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    Jeff Howe
    Does Texas need to address the tight end position when the spring transfer portal window opens in April?
    The answer is nuanced, but I don’t think the Longhorns' strategy will make or break the offense in 2025.
    Spring practice will be Jordan Washington’s opportunity to emerge as someone who can be counted on when the rubber meets the road in the fall. Steve Sarkisian has coached productive, NFL-caliber tight ends as a college coach (Austin Seferian-Jenkins at Washington, O.J. Howard and Irv Smith Jr. headline the tight ends Sarkisian worked with at Alabama and Ja’Tavion Sanders at Texas, with Gunnar Helm expected to be drafted in April).
    Washington has a chance to be the most complete tight end to play in Sarkisian’s offense.
    The 6-foot-4-inch 250-pounder with a basketball background was brought up during Friday’s “Longhorn Livestream” with myself, Rod Babers and Gerry Hamilton.
    Gerry mentioned how Langham Creek coach Todd Thompson used Washington as an in-line tight end, a sniffer and in the backfield. Sarkisian praised Washington’s ability to stretch the field, ball skills, and length when he introduced the 2024 signees who signed during that cycle's Early Signing Period.
    With 10.5-inch hands and a tremendous frame that’s already started to fill out, Washington has a chance to be an athletic, physical tight end north of 260 pounds who never has to leave the field. Nick Townsend won’t be on campus for spring practice, but the future in Jeff Banks’ room is bright with the two Houston-area products leading the way.
    If the staff knew Amari Niblack would move on after the season, Texas might’ve pushed harder for Purdue’s Max Klare, who transferred to Ohio State. The Longhorns could use another tight end on the roster, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of putting a playmaker around Arch Manning.
    If the Longhorns don’t find the right tight end in the portal, utilizing a sixth offensive lineman (a role Texas didn’t feature in 2024 as much as it did in 2022 or 2023) or Spencer Shannon emerging as a capable in-line blocker would allow Sarkisian to keep 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) as one of his featured groupings. Additionally, Sarkisian’s use of two-back sets and multiple-wide receiver packages means the Longhorns could pursue a transfer too good to pass up without feeling like they’re robbing Peter to pay Paul.
    In short, Texas shouldn’t pass on a proven running back or wideout in place of another tight end. Every offensive personnel decision must be executed with maximizing Manning’s time as QB1 in mind, which is why the Longhorns should approach spring practice and the portal window with an open mind.
    Jeff Howe
    — I think Texas needs to add another interior defensive lineman in the spring transfer portal window, even after landing Ohio State’s Hero Kanu on Wednesday.
    Kenny Baker and Pete Kwiatkowski need as many options as possible to adequately replace more than 1,900 snaps with the departures of Vernon Broughton, Alfred Collins, Jermayne Lole and Bill Norton. Of equal importance, for me, is giving playing time to the program’s three true freshmen (Myron Charles, Josiah Sharma and Justus Terry) by choice, not force.
    For years, the Longhorns were stuck in a vicious cycle of throwing young players into the deep end, hoping they’ll swim. Steve Sarkisian’s regime broke the cycle at quarterback and along the offensive line, and the transfer portal can fill gaps in the talent pipeline at a time when attrition rates are high.
    Texas signed five defensive linemen in the 2022 and 2023 cycles: Aaron Bryant, Jaray Bledsoe, Sydir Mitchell, Kris Ross and Zac Swanson. None of those guys are on the 2025 roster, but the portal additions of Kanu, Cole Brevard and Travis Shaw means Alex January and Melvin Hills Jr. aren’t solely tasked with making up for the outgoing tackles.
    It’s easier to be known as a good developmental program when players get an appropriate amount of time to develop.
    After playing behind four veteran tackles throughout the season, January only logged five snaps (according to Pro Football Focus) in the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State. Still, he made an impact, recording a PFF single-game grade of 67.7, the second-best of his true freshman season.
    That’s one example, but it’s important because January could be the only defensive line recruit between three recruiting classes (2022-24) considered a hit. Bringing in one more interior defensive lineman would give the Longhorns more time to let January, Hills and the three true freshmen grow into their roles and earn their playing time.
    — I think the 2024 group of incoming wide receivers (Jaime Ffrench, Kaliq Lockett and Daylon McCutcheon enrolled for the spring semester) can get the position to a point where it becomes much less reliant on the transfer portal.
    Texas hit a grand slam with Xavier Worthy in the 2021 class. Excluding Worthy, however, how things have played out for the eight other wideouts recruited by the Longhorns over three cycles (2021-23) is why Sarkisian and Chris Jackson will be on the hunt for a difference-maker in the spring portal window.
    Sarkisian didn’t recruit Jaden Alexis, Casey Cain or Keithron Lee. Nevertheless, they’re three of five wideouts (Brenen Thompson and Savion Red signed in 2022) who joined the program during Sarkisian’s first two seasons.
    Combining for 16 receptions and 280 yards, three of the five lasted one or fewer seasons on the Forty Acres and none of them occupied a roster spot in 2024. Combine the production of Johntay Cook (16 catches, 273 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games) with what those five did and the numbers (32 receptions for 553 yards and two touchdowns) fall short of what DeAndre Moore Jr. put up in 2024 (39 catches, 456 yards and seven touchdowns).
    When Sarkisian’s staff hits on a wide receiver recruit, they hit it big.
    Ffrench, Lockett and McCutcheon will compete with Aaron Butler, Freddie Dubose and Parker Livingstone for roles alongside Moore and Ryan Wingo (and presumably Ryan Niblett) during spring practice. Those odds favor Texas developing a homegrown receiving corps capable of maximizing Arch Manning’s time behind center.
    — I think the Longhorns need a few pieces besides an interior defensive lineman or a dynamic wide receiver when the spring transfer portal window opens on April 16.
    Texas could answer some major depth chart questions during spring practice. Still, I don’t want the staff to leave anything to chance if there's an opportunity to improve the roster.
    Kicker, interior offensive line, cornerback, safety and running back could be addressed in the portal. There might not be upgrades available in the portal, or the NIL price tag could make certain acquisitions unattainable, but those are the areas of concern that need to be addressed if they’re not answered by the end of the spring game.
    The running game and Manning’s running ability could positively affect the offense’s productivity in the red zone. That said, Sarkisian's lack of trust in the field goal unit by the end of the season compounded the issues (a 79.7 scoring rate in the red zone in 2024 was the program's worst under Sarkisian).
    Ideally, Bert Auburn or Will Stone grabs the bull by the horns and wins the job outright in the spring. If the answer to the kicking inconsistencies isn’t on the roster, Texas doesn’t need to roll the dice and play with fire in 2025 if there’s a suitable option in the portal. Besides the interior defensive line and wide receiver, the kicking situation might be the most critical area the Longhorns need to assess before the spring window opens.
    Jeff Howe
    I'm elated to be a part of On Texas Football.
    My conversations with Bobby and Gerry recently reminded me of the early days of building the Texas site for 247Sports. What made those days exciting (and, for me, when working in the market was the most fulfilling) was that the bottom line was about building a community where fans who bled burnt orange wanted to be.
    That’s what excites me about continuing to write about, analyze, and report on the Longhorns with OTF. August 2010 wasn’t the ideal time to launch and build an online community and news source for Texas fans, but OTF is experiencing rapid growth at a time when Steve Sarkisian looks primed to lead the Longhorns through a historic run of success.
    With Arch Manning in the saddle as QB1, the bulk of the No. 1 recruiting class in 2025 currently on campus and the 2025 NFL Draft possibly making it back-to-back drafts in which Texas produces double-digit picks, the train isn’t slowing down.
    It’s time to puff out your chest and walk tall if you're a Longhorn fan, making it the perfect time to be a part of OTF. After slogging through the dark ages (2010-2021), I hope everyone reading this is as excited as I am to be a part of something special.
    Whether you’ve followed me for a while or you’re reading me for the first time (thank you for the support, by the way, and I look forward to talking Texas football with the OTF community), one of the things I’ve always been fascinated by (and will often discuss) is the group of players entering their third season in the program.
    Spring practice will be a now-or-never time for the 2023 signees who’ve yet to break through. Thankfully, a good chunk of the class has panned out.
    Of the 18 signees still with the program (including Will Randle), I count 11 who are either proven commodities or who’ve shown enough that we’ve got a feel for what they’ll bring to the table in 2025: Arch Manning, CJ Baxter, Quintrevion Wisner, DeAndre Moore Jr., Trevor Goosby, Colton Vasek, Anthony Hill Jr., Liona Lefau, Malik Muhammad, Jelani McDonald and Derek Williams Jr.
    The third-year guys are a critical group because if you’re evaluating and developing the right way at a place like Texas, you should have a decent number of guys on NFL trajectories. By Year 3, a recruiting class should form a team’s nucleus; if you’re a championship-caliber squad, the core must include elite players.
    Of the 11 mentioned, the biggest concerns are Baxter and Williams bouncing back from their knee injuries and Vasek being healthy enough to remain in a tremendous EDGE rotation with Ethan Burke, Trey Moore and Colin Simmons.
    What about the other eight? Well, they'll determine whether the Longhorns have enough talented depth to make it through SEC play and the College Football Playoff to reach the top of the mountain.
    Can Spencer Shannon provide the kind of presence as an in-line blocking tight end to demand snaps and let Jordan Washington grow into his role?
    Will Jaydon Chatman, Andre Cojoe or Connor Stroh push the older linemen in the program for playing time?
    Is Ryan Niblett capable of filling Silas Bolden’s role as a burner with big-play potential in the slot on offense?
    With Jahdae Barron and Gavin Holmes gone, does Warren Roberson play himself into the cornerback rotation?
    At an exciting time for the program, I can’t wait for arguably the most competitive spring on the Forty Acres in a long time.
     
    CJ Vogel
    The game is finally here. For 13 years we were robbed of this game, and now it returns in all of its glory. Texas and Texas A&M – the winner to the SEC Championship in Atlanta on December 7th.
    Let me start with this, the atmosphere is unbelievable.
    ***
    1st Quarter
    Texas kicks off to begin the game. Touchback. Texas defense on the field first.
    A&M takes a vertical shot to Terry Bussey who gets lost in coverage on the second play of the game for a gain of 27. 
    Barryn Sorrell jumps offsides on 3rd and 3 to move the chains. Cannot provide freebies in this game on the road. Can’t do it.
    A&M is finding a lot of space through the air right now, something I did not expect to be the case. Texas secondary and linebackers have to clean this up and force tight window throws.
    What a stop on 3rd and 4th down by the Texas defense! Huge momentum switch after the Aggies storm down the field with relative ease.
    Texas goes three and out. A double-move to start to Isaiah Bond who did not run very hard and then a miscommunication on a hurry-up look between Ewers and Helm and Texas punts the ball back to A&M.
    That was unbelievable by Michael Taaffe. Not just to get to the spot on the field, but to get a foot down in bounds.
    Wow! I did not have a 26-yard rush by Quinn Ewers on my bingo card and he was about six inches from going 70+ to the house. 
    Kelvin Banks is down in pain. Trevor Goosby is already in the game.
    Okay! Texas is showing some life running the football at the moment. Tre Wisner with back to back runs of 22 and 11 yards. The run game is working right now. I would continue to pound the rock until A&M reacts and then the intermediate will come as a result.
    The screen game is not going to work tonight for the Longhorn offense. Elko has a pair of really smart LBs and they are waiting for it on every single snap.
    What a freakish turn this game has taken! 4th and 1, Texas opts to roll out Arch Manning for the snap and he takes a read option keeper 15-yards to the crib for the first touchdown. We had heard all week there was going to be some sort of Arch package this week and that’s a heck of a wrinkle to unveil on 4th down on the 2nd drive of the game. Texas leads 7–0.
    Texas defense has settled in a good bit. They are playing sound football on this third drive. A&M having to grind out all three downs to scratch the line to gain.
    End of 1st Quarter ••• Texas leads 7-0
    Texas did a really nice job of settling in, quieting the crowd and playing their own style of ball which included ground and pound on the offensive side of the ball. Through one quarter, Texas is winning the LOS battle.
    Tremendous play by Vernon Broughton who was turned loose to bring down Marcel Reed for the first sack of the game. Brings up a lengthy third down and the Longhorn D gets off the field on a 3rd down screen attempt. Texas gets the ball back at the 20 after a touchback.
    That was an unbelievable window Ewers fit that pass to Helm in for the conversion on 3rd down. Heck of a snag, but man what a big play to move the chains and help flip some field.
    Jaydon Blue misses a block on a screen and then misses his assignment on a sack by Taurean York. He has to be better. 
    That was an unbelievable throw by Quinn Ewers to Matthew Golden for 45 yards, maybe the best of the season there for No. 3.
    Elko has no answer for Arch Manning currently, just wasted a timeout.
    What a beauty of a catch by Jaydon Blue, maybe the best play he has made the entire season. After review, Blue has possession and gets a foot in bounds. What a throw and catch there. Huge play for the Texas offense to go up two scores.
    A stop here and the Longhorns can really run this up.
    Wooooo…. I thought that might have been a targeting call on Andrew Mukuba, but the officiating crew sees it differently. Three and out for the Texas defense, which has been spectacular.
    Quinn Ewers has been absolutely spectacular in this second quarter. He htis Ryan Wingo for a 35-yard gain and the Longhorns are into A&M territory.
    Another big time play for Ewers who evades pressure, hits a pump fake and Helm adds another hurdle to his tally. What a play. This has been a superb second quarter for Quinn Ewers.
    Texas A&M ran 10 plays for 33 yards on the final offensive possession before halftime, they have no vertical threats and no real attempts to stretch the field. Texas is sitting on everything and as a result, get another fourth down stop.
    Bert Auburn misses from 48. Long kick, but it’s adding to a lengthy list of miscues.
    ***
    Halftime ••• Texas Leads 17–0
    ***
    Texas gets the ball to start the 2nd half. First play is a completion to Gunnar Helm on an easy pitch and catch for eight yards.
    A couple of first downs, but ultimately Texas fails to convert on 3rd down and punts. Punt went into the end zone, so really it was only a 25 yard punt.
    First rush attempt for the Texas A&M offense is the most successful of the night and the Aggies are out by midfield.
    Alfred Collins has been spectacular at batting passes at the line of scrimmage this year. Another one goes straight up in the air and should have been picked off by Barryn Sorrell. Aggies punt back to Texas with 10:38 in the 3rd quarter.
    Texas is storming right now down the field. The run game looks great, and finally there is some space for the screens after the catch.
    Moved right into the red zone and could put this out of reach.
    Annnnnddddddd – pick six.
    DJ Hicks bats the ball at the line of scrimmage and the Aggies go 93-yards to the house for the first points of their evening. Texas will need a strong answer here, this game should be out of reach and instead it is reviving the A&M fanbase.
    Texas needs a lengthy drive to settle things back down and it would be even better if they found the end zone.
    Tre Wisner has been spectacular (again) tonight. Now up to 141 rush yards and Texas is firmly into the red zone.
    Geez, man. Ewers scrambles on the outside and fumbles. Two consecutive turnovers on two drives in the red zone in this 3rd quarter. Texas has dominated, yet A&M is in a position to make this a one score game.
    Texas won the time of possession in the 3rd quarter 12:34 to 2:19, yet lost the scoring battle 7–0.
    *** 4th quarter ***
    Texas A&M has done just enough to move the ball here. Over midfield after the intermission.
    Liona Lefau has been spectacular tonight. A passed deflection and a forced fumble which Reed hopped back on. Maybe my player of the game tonight on defense.
    Andrew Mukuba! Another big time PBU to force a punt.
    Texas must take care of the football and they must take off some time with this drive.
    Tre Wisner now over 160 yards on the ground.
    Texas is trying to take off some time from the clock, yet back to back A&M defenders have gone down with injuries to delay that progress.
    There is no reason for there to be miscommunications between Ewers and Bond in this stage of the game. Just absolutely none. Ewers throws to the sticks. Bond runs ten yards, Incomplete.
    Next, Texas A&M blocks the punt and gets the ball immediately in the Longhorns red zone. Disaster upon us?
    We will see.
    I am running out of superlatives for this Texas defense. An unreal stop on the goal line leaves A&M without points and roughly 3:00 of the clock. Texas has the ball back just over 4:00 remaining and Elko has two timeouts left. 
    Texas has closed out ballgames each of the last two weeks, none would be biggest than if they could do it tonight. 
    2:00 timeout. Texas was a first down from icing the ballgame. A&M has one final bit of life. 
    Trey Moore! Strip sack! 
    Texas is going to the SEC Championship Game for a rematch with Georgia. 
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