OTF Premium Scattershooting: Takeaways from the NFL Scouting Combine; Neal Brown's role on the Texas staff

[Jeff Howe]

This week, I’m Scattershooting while wondering how much better Longhorn legend Eric Metcalf’s chances of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame would be if he hadn’t played in the NFL three decades before his time.

Texas hasn’t produced three first-round picks in a single NFL Draft since 1980, when Johnny “Lam” Jones (No. 2 overall to the New York Jets), Johnnie Johnson (No. 17 overall to the Los Angeles Rams) and Derrick Hatchett (No. 24 overall to the Baltimore Colts) had their names called. With the NFL Scouting Combine in the books, the conditions are ripe for the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to feature three Longhorns after what Jahdae Barron and Matthew Golden ran in Indianapolis (4.39 and 4.29 in the 40-yard dash, respectively).

If I’m putting money down on the first Texas player picked in another noteworthy draft for coach Steve Sarkisian’s program, I’m more convinced to bet on Kelvin Banks Jr.

Banks measured over 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 315 pounds with verified 33.5-inch arms, a wingspan of over 84 inches and 10-plus-inch hands. Those vitals should silence the crowd eager to kick him inside to guard at the next level.

The Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award winner has a tailor-made skillset for playing tackle in the NFL in 2025, namely his elite track record in pass protection. Few lingering concerns should exist regarding Banks’ body, which lends itself to playing a premium position, either on the right or left side, where he started 42 games in a decorated career on the Forty Acres.

— LSU’s Will Campbell topped Banks’ height (just shy of 6 feet 7 inches) and weight (319 pounds). Still, the top contender vying with Banks to be the first tackle selected in the draft, it’s verified that Campbell has shorter arms, a shorter wingspan and smaller hands than the Longhorns’ 2024 unanimous All-American.

Banks is positioned to be the first Texas offensive lineman to go in the first round since Mike Williams in 2002 (No. 4 overall to the Buffalo Bills). That’s also the last time the Longhorns produced the first offensive lineman selected in the draft (it happened in consecutive drafts; the Arizona Cardinals used the No. 2 overall pick on Leonard Davis in 2001).

Banks, Campbell, Missouri tackle Armand Membou and Alabama guard Tyler Booker are among the notable candidates to be the first lineman picked. I can’t see Banks being available after the San Francisco 49ers go on the clock for the No. 11 pick; lifetime Longhorn Kyle Shanahan could draft an immediate starter at right tackle who can move to the left side whenever Trent Williams decides to wrap up his Hall of Fame career.

— I don’t want Andrew Mukuba’s 4.45 40-yard dash, which tied for the fifth-fastest time among safeties at the combine, to get lost in the shuffle of a newsworthy weekend for the Longhorns who were in Indianapolis.

Mukuba only ran the 40 at the combine, opting to perform his other tests during his pro day on March 26. The 5-foot-11-inch, 186-pound Austin LBJ product showed he’s an impact player when healthy; recording better-than-expected verified speed should boost his stock.

I’ll be surprised if Mukuba is on the board beyond the fourth round. His one season in a Texas uniform proved that safety is his best position, but he also played cornerback and in the slot at Clemson. His striking ability, nose for the football, and speed make him a candidate to be a core special teamer.

— Mukuba, Golden and Isaiah Bond (his 4.39 clocking in the 40 would be getting more buzz if he hadn’t called his shot while making a run at Xavier Worthy’s record; he did, however, record the highest mph among the wideouts at the combine) headlined the program’s transfer portal haul for 2024. Those three — along with defensive linemen Jermayne Lole, Bill Norton and Tia Savea, running back Velton Gardner, tight end Amari Niblack, cornerback Jay’Vion Cole, linebacker Kendrick Blackshire (transferred to UTSA after spring practice), wide receiver/return specialist Silas Bolden and EDGE Trey Moore — helped Texas tie the school record for single-season wins (13) and reach the College Football Playoff semifinals for the second consecutive season.

Is it the best portal class of the Sarkisian era? It’s the clubhouse leader among the four due to the group’s unmatched combination of quality and quantity compared to Sarkisian's other portal classes.

— With that said, everybody in the 2023 group (wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, defensive lineman Trill Carter, cornerback Gavin Holmes, safety Jalen Catalon and punter Ryan Sanborn) contributed to the Longhorns winning the Big 12 and advancing to the CFP for the first time. The haul was light on numbers, but it was chock-full of productive players and void of notable blemishes (other than Catalon’s play and playing time declining severely after a leg injury in a loss to Oklahoma).

It was feast (quarterback Quinn Ewers, linebacker Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey and cornerback Ryan Watts) or famine (wide receivers Agiye Hall and Isaiah Neyor and tight end Jahleel Billingsley) for the 2022 crop Texas recruited out of the portal.

Keilan Robinson emerged as the crown jewel of the 2021 portal class. It was one in which the Longhorns took fliers on largely unproven commodities from then-Power Five programs (Robinson at running back and outside linebackers Ovie Oghoufo and Ray Thornton), players with known injury issues (linebacker Ben Davis) and small-school products (cornerback Darrion Dunn and linebacker Devin Richardson) to fill out the roster ahead of Sarkisian’s first season (Dunn signed under the previous regime, making his way to Texas from FCS McNeese State).

— I don’t know exactly what Neal Brown’s role will be on Sarkisian’s staff. What I hope the former West Virginia head coach brings to the Longhorns are fresh ideas to help a running game that needs to be more diverse and dynamic in 2025 than it was in 2024.

Raw numbers can get skewed when the sample size is 16 games. Still, Texas averaged 4.3 yards per rushing attempt last season, which isn't good, no matter what lens it's viewed through.

It's the first time the Longhorns failed to average at least five yards per carry under Sarkisian. It also marked he program’s lowest output since 2018 (3.8 yards per attempt).

Brown was a wide receiver for Hal Mumme at Kentucky, making his offense a direct descendent of the Air Raid. What separates Brown’s version of the Air Raid from others is his desire to run the football utilizing heavier personnel, whether it’s using a fullback, an extra running back, a sniffer or an extra tight end.

The Longhorns will start replacing four departed starters along the offensive line in earnest when spring practice gets underway. Not to mention Texas needing to account for the losses of Jaydon Blue, Juan Davis and Gunnar Helm.

Quintrevion Wisner and D.J. Campbell are the only key members of last season’s rushing attack returning in their same roles. Brown’s addition to the staff is coming at the perfect time if Sarkisian wants to revamp the ground game.

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[Jeff Howe]

I have a few other items I might add later.

[Joe Zura]

Amazing write up @Jeff Howe 🤘🤘🏼🫡

[Jarveaux]

24 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

I have a few other items I might add later.

I really enjoy your attitude & articles . Keep up the good work . Your a great addition to Bobby’s team.

[Texas fan in Georgia]

Good read. I was thinking earlier, assuming Arch and Colin Simmons are in the same draft class, who would have the better chance to go #1 overall?

[Burnt Orange Horn]

Appreciate the article.  There are several transfers who dropped off my memory bank.

[GDI]

2 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

The Longhorns will start replacing four departed starters along the offensive line in earnest when spring practice gets underway.

Baring injuries,  I think by the end of next season our O'line can be better than last years. 

We had a good O'line last year,  but I thought it was a little overrated.  

[Bevo92]

Love the reference to the late great Blackie Sherrod while Scattershooting.   Excellent article.   So good to have you at OTF!   Thanks Jeff!
 

Hook em! 🧡🐂🤘🏼

[t.newman]

Love the thought of Banks going to 49ers, seems like that would be a perfect match for both parties.

[horns96]

Had no idea Neal Brown played for Mumme.  Just thought he was someone that had a Tech affiliation and tagged "Air Raid".

[817 Boxing B]

This reads like we're chilling, chopping it up about the Horns. Really appreciate the thought and time you take articulating things. It's refreshing and yet another sign that Bobby and the OTF gang are the best in the business. 🤘🏿🫡

[Jack Lala]

Love the scattershooting. You're making Blackie proud.

[Bevo92]

9 hours ago, Texas fan in Georgia said:

Good read. I was thinking earlier, assuming Arch and Colin Simmons are in the same draft class, who would have the better chance to go #1 overall?

Potentially best offensive and defensive player in class of 2027.    Hoping Arch decides to start 3 years and delay draft till 2028 🙏🏼🤘🏼🐂🙏🏼🤘🏼🐂

Wild to think about potential of Arch going #1 and Simmons #2 in same draft.   Whichever year Manning decides to declare, seems most are expecting he’ll be #1 by a wide margin.   Will be fun to watch the next few seasons unfold and see if he plays/lives up to the hype.   

Hook em!  🤘🏼🐂🧡🤘🏼🐂🧡

 

 

[Bevo92]

17 hours ago, GDI said:

Baring injuries,  I think by the end of next season our O'line can be better than last years. 

We had a good O'line last year,  but I thought it was a little overrated.  

I don’t know if the OL will be better by end of year, given lack of experience, but it seems likely, with Arch’s pocket mobility and stronger RB room, several key stats could likely be much better (fewer sacks / pressures, more yards rushing, etc).   Arch may make the OL look better. 🙏🏼🤘🏼

 

Hook em!  🧡🤘🏼🐂🧡🤘🏼🐂

[GDI]

24 minutes ago, Bevo92 said:

Arch may make the OL look better. 🙏🏼🤘🏼

You could be right,  his uncle Peyton sure made some mediocre O'lines look great.  

[Hookem1012]

I’m still really confused as to why big Cam declared.

[Forrest J.]

15 hours ago, Hookem1012 said:

I’m still really confused as to why big Cam declared.

NFL guys pumped him up and it convinced him to enter the draft. They do it not because they really believes he’s that good, but to increase the talent pool in the draft. As overhyped players get drafted, it pushes better players down the draft board. It happens every year to multiple players like Cam.