Gerry and CJ get together to discuss the Texas draft class and talk about who goes first and why.

1. Texas will likely have no fewer than eight players picked in the 2024 NFL Draft.

2. Even with that level of attrition, most national media types are suggesting the Longhorns should have as good or better season in 2024.

Those things typically don’t square with one another.

Heavy attrition, the kind Texas faces going into this season, means the team - any team - will take a step back.

Yet folks don’t see it that way.

So why is that the case?

It’s about the offense more so than the defense.

On offense:

- Quinn Ewers returns for a third year starting.

- The RB room should be fine. Texas blew out two of its last three opponents without Jonathon Brooks already.

- Despite heavy losses at receiver and tight end, the Horns nabbed two starters from Alabama (Isaiah Bond and Amari Niblack), a starter and playmaker from Oregon State (Silas Bolden) and perhaps the country’s best kick returner from Houston (Matthew Golden).

- The OL returns its stellar left tackle, only loses one starter, and has multiple younger players pushing to get into the lineup.

But the defense…

- The Horns must replace the strength of the D up the middle. Not just T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy but also Jaylan Ford.

- Yet the Horns should be better in both the secondary and at edge. And potential superstar linebacker Anthony Hill is a year older.

I don’t know exactly how I feel yet about Texas being ranked so highly this far away from the start of football season.

I want to see more from spring ball before I jump out there with Texas being a top 5 team in 2024.

Is it possible they are? Yes, absolutely.

But let’s see if they mix together like last year’s squad first.

“Culture” was a big word for 2023. In my opinion, it needs to be in 2024 as well.

***

First off, one of the names I have heard that is making an early impression is freshman cornerback Wardell Mack. The 6-foot corner has been someone that has really adjusted to the world of college football and gotten off to a hot start.

Next is DT Alex January, who has slimmed down about 10 pounds since he arrived to campus. Something to watch as Texas monitors its defensive tackle room, right now, it looks like January is taking the necessary steps to get onto the field early. We will see how that develops in the spring.

I have heard freshman EDGE Colin Simmons has added about 15-20 pounds of muscle since Christmas. Word is he is right around 240 pounds after being right around 220 when I last saw him in person in Orlando for the Under Armour All American Game.

If Simmons is able to carry 240 pounds at the moment, that would be massive for the Longhorns on the EDGE moving into the spring and into the fall from there.

Last freshman I have heard positive remarks about is Ty'Anthony Smith. The Jasper prospect has taken an impressive approach to college football as the only linebacker in the class. Smith was a late addition but has quickly adjusted to the world of college football. A bit of a slimmer lower body, but a wide open approach to body development is going to be something that might get Smith on the field earlier than expected. Positives all around. 

Ryan Fodje is someone to keep a very close eye on for the time being in regards to a potential OU class addition.

Texas hosted Fodje on the Junior Day where they offered for the first time on January 20. 

OU was Fodje’s first offer and Bedenbaugh has been pushing heavily to get the talented offensive tackle prospect into the class. Right now, I am expecting OU to find success with this recruitment. 

Really interesting trends in the state of Texas, plus a look into where the staff can create deeper inroads across the rest of the country.

That’s big. Like as big as it gets in college sports.

The two heavyweights of college sports are officially prepping to leave the NCAA.

So where do we go from here?

I truly don’t know. Like everyone else, I can pontificate what it should be - 48 teams? 64? - but I don’t know the exact answer.

The key question I have is this:

What is the financial model between player, team and league going to be?

Does college football follow the NFL model of financial parity? That’s unlikely because the Big Ten and SEC have already struck their own media deals. But there could be some abbreviated form of it that makes sense.

Or do we see more of a Major League Baseball model where there’s a salary cap but teams can go over it if they want. That’s a move that would allow there to be a Yankees and Dodgers of college football, which frankly seems kind of on point. There’s not a ton of parity in college football today and that’s part of what makes it interesting.

I don’t know which way this will go. But the model they construct will be the biggest question of all because it will determine what CFB looks like for generations to come.

***

If you’re interested in this topic further, I highly recommend reading the report of Yahoo!’s Ross Dellenger. The report yesterday included interviews with the commissioners of both leagues on this very topic.

I have linked that report below for those who want to read.

https://sports.yahoo.com/sec-big-ten-uniting-to-tackle-pervasive-issues-in-college-athletics--pressures-are-mounting-172832810.html

The 6-3, 195-pound linebacker is currently ranked a three-star prospect by both On3 and 247Sports.

Thomas also holds offers from Washington, SMU, Houston, UTSA, Baylor, TCU and Texas State.

I caught up a bit with Henderson following his offer to get the latest on his recruitment. Henderson received the offer from Jeff Banks and Steve Sarkisian on a joint phone call between the three.

The 6-foot-4 playmaker added that the offer is in fact as an athlete and added the Texas coaches were impressed with his versatility and overall athleticism. Henderson has also been to campus a few times already, calling it a "great experience" each time.

"It's a big stage," Henderson said. "I know how he likes to run his program and I think it is a very big deal and opportunity."

Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16476956/63b7c01c2ab127091c72dc9c

According to a report from Pete Thamel of ESPN, the two major conferences are planning to fund an advisory committee concerning the future of big-time college athletics.

The move is long overdue as the NCAA and its archaic structure continues to wilt under the pressure of a multitude of lawsuits, long-term mismanagement and rising public animosity against it. 

Is this the official first step of a new era of college sports, and college football in particular?

My educated guess is yes.

The NCAA's antiquated structure is unsalvageable, at least as it relates to big-time college football where the dollars reach into the billions. NCAA President Charlie Baker even perhaps agrees with that sentiment. Two months ago Baker penned a letter addressing the future of the NCAA and its membership. In it, he suggested that it's possible some larger football-playing schools may desire a different set of rules in the future, ones incongruent with and unable to be managed by the NCAA.

It looks like the SEC and Big Ten are ready to take Baker up on that suggestion.