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    A place for any Longhorn Fan to get the latest news from the On Texas Football team.
    CJ Vogel
    The on-field tests at the 2024 NFL Combine begin on Thursday, meaning it is time to make some money for the Texas draft hopefuls in attendance.
    As we know, there will be 11 Longhorns in Indianapolis this weekend to perform in front of NFL Scouts and Executives. With less than two months from the NFL Draft, the Combine poses as one last master interview opportunity before Pro Days. More specifically, which one drill means the most for each of the Texas combine attendees?
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    RB Jonathon Brooks – Interviews
    Brooks is still recovering from his ACL injury and won't be participating in on-field drills unfortunately.
    RB Keilan Robinson – 40-yard Dash
    The Combine is a great chance for Robinson to put some big testing numbers on paper here. While I find it a bit of a climb to get into the Draft, Robinson has plenty of tape here to suggest he can make a roster from a special teams perspective.
    WR Adonai Mitchell – 40-yard Dash
    If AD Mitchell can put a low 4.5 of 4.4 time together at the combine, he will be a first round pick. He has the hands and the tape to put his name in the mix already, an elite 40 will put him over the top and into the first round.
    WR Xavier Worthy – WR Gauntlet
    We know Worthy is going to test well in the 40 and there will be good enough times in the agility stations. It is time for Worthy to silence doubters about his hands and put on a show in the gauntlet.
    WR Jordan Whittington – 20-Yard Shuttle
    Not performing at the Senior Bowl means this week gets even more important for J-Whitt. I have no doubt Whittington will perform well in the wide receiver drills with the quarterbacks, but I do wonder how his numbers will stack up testing wise, more so in the short distance and quick agility testing.
    TE Ja'Tavion Sanders – Bench Press
    Listen, I don't think Sanders has questions surrounding how strong he is, more so with his level of physicality. At the pro level, there must be a balance of production in the run and pass games at the tight end spot and Sanders putting up a big number on the bench can help alleviate those concerns about his willingness as a blocker.
    OL Christian Jones – Bench Press
    Starting 48 career games at the collegiate level has been huge for Jones' development. With the soccer background, I expect the testing times to be good enough. Question then turns to strength and the bench press can help his case.
    DL T'Vondre Sweat – Weigh-in
    It feels simple, but Sweat raised some question marks at the senior bowl weekend when he opted against the weigh-in. We know the tape will back up anything else that might be questioned on the field, but right now it is all about getting to a playing weight that NFL scouts feel appropriate.
    DL Byron Murphy – 3-Cone Drill
    There won't be many question marks with Murphy at the combine. He will put up big numbers on bench and I expect he surprises people in the broad jump. Murphy can really make some money and cement himself in the 1st round with a stellar three-cone drill.
    LB Jaylan Ford – 60-yard Shuttle
    I had this conversation over the weekend about the comparison of Jaylan Ford to Demarvion Overshown. While Overshown was the more athletic prospect, Ford had a deeper bag of statistics and on-field accomplishments. If Ford can put together any sliver of testing times that mirror that of Overshown, he will be a 3rd-4th round pick to me. Starts with the sideline to sideline speed. 
    DB Ryan Watts – 10-Yard split in the 40
    I wanted to get a bit more specific for Watts rather than saying just the 40. Of course we know how important showing off the top-end speed will be for Watts at the Combine. He has the analytical numbers that help his case for long distance speed, but the NFL needs quick burst more than anything – especially at DB. 
     

    CJ Vogel
    The Texas staff has offered 2025 Warner Robbins (GA) defensive end Isaiah Gibson.
    The 6-foot-4 edge prospect is the latest in the cycle to report an offer from the Texas Longhorn staff. Interestingly here, the offer was extended by Texas RB coach Tashard Choice who obviously has deep ties to the Georgia area.
    Gibson was recently ranked as a top 25 national prospect per On3. It is not an easy task to pull an elite prospect out of the Peach State, but the Longhorns are officially in the running here.
     

    CJ Vogel
    I checked in over the weekend to get an update on portal transfer addition Amari Niblack since his addition to the program.
    Since joining the program, I have been told Niblack has had a seamless transition. Of course, it never hurts adding a contributing piece from an Alabama program that had been the gold standard under Nick Saban.
    Niblack played the 2023 season in the 230-235 pound range. Since the conclusion of the season, Niblack has been working to add to his frame. I have been told Niblack will enter the spring season at 245 pounds after adding to his frame since December.
    The key here is making sure the speed remains, however, you can now expect there to be plenty of mass to be a contributor in the trenches.

    CJ Vogel
    We are 58 days away from the 2024 NFL Draft. I wanted to get to start a series on NFL Draft predictions from 60 days, 30 days, 15 days and 7 days away from the time the Draft takes place to provide an idea of where I believe the Texas Longhorn draft hopefuls will hear their name called.
    So for the first chapter of this series, I wanted to give my ideas on where the Longhorns will get drafted in my own mock draft edition. This will change, but for now, an idea on best fits as the draft currently sits with the NFL Combine set to take place later this week.
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    R1 Pick 16 – Seattle Picks DL Byron Murphy 
    This feels like a perfect match. Seattle has gone to the well before with a Texas defensive lineman and it worked out just fine. The Seahawks ranked 26th in the NFL in yards per carry allowed in 2023 and ended with a defense outside of the top 20 in scoring. Help in the trenches makes sense and Murphy's the best man for that pick.
    R1 Pick 32 – Kansas City Picks WR Adonai Mitchell
    I have long juggled with which Texas WR Kansas City picks here and ultimately decided to go with Mitchell. Yes, Xavier Worthy fits what the Chiefs have used in the past with the speed aspect of things. However, Kansas City just won a Super Bowl with a wide receiving corps that led the league in drops. Mitchell is as sure-handed as anyone in the Draft, I think they go with him here.
    R2 Pick 37 – Los Angeles Chargers Pick TE Ja'Tavion Sanders
    This pick is contingent on the Chargers not taking Brock Bowers at No. 5 overall, which I think is far too high for that value of a pick with how many holes are on their team defensively. Neither Gerald Everett or Donald Parham have been legitimate threats in the pass game for Herbert and it is time for that to change with the selection of Sanders.
    R2 Pick 45 – Atlanta Picks WR Xavier Worthy
    Can I interest anyone in Xavier Worthy and Bijan Robinson teaming up once again? For whatever the reason, the Falcons front office just loves shiny toys – except at quarterback. Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson and now Xavier Worthy? That would be a hell of an offense to guard.
    R2 Pick 58 – Green Bay Picks RB Jonathon Brooks
    Green Bay has a very bright future with their current roster construction and the emergence of Jordan Love as a legitimate star in the league. It will be interesting to see what the Packers do at RB. AJ Dillon's contract expires and there have been murmurs of the Pack wanting to move on from the $26M owed to Aaron Jones. If so, J-Brooks just found himself a nice home in Wisconsin.
    R2 Pick 62 – Baltimore Picks DT T'Vondre Sweat
    This is the pick that has caused me the most pause thus far. It would surprise me a bit to see Sweat fall this far, but any other question marks that arise from the Combine/Pro Days could lead to a bit of uncertainty with his draft projections. 
    R4 Pick 111 – Chicago Picks LB Jaylan Ford
    The Bears have not been good in a while, but their defensive in the back half of the 2023 season was actually on the doorstep of being called elite. Adding one of the brightest linebackers in the draft keeps that defense grooving for the future, with what should be a restart on the window to construct a team financially with a new rookie QB.
    R6 Pick 195 – Jacksonville Picks OT Christian Jones
    You get to this far in the Draft and it is a total crapshoot on where guys are expected to be selected. Regardless, I think we have crossed the line with Jones to now fully expecting to hear his name called. The question becomes, when is it. Jacksonville adds depth up front for Trevor Lawrence with Jones.
    R7 Pick 238 – Pittsburgh Picks CB Ryan Watts
    Listen. Defensive backs at 6-foot-3 that run in the 4.5's with two years of starting production on a College Football Playoff team get drafted more times than they don't. Now for Watts, the key is to run in the 4.5's. I believe he will, and as a result, I think Mike Tomlin gets a piece for his secondary late on Day 3.
    Undrafted Free Agents
    WR Jordan Whittington – Not going to a senior bowl week of practice may not seem like a big deal, but it is when you miss on a week of evaluations and interviews with scouts and front office members from all 32 teams. A strong Pro Day and Combine is needed here for draft hopes in my eyes.
    RB Keilan Robinson – A long shot at the moment to get drafted, but Robinson is going to test very well in the shiny combine drills plus was one of the nation's best in special teams. Look at the career Brenden Schooler is having in New England for hope with Robinson finding an NFL home.
    P Ryan Sanborn – Punters very rarely get drafted unless they possess an absolute howitzer of a leg. Sanborn was good, but not sure he is quite in the conversation to hear his name called.
    EDGE Jett Bush – I really hope there is a team that invites him to summer camp. Bush was a dedicated program guy and tremendously hard worker during his time on the 40 Acres.
     
     
     

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