Moderators CJ Vogel Posted February 14 Moderators Posted February 14 Welcome to the Round Up. It's a blistering 14º in Chicago currently where I am up for the weekend, but the cold won't stop me! Anyways, a quick rundown on some coaching candidates for the open Texas RB position and updates on some Longhorns recovering from injury during the winter conditioning months. *** RB Candidates Texas Special Assistant to the HC Chris Gilbert – A man already in Austin, Texas with plenty of understanding of the current recruiting sphere insdie of Moncrief, this hire makes sense when you also consider Gilbert also comes with on-field coaching experience while at North Texas (TE). Ole Miss RB Coach Kevin Smith – Perhaps my favorite option when considering the three major factors I am looking for when replacing Tashard Choice: Development, Recruiting, Presence in the South. Smith has all three. Baylor RB Coach Khenon Hall – I have heard a lot of positives in regard to Khenon Hall at Baylor. He has great ties to the state of Texas and has been considered a recruit-favorite from coaches I have talked to recently. Florida RB Coach Jabbar Juluke – One of the more well-known coaches at the running back position, Juluke has been the RB Coach at Florida since 2022 and helped produce Dameon Pierce of the Houston Texans. Of course, he also has huge ties to the state of Florida as well, a place Texas has had plenty of success recently when recruiting the position. Oregon State RB Coach Ray Pickering – A former staffer of Steve Sarkisian's and now RB coach at Oregon State, Pickering has ties to Mississippi and connections to 5-star WR Tristan Keys already. He would help in the southeast Nebraska RB Coach EJ Barthel – Barthel comes with ties to the NFL having spent two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, but also some ties to the northeast. Of course, he is currently at Nebraska where he has been tied to the hip of Matt Rhule since the Panthers tenure. Oregon RB Coach Rashaad Samples – Of course, what list would be complete without the mention of Samples. One of the hottest recruiters in the country with plenty of ties to the state of Texas. Will Texas go this route? I tend to lean it is unlikely, but of course I won't count out anything with Steve Sarkisian. *** Quick Injury Updates – Texas RB CJ Baxter has been recovering well from his knee injury suffered in fall camp of 2024. I have heard the progression has gone very well and there is a chance Baxter sees some on-field work towards the backend of spring ball. That won't mean he will be 100% as a contributor for those spring practices, but cleated up and running on the side field would be a great sign for his ultimate return in 2025. – It was reported by CBS that Texas EDGE Colton Vasek would undergo shoulder surgery towards the backend of January. Right now, his status for the spring is a bit up in the air, though I have heard he has been very active in his recovery. I don't expect to see Vasek fully cleared and ready to return to the field by then, but some light working out would be a great sign. I will dig a bit more to see what else I can find, but right now, a bit of a question mark in terms of overall expectations for Vasek this spring. View full news story 6 Quote
ArizonaLonghorn Posted February 14 Posted February 14 Any news on RB Christian Clark's recovery timeline? I know he's not a crucial as Baxter but Christian is a local kid and I was pulling for him to become a contributor, so thought I'd ask ... 9 Quote
Moderators CJ Vogel Posted February 14 Author Moderators Posted February 14 6 minutes ago, ArizonaLonghorn said: Any news on RB Christian Clark's recovery timeline? I know he's not a crucial as Baxter but Christian is a local kid and I was pulling for him to become a contributor, so thought I'd ask ... I have not heard as much about Clark. But he should be on a similar timeline as Baxter. 10 Quote
Orange Guitar Posted February 14 Posted February 14 CJ, don't get mugged up there in Chicago. 😁 2 Quote
thatdude2 Posted February 14 Posted February 14 I knew it!!! Being hearing rumors of a secretive 1 v 1 basketball game of MJ vs CJ Vogel. Legend!!!! 3 Quote
Moderators CJ Vogel Posted February 14 Author Moderators Posted February 14 27 minutes ago, thatdude2 said: I knew it!!! Being hearing rumors of a secretive 1 v 1 basketball game of MJ vs CJ Vogel. Legend!!!! Think I’d get a shot off? 2 1 Quote
Moderators CJ Vogel Posted February 14 Author Moderators Posted February 14 2 minutes ago, MarkInAustin said: WHY? [Chi in February?] We don’t get many free weekends and this was one I figured would be low stress/no news. I was pretty wrong on that assumption. But up to visit a couple buddies and explore the city. 1 Quote
_everyoneshere Posted February 14 Posted February 14 I read recovery news and thought it meant us recovering from the loss of Coach Choice. But Chris Gilbert was in my options I wrote, UT would get a great recruiter and coach from within the staff. 2 Quote
marathon Posted February 14 Posted February 14 46 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said: Think I’d get a shot off? Probably go something like this…lol 3 Quote
SuperDave0805 Posted February 14 Posted February 14 Sark knew Choice was going to go eventually so I'm sure he has kept a list of replacement candidates handy 2 Quote
Richard Herbst Posted February 14 Posted February 14 I hope you do Pizza or Steaks while in town. Personal favorites Lou Malnatti’s, Due’s, and Home Run Inn for Pizza. Maple &Ash, RPM and Chicago Cut for steaks! Quote
SuperDave0805 Posted February 14 Posted February 14 48 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said: We don’t get many free weekends and this was one I figured would be low stress/no news. I was pretty wrong on that assumption. But up to visit a couple buddies and explore the city. Exploring Chicago in Feb 3 Quote
Moderators CJ Vogel Posted February 14 Author Moderators Posted February 14 52 minutes ago, Joe Zura said: @CJ Vogel 14 degrees is a heatwave where I live Sorry to say Joe Z, but i wont ever be visiting lol 4 Quote
Moderators CJ Vogel Posted February 14 Author Moderators Posted February 14 7 minutes ago, Richard Herbst said: I hope you do Pizza or Steaks while in town. Personal favorites Lou Malnatti’s, Due’s, and Home Run Inn for Pizza. Maple &Ash, RPM and Chicago Cut for steaks! Headed to Lou Malnatti's this afternoon actually! Will report back! 1 Quote
drag worm Posted February 14 Posted February 14 (edited) Relying on CJ being the 2025 change agent at RB is a risk I wouldn’t be taking. Georgia and Bama are great examples of the impact a portal RB can have with Gibbs and Etienne. Both contributed heavily to their 3 victories against us the past few seasons. I think the same could have been said about us if we had a legit star at RB1 in any of those three games, plus the Ohio State game. (Brooks was that star RB for us in Tuscaloosa.) Edited February 14 by drag worm Quote
Alex Butler Posted February 14 Posted February 14 (edited) 1 hour ago, CJ Vogel said: We don’t get many free weekends and this was one I figured would be low stress/no news. I was pretty wrong on that assumption. But up to visit a couple buddies and explore the city. Go to Pequods pizza if you haven’t already been. Go early tomorrow and watch the hockey game(s) 4 nations cup there. They DO NOT disappoint! Edited February 14 by Alex Butler Quote
ArizonaLonghorn Posted February 14 Posted February 14 3 hours ago, CJ Vogel said: Think I’d get a shot off? 6 Quote
thatdude2 Posted February 14 Posted February 14 3 hours ago, CJ Vogel said: Think I’d get a shot off? For sure 1 Quote
GoHorns1 Posted February 14 Posted February 14 (edited) Okay gang let’s get back to RB coach candidates. Kevin Smith currently at Ole Miss fills a lot of boxes as TC. He is a native of Miami (played Southridge High in Miami) Played at UCF Florida connection Drafted by Detroit Lions and played for 5 years in the NFL(can talk the talk plus walk the walk). NFL experience as player Coached at FAU and Ole Miss(lots of connections in SE. Young with lots of energy. Edited February 14 by GoHorns1 2 Quote
Moderators CJ Vogel Posted February 14 Author Moderators Posted February 14 ICYMI: Stan Drayton is expected to be hired by Penn State as their RB coach. Quote
FootLaw Posted February 14 Posted February 14 Although I hope he's fully recovered, getting Baxter back at 80-90% for the season is like 100% for most RBs. I'll take that combined with Wisner. I'm very curious what they do in the spring portal. 1 Quote
Bevo92 Posted February 14 Posted February 14 Thanks @CJ Vogel! Appreciate the Round Up. Sounds like we should be pulling for Kevin Smith to be our next RB Coach. 🙏🏼. In Sark we trust. 🤘🏼🐂 1 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.