So on this off day for the team, thought it would be a great time to deliver a few notes OnTexasFootball has picked up in recent days. 

* Trey Moore has been talked about the top/best pass rusher on the team in some circles already. That's because he has both finesse and power moves with twitch. What hasn't been talked about as much is his ability to be effective in the run game. One area he has impressed early on is his ability to set the edge. 

* Freshman Wardell Mack has made positive impressions at cornerback due to his advanced understanding of press coverage from a technical standpoint. He does some things naturally in press coverage that will help him maximize long term. 

* Left guard Neto Umeozulu was said to have had his best run of practices at Texas leading up to the Sugar Bowl. That began the last week of the regular season too. The spring thus far, it's been more of the same. Consistency in the film room and on the field. 

* Colin Simmons is showing the ability to be disruptive in spurts without being assignment sound. All of that is expected through a few spring practices as an early enrollee. His ability to create some chaos in the backfield is evident. 

* Ryan Wingo has been talked about plenty already. The continued theme OTF is hearing is a real skill set with ball skills. 

* Andrew Mukuba was mentioned on Monday by Steve Sarkisian. OTF was told he is a "savvy" player that has picked up the Texas playbook very smoothly. Texas is very happy with Mukuba in coverage, and the willingness to be physical. 

* Brandon Baker and Daniel Cruz may not be mentioned as much the first couple of weeks of spring practice due to the experienced depth and left guard battle, but Texas is very pleased with the two early enrollee OL's. Both are good in the OL room, and are proving to be keepers on the field out of the gate. 

* Freshmen safeties Xavier Filsaime and Jordon Johnson-Rubell have shown physicality early on. Filsaime has been talked about more in that manner early on, but JJ-R has also answered the that call. Both are said to be purposeful players that have flashed at both safety and in special teams thus far. 

On top of another smooth practice, there was a part of me that felt comfort in the direction of the program that resulted in what I heard off the field from David Gbenda and Quinn Ewers. Before I get into that part of things, I will share a couple of notes that stood out from practice this morning.

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I watched a lot of the tight end group today. It is rare to hear Jeff Banks in a complementary mood but there was praise from the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at times today. First, on the individual sled where Amari Niblack, Spencer Shannon and Jordan Washington each received a congratulatory remark from Banks for getting the drill correct on the first go-round.

As Amari Niblack continues his climb up the Texas depth chart, it is certainly noteworthy that the QB that is consistently throwing to him in routes on air is Quinn Ewers. Arch Manning is often lined up with Juan Davis and Jordan Washington during his rounds.

*** 

There has been some talk about wide receivers having to slow down for passes on deep balls on twitter. Listen, in situations that don't warrant high-speed precision like routes on air, it is difficult to hit a guy perfectly in stride 40-yards down the field on each given throw. The deep ball has looked much better this spring and I will leave it at that rather than nitpicking if a receiver catches it on his backshoulder or out in front.

One part of practice I really liked was Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning literally racing one another to get to the individual QB drill about 130 yards away from where they were on the field during special teams. It is little things like that that stands out to me. 

***
I think Colton Vasek has a real shot at contributing this year. While the path to the field is not necessarily a walk in the park, he has looked great in spring ball so far. He is lengthy, athletic and can bend. I think there is more athleticism here than Ethan Burke and the frame continues to build. Buy stock now.

***

But to part of today that I enjoyed hearing about:

It is noteworthy that David Gbenda was the first player from the defensive side of the ball to speak with the media this spring. The elder statesman in the room has the respect of the coaching staff and his teammates.

Gbenda mentioned Barryn Sorrell, Jahdae Barron, Michael Taaffe and himself as leaders on the defensive side of the ball early on. 

Derion Gulllette and Tyanthony Smith were singled out as two youngsters who were standing out to him. Of course, Smith was the lone linebacker in the 2024 class this past cycle.

The other part of Gbenda's time with time with the media that stood out to me was his remarks when I asked him about motivation he took from the Sugar Bowl. Gbenda told me straight up he was "pissed off" about the loss. Being what he called "12 inches" short of playing for a title, has stuck with him through the winter and into today. That sentiment is echoed throughout the rest of the program as well.

***

As for Quinn Ewers, I sensed calm and confident version of Ewers. Multiple times Ewers brought up how comfortable he was in Sarkisian's system as a third year player. 

Ewers also spoke about his decision to return to school. Citing he did not want to rush the decision or his time in college after skipping his senior season to enroll at Ohio State, then not playing as a true freshman and eventually transferring over to Texas. This is the first time I got the sense Ewers was completely at peace with his surroundings.

Ewers mentioned he had an idea midway through the 2023 season that he would return to Texas for another season. A week following the Sugar Bowl, Ewers had bought in completely to returning and eventually made the decision about 10 days after.

As for leaders on the offensive side of the ball, Ewers named Jake Majors in the middle of the offensive line and Johntay Cook as the most experienced returning wide receiver on roster – certainly worth mentioning.

Alex January is ahead of Sydir Mitchell in the rotation over the ball. 

Neto Umeozulu worked at first team left guard for second straight practice. 

Hayden Conner worked at center again today. 

OnTexasFootball brings some Wednesday morning recruiting nuggets to get your day started.

Dakorien Moore visit locked in

Duncanville (Texas) High 5-star wide receiver and LSU pledge Dakorien Moore is scheduled to attend the Texas Spring Game April 20 according to a source close to the recruitment. Moore will be in Austin for the Texas Relays this weekend. We shall see if he stops by the facility, but that can only happen after the conclusion of the Texas Relays. 

Moore will make the Spring Game visit along with Duncanville (Texas) High 4-star quarterback, good friend and SMU verbal Keelon Russell. Russell has an OV scheduled to SMU in mid-May, and Florida June 7-9. 

IMG Academy LB to visit in April

Four-star linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (Bradenton, Fla./IMG Academy) tells OnTexasFootball that he is scheduled to unofficially visit Texas April 13, the same weekend as teammate Major Preston (Hopewell, Va./IMG Academy). The 6-1, 210 pound 'backer has June OV's scheduled to South Carolina (May 31-June 2) and Stanford June 7-9. Notre Dame and Florida are also very much in the mix. Miami (Fla) is in it as well. 

Linkon Cure quote on Texas visit

Goodland (Ks.) High 4-star tight end Linkon Cure made a visit to Texas Friday with the California Power 7v7 organization. As expected, he had positive remarks coming out of the visit.

"It was really good! I loved the tour and getting to visit with Coach Banks and Sark!!" Cure told OnTexasFootball Tuesday.

Cure has a trio of official visits scheduled. Penn State May 31-June 2, Oregon June 14-16 and Kansas State June 21-23. The in state Wildcats are considered the team to beat. It remains to be seen if Texas will set up an official visit, but it has been talked about. 

Spring practice updates, the latest on visitors and rule changes galore from the NFL level.

Terry, 6-2.5 and 218 pounds with 10.8 100 meters speed, says he's locked in for the Texas Spring Game April 20. At that time, he will have a conversation with Steve Sarkisian and staff members in regard to a June official visit date.

Terry's first official visit will be to Nebraska the last weekend in April. Texas A&M, Texas Tech, TCU, Texas and Oregon are possibilities for official visits. 

A note on a Indiana DT transfer Philip Blidi

OnTexasFootball exchanged messages with Indiana transfer DL Philip Blidi earlier today. The 6-3, 295 pound defensive tackle that began his career at Texas Tech prior to transferring to Indiana will be in Austin this weekend visiting family. As of earlier today, he didn't have anything set up to visit Texas or see the staff. 

LSU, TCU, Texas A&M and Auburn are among the offers since hitting the portal as a graduate transfer nine days ago. 

The January stop at John F. Kennedy High in Cedar Rapids, Ia. by Texas offensive line coach Kyle Flood was clearly a success.

Just days after Nick Brooks told OnTexasFootball that he was planning two visits to Texas, he has locked in an official visit.

Brooks, 6-7 and 345 pounds, will make his first even visit to Texas April 20. And now he will follow up with an official visit June 14-16. 

Brooks is considered one of the cream of the crop offensive line prospects in the 2025 cycle. He committed to Iowa the in early September of 2023 before backing off that pledge November 7. At the time, Georgia was considered the main competition. And while the Bulldogs remain the in the top 2 with Iowa, Texas is officially in the race. 

Brooks told OnTexasFootball  March 19 that he was planning two visits to Texas

"I'm going to visit Texas in April," Brooks told OTF March 19. That visit remains scheduled for the Spring Game April 20. "I have an official visit scheduled to Texas, but I think I have to change it to another date."

Texas was originally looking to lock in the June 21-23 visit weekend, but that is when Brooks is scheduled to be at Iowa. With Georgia scheduled for May 31-June 2, that left June 14-16 as the likely date for the Texas official visit, which is now locked in. 

The one-time Iowa pledge currently sports 31 offers. The offer list includes SEC teams Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Mississippi State and South Carolina. 

Four-star EDGE Smith Orogbo (Alief, Texas/Hastings) told OnTexasFootball Tuesday morning that he has locked in an official visit to Texas. 

Orogbo, 6-5 and 218, will officially visit the Longhorns June 14-16. That is the same weekend that EDGE commitment Lance Jackson (Texarkana, Texas/Pleasant Grove) and target Hayden Lowe (Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian) will make official visits to Texas. 

The official visit will be the second time the Houston area explosive EDGE rush prospect will be on campus. He's also scheduled to make an unofficial visit April 6. 

Orogbo will also make an official visit to SMU in Mid-May with trips to USC, Oregon and Oklahoma State also on the table. 

Texas offered Orogbo January 22 when area recruiter Jeff Banks made a stop at Hastings High. Since that time, the long-armed and twitchy prospect has been in contact with Steve Sarkisian, Pete Kwiatkowski and Jeff Banks. 

Texas EDGE official visits

June 14-16
Hayden Lowe, EDGE, Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Note: Also making unofficial visit April 6.

Smith Orogbo, EDGE, Alief (Texas) Hastings
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Note: Also making unofficial visit April 6.

Lance Jackson, EDGE, Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

June 21-23
Damien Shanklin, EDGE, Indianapolis (In.) Warren Central
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Notre Dame June 7-9, Tennessee June 14-16, Texas June 21-23
Note: Also plans to attend the Texas Spring Game April 20.

The Texas Longhorns continue to work to get top targets on campus in the 2025 cycle. And there is more news on that front Tuesday. 

Malik Autry, DL, Opelika (Ala.) High
The Auburn pledge and OnTexasFootball 4-star continues to talk with Steve Sarkisian and Kenny Baker about visit dates. One of those in the works is April 6, and that date is close to being locked in. There is also discussions about an official visit. Autry, 6-5 and 320, already has a full June OV schedule and Auburn isn't even set yet. Autry is scheduled to visit UCF May 31-June 2, USC June 7-9, Florida June 14-16 and Oregon June 21-23. Of course, that visit scheduled could get shuffled. 

Adonyss Currie, CB, Lancaster (Calif.) Quartz Hill
The OnTexasFootball 4-star and very high end cornerback prospect is speaking with Texas early this week with the hope out of Austin to get an official visit date locked in. Currie, 6-2 and 165 pounds, has April official visits scheduled to Texas A&M and Nebraska. He will flow up with OV's to Washington May 31-June 2, Miami June 7-9 and Utah June 14-16. That leaves Texas working on the June 21-23 weekend, unless there is scheduling change to open up June 14-16.

Additional notes
Greensboro (Ga.) Greene County 4-star DL Kevin Wynn will be a prospect Texas continues to recruit despite Texas not getting a spring unofficial, as of today. Florida State, Alabama and Georgia are considered the top three with FSU and Bama ahead of UGA. 

OnTexasFootball expects June 21-23 to be the official visit date of 4-star running back Jordon Davison. We will wait for the Mater Dei standout to announce his dates before making it official. Texas is in a good spot in the battle against Ohio State, Oregon and Alabama. 

OTF is also monitoring the recruitment of Lancaster (Texas) High 4-star wide receiver Emmanuel Choice. The Longhorns remain in contact with Choice. Choice, 6-5 and 180, has OV's scheduled to Nebraska, USC, Missouri, TCU and Oklahoma. In a cycle of tremendous wide receivers in Texas and nationally, Choice is going to be slept on - and shouldn't be.