Latest news with #TexasFootball
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Blue-chip CB names Texas in top five schools
Texas has eight commitments in its 2026 recruiting class. They have one cornerback in four-star Hayward Howard Jr. who committed earlier this month. The Longhorns are also heavily in play for another cornerback in four-star Justice Fitzpatrick as he named them in his top five schools this week. Fitzpatrick plays at powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and has 43 total offers. He's the nation's No. 62 overall player and the No. 7 cornerback per On3's industry rankings. They have him as the No. 11 prospect in the state of Florida as well. Advertisement It was a very productive junior campaign for Fitzpatrick in 2024. He racked up 34 tackles, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups as he aided St. Thomas Aquinas when the Florida 5A state championship. He also received Junior All-American honors from MaxPreps. Fitzpatrick hasn't spent a lot time in Austin with just an unofficial visit taken this April. However, he has an official visit locked in for June 13, which gives the Longhorns and opportunity to separate themselves from the pack. Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on X (Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscience This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns Football: Texas lands in top five for CB Justice Fitzpatrick
New York Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ranking the top 25 college football teams: Who's biggest winner after the spring portal window?
I all but flipped a coin back in January when choosing between Penn State and Texas for No. 1. Then Steve Sarkisian's team became arguably the biggest winner in the spring portal window and made the decision easier this time. Familiar faces: QB Arch Manning, RB Quintrevion Wisner, WR Ryan Wingo, edge Colin Simmons, LB Anthony Hill Jr., S Michael Taaffe Advertisement Notable spring additions: WR Emmett Mosley V (Stanford), TE Jack Endries (Cal), DT Maraad Watson (Syracuse), K Mason Shipley (Texas State) Despite losing 12 draft picks, Texas looks like the closest thing to a complete team. Everyone knows about Manning, but the 'Horns should again be teeming with skill talent and strong in the trenches. Mosley and Endries become immediate targets for Manning, while Watson (6-foot-3, 313 pounds), a true freshman starter, Purdue transfer Cole Brevard and North Carolina transfer Travis Shaw fill a need at defensive tackle. Familiar faces: QB Drew Allar, RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, DT Zane Durant, S Zakee Wheatley Notable spring additions: WR Trebor Pena (Syracuse), LB Amare Campbell (UNC) Penn State most closely fits the 2023 Michigan/2024 Ohio State 'everybody's staying' mold, but last year's College Football Playoff semifinalist still had one glaring deficiency: wide receiver. Coach James Franklin hopes he's addressed that with a trio of transfers: USC's Kyron Hudson, Troy's Devonte Ross and Pena, a breakout star on last season's 10-win Syracuse team (84 catches for 941 yards). Campbell was highly productive with 76 tackles and 10 1/2 TFLs in 2024. Familiar faces: QB Cade Klubnik, WR Antonio Williams, DEs T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, LB Sammy Brown, CB Avieon Terrell Notable spring additions: None I was already high on Clemson, and then two things happened. 1. Coach Dabo Swinney finally got some transfers, and one of them, former Southeast Missouri State receiver Tristan Smith, stole the show at the Tigers' spring game with five catches for 137 yards. 2. Early 2026 mock drafts emerged, and every guy listed above (save for second-year player Brown) was a projected first-rounder. Clemson should have its best team in five years. Advertisement Familiar faces: WRs Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, LBs Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, CB Davison Igbinosun, S Caleb Downs Notable spring additions: DE Beau Atkinson (North Carolina) My first 2025 top 25 was published the morning after the Buckeyes' national championship win, at which point it was hard to overlook how many key players they were losing. (As it turned out, 14 draft picks.) But coach Ryan Day still has a lot of veterans, and now he's added Atkinson (7 1/2 sacks last season), who could start opposite returnee Kenyatta Jackson. But it all comes down to how expected QB1 Julian Sayin performs. Familiar faces: RB Jeremiyah Love, WR Jaden Greathouse, LBs Drayk Bowen and Jaylen Sneed, CB Leonard Moore, S Adon Shuler Notable spring additions: None Coach Marcus Freeman's QB competition seemingly resolved itself in the spring as redshirt freshman CJ Carr seized control of the race, prompting veteran Steve Angeli to portal his way to Syracuse. Love is a Heisman contender, TE Eli Raridon is poised for a breakout and former Virginia WR Malachi Fields arrives this summer. Familiar faces: QB Garrett Nussmeier, RB Caden Durham, WR Aaron Anderson, LBs Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins Jr. Notable spring additions: DT Bernard Gooden (USF), S A.J. Haulcy (Houston) I'm still high on LSU despite the two-spot drop. Coach Brian Kelly added to what was already the nation's No. 1 transfer class with Gooden, who had 10 TFLs last season, and first-team All-Big 12 safety Haulcy. WR Nic Anderson from Oklahoma is a big get. Reports out of spring indicated that the Tigers' D-line will be a strength, thanks to Florida transfer Jack Pyburn and Nebraska transfer Jimari Butler. Familiar faces: QB Gunner Stockton, RB Nate Frazier, TE Oscar Delp, LB CJ Allen, CB Daylen Everette Advertisement Notable spring additions: RB Josh McCray (Illinois), LB Elo Modozie (Army) I was mildly surprised to see Georgia's Vegas win total is only 9.5. If there's concern, it may be either that Stockton is still relatively unproven or that the D-line is not up to previous standards. Stockton should have plenty of guys to throw to with the additions of USC's Zachariah Branch and Texas A&M's Noah Thomas. McCray (609 yards, 10 TDs in 2024) should be a nice complement to Frazier, and Modozie (6 1/2 sacks) should make an impact. Familiar faces: RB Noah Whittington, WR Evan Stewart, pass-rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, MLB Bryce Boettcher Notable spring additions: None Oregon's prospects depend heavily on former five-star QB Dante Moore, once a freshman starter for UCLA. He went 12-of-20 for 140 yards in the spring game. RB Makhi Hughes (2,779 yards in two seasons) is poised to take the Big Ten by storm. Transfer LT Isaiah World (Nevada) and G Emmanuel Pregnon (USC) should be immediate starters. Dan Lanning has no shortage of pass rushers with Uiagalelei, Tuioti and LB Blake Purchase. Familiar faces: QB Carson Beck (Georgia), RB Mark Fletcher Jr., OT Francis Mauigoa, DE Rueben Bain Jr., LB Wesley Bissainthe Notable spring additions: WR/KR Keelan Marion (BYU), RB CharMar Brown (North Dakota State), LBs Mohamed Toure (Rutgers) and Kamal Bonner (NC State), CB Keionte Scott (Auburn/Houston), K Bert Auburn (Texas) No one was more active in the spring portal window than coach Mario Cristobal, who added a potential breakout star in Brown (1,181 yards, 15 TDs), the Jerry Rice Award winner for best FCS freshman; an All-American kick returner in Marion; and a proven seventh-year senior (!) in Toure (93 tackles, 10 TFLs in 2023), who missed 2024. Freshman WR Malachi Toney had a great spring game. Beck has been cleared for summer workouts. Advertisement Familiar faces: WRs Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, DT Tim Keenan III, LB Deontae Lawson, CB Domani Jackson Notable spring additions: TE Brody Dalton (Troy) It's notable that no Alabama players hit the portal after spring practices, indicating coach Kalen DeBoer is pleased with his roster. Fourth-year junior QB Ty Simpson seized control of the starting job this spring. He has plenty of options to throw to among Williams, Bernard and Miami transfer Isaiah Horton. This should be another top-10 defense, with Colorado LB Nikhai Hill-Green filling one of the few holes. Familiar faces: QB Sam Leavitt, WR Jordyn Tyson, TE Chamon Metayer, DT C.J. Fite, S Xavion Alford Notable spring additions: Edge Joshua Shanklin (juco) Coach Kenny Dillingham mostly recruited for depth in the spring because he has so much coming back from last year's Big 12 title team (with the notable exception of star RB Cam Skattebo). He previously nabbed Army RB Kanye Udoh (1,110 yards) to join promising returnee Kyson Brown. Fresno State WR Jalen Moss (48 catches, 563 yards) looks like a solid complement to Tyson. ASU's concern is generating a better pass rush. Familiar faces: QB DJ Lagway, RB Jadan Baugh, C Jake Slaughter, DE Tyreak Sapp, DT Caleb Banks Notable spring additions: None Billy Napier only took five transfers between the winter and spring windows and expects major contributions from his freshman class. Early enrollee WR Dallas Wilson set a Florida spring game record with 10 catches for 195 yards. While the talented Lagway is the biggest reason for so much optimism around the Gators, they'll also be strong in the trenches. Slaughter, OT Austin Barber, Sapp and Banks are all garnering early first-round NFL Draft buzz. Advertisement Familiar faces: QB Jake Retzlaff, RB LJ Martin, WR Chase Roberts, LB Isaiah Glasker, K Will Ferrin Notable spring additions: WR Tiger Bachmeier (Stanford), DT Justin Kirkland (Oklahoma State) Notable spring defections: WR/KR Keelan Marion (All-American kick returner), LB Harrison Taggart (69 tackles in 2024) Several key pieces from BYU's 11-win season last year return, most notably the dual-threat QB Retzlaff. But it hurt to lose Taggart, the Cougars' second-leading tackler last season, and Marion, a spring practice standout at receiver. Two Utah transfers, TE Carsen Ryan and DT Keanu Tanuvasa, are expected to start. BYU has a lot of proven veterans on defense, like Glasker and S Tanner Wall. Familiar faces: RB Jovantae Barnes, WR Deion Burks, DE R Mason Thomas, S Robert Spears-Jennings, LB Kip Jennings Notable spring additions: RB Jaydn Ott (Cal), G Jake Maikkula (Stanford) Notable spring defection: RB Gavin Sawchuk (744 yards in 2023) I didn't realize in January how much Oklahoma would transform its offense. Washington State QB John Mateer, one of the most coveted QBs this offseason, reunited with his former offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Then coach Brent Venables got Ott, who ran for 2,212 yards and 20 TDs the past two seasons. Top receiver Burks is back after missing most of last season. Florida State's Marvin Jones Jr. adds to an already talented defense. Familiar faces: QB Marcel Reed, RB Le'Veon Moss, DE Cashius Howell, LB Taurean York, S Dalton Brooks Notable spring additions: None Reed is the face of A&M's offense now. Coach Mike Elko spent the winter cycle upgrading his receivers and D-line, which showed in the spring game. Mississippi State's Mario Craver and NC State's Kevin Concepcion both made big plays. DEs T.J. Searcy (Florida) and Dayon Hayes (Colorado) and DT Tyler Onyedim (Iowa State) should be starters or rotation guys, as well as freshman Marco Jones, who had five sacks in the spring game. Advertisement Familiar faces: QB Luke Altmyer, LT J.C. Davis, OLB Gabe Jacas, S Matthew Bailey, DB Xavier Scott Notable spring additions: DL Carter Hewitt (Northern Iowa) Notable spring defection: RB Josh McCray (609 yards, 10 TDs in 2024) I went a bit overboard on the Illini in January, before they lost top returning rusher McCray to Georgia. But there's still a lot to like coming off a 10-win season. Unsurprisingly, coach Bret Bielema's team is built up front, with four O-linemen who earned All-Big Ten honors in 2024. Former Wisconsin DL James Thompson Jr. helps fill a need, as does former West Virginia WR Hudson Clement (51 catches, 741 yards). Familiar faces: QB LaNorris Sellers, WR Nyck Harbor, DEs Dylan Stewart and Bryan Thomas Jr., DB Jalon Kilgore Notable spring additions: DE Demon Clowney (Ole Miss) Notable spring defection: OL Jakai Moore (28 career starts, injured in 2024) Sellers should be one of the stars of the sport after a breakout redshirt freshman season (2,534 yards passing, 674 yards rushing). Freshman WR Malik Clark could become one of his targets. The Gamecocks lost a lot from last year's dominant D-line. Coach Shane Beamer got help on the interior with Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy (Texas A&M) and Troy Pikes (Georgia Southern). NC State's Brandon Cisse will help in the secondary. Familiar faces: WRs Elijah Starrett and Omar Cooper Jr., LB Aiden Fisher, OLB Mikail Kamara, CB D'Angelo Ponds Notable spring additions: WR Jonathan Brady (Cal; 98 career receptions for 1,317 yards), edge Kellan Wyatt (Maryland; 80 career tackles, 8 1/2 sacks), DE Stephen Daley (Kent State; 51 tackles, 9 TFLs in 2024) Coach Curt Cignetti used the portal in the winter to reload on offense, landing Cal QB Fernando Mendoza (19 career starts), Maryland RB Roman Hamby (2,276 career rushing yards), Tennessee TE Holden Staes and three potential starters on the O-line, most notably Notre Dame's Pat Coogan. In the spring, he added two proven pass rushers in Wyatt and Daly. Indiana plays a tougher Big Ten schedule in 2025. Advertisement Familiar faces: QB Behren Morton, WR Caleb Douglas, LBs Jacob Rodriguez and Ben Roberts, S Maurion Horn Notable spring additions: WR Micah Hudson (Texas A&M), C Cash Cleveland (Colorado), DE David Bailey (Stanford) Notable spring defection: Edge Joseph Adedire (14 career starts) Texas Tech reportedly spent more than $10 million on its winter portal class, and that was before a seven-figure deal for Bailey, who had 14 1/2 sacks in three seasons. He and Georgia Tech's Romello Height give coach Joey McGuire two big-time ends, joined by disruptive DTs Lee Hunter (UCF) and Skyler Gill-Howard (NIU). Other impact guys include USC RB Quinten Joyner and Miami (Ohio) WR Reggie Virgil. Familiar faces: Edges Derrick Moore and TJ Guy, LB Ernest Hausmann, CB Zeke Berry, S Rod Moore Notable spring additions: RBs CJ Hester (UMass) and John Volker (Princeton), P Luke Bauer (Missouri) All signs point to five-star freshman QB Bryce Underwood assuming the reins come Week 1. Coach Sherrone Moore needs new skill players to emerge. Alabama RB Justice Haynes is one proven guy, as is Indiana WR Donaven McCulley (48 catches for 644 yards in 2023). Michigan's defense should again be a strength, with experience across the board. Arkansas' TJ Metcalf should be a factor in the secondary. Familiar faces: QB Sawyer Robertson, RB Bryson Washington, WR/KR Josh Cameron, TE Michael Trigg, LB Keaton Thomas Notable spring additions: WR Louis Brown IV (San Diego State; 38 catches for 620 yards in 2024), CB Caldra Williford (Tennessee Tech; 88 tackles over two seasons) Baylor has the chance to field one of the nation's most dangerous offenses, led by Robertson, Washington and four returning O-line starters. Coach Dave Aranda added several capable receivers, including Alabama's Kobe Prentice. The defense has questions, though; Aranda will count on Oregon LB Emar'rion Winston, FIU LB Travion Barnes (129 tackles in 2024) and Northwestern S Devin Turner (130 career tackles). Advertisement Familiar faces: QB Maddux Madsen, WR Latrell Caples, TE Matt Lauter, Edge Jayden Virgin-Morgan, S Ty Benefield Notable spring additions: Edge Sterling Lane II (Arizona), S Derek Ganter Jr. (Eastern Washington) Notable spring defections: LB Andrew Simpson (25 career starts), P James Ferguson-Reynolds (three-year starter) Boise, which returns its QB1 and four offensive line starters, will be the Group of 5 front-runner again. While there's no replacing Ashton Jeanty, Fresno State RB Malik Sherrod (172 carries, 966 yards in 2023) was the star of spring and will be joined by promising redshirt freshman Sire Gaines. Boise lost several big names on defense from last year's Playoff team and saw its D-line thinned by portal exits. Familiar faces: RBs Isaac Brown, WRs Caullin Lacy and Chris Bell, LBs TJ Quinn and Stanquan Clark Notable spring additions: WRs Dacari Collins (NC State) and TreyShun Hurry (San Jose State), S Joseph Jefferson (Purdue) Notable spring defection: G Austin Collins (14 starts over two seasons) Jeff Brohm has the makings of another potent offense with USC QB Miller Moss, who played well in the spring game, two solid running backs and the return of Lacy, a 1,316-yard receiver in 2023 who was injured last season. Brohm stocked up on receiver depth in the spring. Three transfers could start on the O-line. Louisville needs to get much better in pass coverage. Southern CB Rodney Johnson should help. Familiar faces: WR Cam Coleman, DE Keldric Faulk, LB Demarcus Riddick, CB Kayin Lee, S Sylvester Smith Notable spring additions: DE James Ash (Florida A&M), LB Caleb Wheatland (Maryland) I predict Auburn will be one of the most improved teams in the country. Despite going 6-7, it fielded a top-20 defense last year with many young players, nearly all of whom return. Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold should fare better now that he'll have a bunch of stud receivers, led by freshman standout Coleman and Georgia Tech's Eric Singleton Jr. (1,468 yards in two seasons). Some running backs will need to step up. Advertisement Familiar faces: QB Avery Johnson, RB Dylan Edwards, WR Jayce Brown, LB Austin Romaine, S VJ Payne Notable spring additions: RB Antonio Johnson Jr. (Southeastern Louisiana), OLs JB Nelson (Penn State) and Terrence Enos Jr. (Pittsburgh) New OC Matt Wells has several proven playmakers in Johnson, Edwards and Brown and TE Garrett Oakley, and K-State added another potential impact receiver in Purdue's Jaron Tibbs. Head coach Chris Klieman addressed several needs on the offensive line by bringing in Ohio State T George Fitzpatrick, Nelson and Enos Jr. Standout Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado (175 career tackles) was a big get. Dropped out: No. 13 Tennessee, No. 24 Navy Just missed: SMU, Iowa, Iowa State, Missouri, Ole Miss (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Kevin C. Cox, Tim Warner, Carmen Mandato, Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
College Football Insider Points Out What Should Drive Arch Manning and Texas Longhorns
Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns have been on the doorstep of the College Football Playoff national title game two seasons in a row. Arch Manning takes over at quarterback this coming season, and expectations might be the highest they've been during the head coach's tenure. On Texas Football's Jeff Howe believes the heat is a good thing for the program in Austin. Advertisement "I think the great thing Sark has done ... the last two offseasons, is he's identified something to keep the team hungry," Howe said last week. "Coming off that loss to Washington, it was, 'Hey, think about how close you were. You've gotta be obsessed. If you wanna get back there, you've gotta be obsessed with it.' I think for this team is, everybody's talking about what you don't have. Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Lysaker-Imagn Images "You know, 'You've lost four starters on the offensive line. You're gonna lose a first-round wide receiver. You're gonna lose a Jim Thorpe Award winner. You're losing the Outland Trophy winner. You're losing all this.' ... I think Sark's gonna use that internally; at least he'd be smart to, to say, 'Hey, there's a lot of people that are waiting for you guys to fail.'" As Howe touched upon, the Longhorns could see at least three players go in the first round of next week's 2025 NFL Draft. Offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., receiver Matthew Golden, and cornerback Jahdae Barron have all been projected that early in the lead-up to the event. Quinn Ewers, now an afterthought for Texas, will hear his name called at some point, as well. Related: Steve Sarkisian Compares Arch Manning to Former First-Round Pick
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patrick Mahomes inducted into Texas HS football hall of fame
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and two-time MVP was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame. In his teens, Mahomes lit up the high school field. As a senior, he threw for 4,619 yards and 50 touchdowns while rushing for 948 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was named the MaxPreps 2013-14 National Male Athlete of the Year. 'I never thought I was going to be an NFL player. My goal growing up was to win a district championship in Whitehouse, Texas,' he said.'Football is a tool where I can show who I am, but it's not who I am. That comes from high school football, building friendships, and showing how football can be a special place for a community.' Mahomes and the AFC champions will kick off the 2025 season on Thursday, September 4th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
25-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Broncos draft CB Jahdae Barron: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
The Denver Broncos selected Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron with the No. 20 pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Barron started all 16 games of his final college season and had career bests in interceptions (five) and passes defended (16), adding 67 tackles, 2 1/2 tackles for loss, one sack and a fumble recovery on the way to a consensus All-America selection and the Jim Thorpe Award. Advertisement Also a first-team All-SEC selection, he tied for the conference lead in both interceptions and passes defended in 2024. Barron also posted a season-best and game-high 11 tackles in the Longhorns' double-overtime win over Arizona State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals and was selected the Peach Bowl defensive MVP. In five seasons at Texas, Barron played in 57 games, starting 39, and had 227 tackles, 19 1/2 tackles for loss, two sacks, eight interceptions, 32 passes defended, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. He had three career touchdowns, including a blocked punt return in 2020, and an interception return and fumble recovery and return in 2022. Barron ranked No. 30 in Dane Brugler's Top 300 big board. Here's what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide: 'Barron holds a master's degree in coverage schemes and has done a great job developing the mental part of his game, giving himself a head start keying and diagnosing the quarterback and blocking scheme. 'Though he doesn't have the movement burst for easy recoveries, he plays with supreme confidence and physicality without crossing the line, especially in zone coverage (two pass-interference penalties over his last 35 games in college). Overall, Barron doesn't have the top-tier size that most teams prioritize at the position, but he trusts his instincts and competes with the toughness and ball skills to hold up versus pass or run. Some teams view him as a nickel-only prospect, while others see his value to play multiple positions across the secondary.' What an anonymous coach had to say about Barron in Bruce Feldman's mock draft: 'He's got terrific ball skills and feel. I think his football IQ is really high. His ability to adjust and trigger is elite. His footwork is really clean. Excellent open-field tackler. I thought this guy was the best player on that team.' Best DB in the nation 🏆🤘@Officia1dae x @jimthorpeaward — Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 13, 2024 We'll take that 😮💨🤘@officia1dae — Texas Football (@TexasFootball) November 16, 2024 Come back later for more analysis of Barron.
