Talked to a half dozen folks close to the program for some info on where the players are three workouts into their winter conditioning, and the first thing that came up was how Sterlin Gilbert has come in and carried himself as the new sheriff running the offense at Texas.
“Listen, this guy carries himself with a lot of confidence and is super high energy – almost hyper energetic," one source said. "Anyone who saw his first press conference and thinks he’s some mellow, West Texas dude – forget it.
“Just in three days of conditioning, he’s communicating with the guys in a manner that says he knows exactly what he wants.
"And he delivers the message with a very natural confidence. Kind of reminds me of a young Jimbo Fisher. And that’s what you’d expect from a (Art) Briles’ guy.
"All of the Briles’ guys come across like that offense gives them an unfair advantage, and they teach it that way. And, honestly, that’s what this group of players on offense need. They need a very clear direction, and Gilbert seems to sense it.
“Again, he’s just leading certain parts of their conditioning right now. But he’s already messin’ with the guys, and the players are responding.
"They’ve all been watching film of Tulsa’s offense. And you can tell by the way they’re talking they think something good is about to happen. And that’s where it all starts.”
QUARTERBACK – There appears to be a weird dynamic going on at the quarterback position, because the new offense has put everyone on equal footing in terms of opportunity.
And just by the way guys are carrying themselves in the workouts, I’m told you’d think Kai Locksley is the returning starter.
One person I talked to said Locksley was really upset/disappointed when he wasn’t put in a position to compete for the QB job after the offense changed and Jerrod Heard replaced Tyrone Swoopes as the starter following the Notre Dame game last year.
“He (Kai) didn’t handle it very well – just young and a little immature about it,” the source said. “But Shawn Watson actually helped him to understand the learning aspect of the job, the benefit of going up against the first-team defense as the scout-team quarterback and the value of patience.
“Now, you’re seeing a second-year guy carrying himself with a lot to prove. I get the feeling he can’t wait for spring ball to get started, so he can put everything on display and compete.
"I think what sets Kai apart – and probably Shane Buechele as well – is maybe their capacity and willingness to work at the job. It's early. But everything in Buechele's evaluation says that.
“Swoopes and Heard both have some top-end talents as quarterbacks, but they both still haven’t figured out how much work it takes to be the starting quarterback at Texas.
"It’s a (expletive) job. Sorry. That’s what it is. And I think because Kai’s dad is a DI offensive coordinator (Mike Locksley), and Buechele’s dad (Steve) is a former Major League baseball player, they just understand it a little more.
"And Kai and Shane both have the personalities to lead – at all times. Leaders don’t stop leading when they get off the field. Leaders lead all the time. And I think Kai and Shane get that a little more – just from a mental makeup standpoint. Those two may end up being the ones who really compete for the starting job. We’ll see.”
RUNNING BACK – Kyle Porter wanted to meet both Chris Warren and D’Onta Foreman on his visit to Texas – and I’m told those face-to-face meetings, along with Tommie Robinson moving on to USC are probably the reasons Porter will pass on Texas.
Foreman grinds all the time – always with something to prove, probably because he grew up in the football shadow of his twin brother WR Armanti. I’m told D’Onta’s grinding focus as well as the grinding focus of Kirk Johnson have both had a great effect on Warren, whose first instinct isn’t always to push himself.
“The running back room is really good right now,” one source said. “Respect and healthy competition.”
RECEIVER – John Burt pushes everyone – and it’s a beautiful thing, I’m told.
“Burt sets the tone for that group, and they all know it,” one source said. "Watch out for Ryan Newsome. With Daje Johnson moving on, I think Newsome really senses the opportunity."
TIGHT END – Look for Caleb Bluiett to stay at TE and not return to his beloved defensive end.
“Caleb brings a toughness to the tight end position that just isn’t there without him,” one source said. “Now, when Peyton Aucoin gets on campus, there will be another tight end with that toughness.”
OFFENSIVE LINE – Everyone’s waiting to see who else is going to emerge on the O-line along with LT Connor Williams, OG Patrick Vahe and OG/OT Kent Perkins.
One person I talked to said Brandon Hodges, the JUCO transfer last year who redshirted, will definitely be an impact player on the line this year.
"Hodges can play," the person said. "His personality conflict with Joe (Wickline) may end up being a blessing, because he still has two years of eligibility."
The coaches are already expecting to give Zach Shackelford a hard look at center in the spring.
Elijah Rodriguez is eager to show he belongs, I’m told.
The spring will be huge for redshirts Garrett Thomas and Ronnie Major to show they are ready for prime time.
DEFENSIVE LINE/LINEBACKER – Paul Boyette and Poona Ford along with Bryce Cottrell are leading this group.
As physically talented as Naashon Hughes is, he’s not a natural leader. It's going to be a critical spring for Hughes and Derick Roberson as the defense has to develop more of a pass rush from the Fox end position.
I’m hearing Malik Jefferson might really try to push for a move to Fox end/OLB if enough linebacker help emerges.
The guys to watch at linebacker, obviously, are Ed Freeman, Anthony Wheeler and Breckyn Hager. Cam Townsend is an outside linebacker.
One person told me the coaches don’t realize how much Hager wants the middle linebacker job, in part, because they think Hager’s future may be with his hand on the ground as a pass rusher because of his explosive first step.
Hager struggled with nagging injuries as a freshman last year. So coaches are hoping a year in the weight room will do a lot of good for Hager in 2016.
SECONDARY – This group has a chance to take an elite step in 2016 because of all the experience gained last season by Holton Hill, DaVante Davis, DeShon Elliott and P.J. Locke.
I’m told the reason Kris Boyd didn’t get on the field more on defense was because he just didn’t grasp zone concepts as well as he needed to.
Plain and simply, it appears Boyd didn’t put in the work necessary to develop his grasp of zone coverages.
Why?
I’m told it's because he’s always simply relied too much on his incredible physical talent/speed/recovery speed to cover up for any mistakes.
Boyd’s willingness to invest of himself in getting better will determine if he has a big-time role on the defense in 2016 or if he’ll continue to be used sparingly.
Boyd’s too physically gifted not to be a big factor on the defense, so Chris Vaughn, Vance Bedford and Strong will all have to get it out of him.
Until Boyd takes that next step, look for P.J. Locke to start off as the defense’s new nickel back, replacing Duke Thomas.
And look for nobody to be able to keep DeShon Elliott, aka The Kraken, off the field at safety. Elliott’s so hungry it’s palpable, I'm told.
(Chip Brown)
*****
WHERE WILL MCNEAL PLAY IN 2016?
Apparently there is no intention from Sterling Gilbert to move DeAndre McNeal from wide receiver at this point.
One reason for this is due to the fact that McNeal has dropped over 15 pounds and is now down to 220 pounds. He was listed at 6-foot-1 and 236 pounds last season.
The Longhorns, as you know, are going to be loaded with wide receivers in 2016 so I would not be completely surprised to see some attrition there at some point before fall camp. That’s just a hunch.
Look at all of the WRs Texas would have if everyone stayed for fall camp:
Armanti Foreman
Lorenzo Joe
McNeal
Dorian Leonard
Jacorey Warrick
Ryan Newsome
Jake Oliver
Ty Templin
Collin Johnson
Reggie Hemphill-Mapps
Davion Curtis
*** If Lil’Jordan Humphrey ends up at Texas he’d be a WR to start out]
Something has to give.
[William Wilkerson]
*****
IMPRESSIVE FRESHMAN
Speaking of wide receivers, I keep hearing Collin Johnson’s name come up as a player that is really, really standing out during workouts right now.
This is a great sign for many reasons, one being that Johnson appears to be back to near full health after he suffered a shoulder injury in mid-September that cost him most of his senior season at San Jose Valley Christian.
I fully expect Johnson to not only make an impact for UT next season, but I think he is capable, if given the opportunity, of having the type of impact John Burt had. I think he’s that good.
[William Wilkerson]
*****
HEALTH AT RB
From what I am hearing D’Onta Foreman is working out right now but Kirk Johnson is not working out quite yet.
Johnson injured his right knee in that Texas Tech game that saw more injuries happen to the Longhorns than any game in a long, long time.
Chris Warren is still Chris Warren.
[William Wilkerson]
*****
DANG, CHARLES!
One of the other big surprises of early workouts is sophomore-to-be DE Charles Omenihu.
He was listed as 6-foot-5 and 236 pounds last season.
I’m told he’s up to 256.
Remember, he was probably the youngest 2015 recruit on the roster last season. He’s still a pup. Crazy potential.
