safety in the nation, but both he and Singletary will likely redshirt in 2013 in preparation for taking over the starting spots in their second or third year with the team. Finally, four-star prospect Joey Whaley of Brownfield, Texas committed at middle linebacker. Whaley has a solid skillset, but with talented sophomore Steve Edmond holding down the starting spot, it will be a few years before he is in contention for a starring role.
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