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    A place for any Longhorn Fan to get the latest news from the On Texas Football team.
    Bobby Burton
    I've been in the process of writing a piece for this website about the Texas players who are expected to be selected in this year's NFL draft. I wanted to give a deeper look of just how those players were perceived as recruits.
    I'll finish and post that article later this morning; it includes some hard and soft data, and it could spark a conversation that I think will prove interesting and informative.
    Well, as I was researching and writing that article last night, it was announced that the University of Texas had placed another former player into the NFL Hall of Fame. Steve McMichael, who his former teammates at Texas affectionately to this day call "Bam Bam", was one of the Longhorns' most dominant defensive linemen ever and went on to be a key member of the 1985 Chicago Bears defense that many consider among the best ever.
    McMichael came slightly before my time. I saw him play when I was young, but I didn't really know his back story. So I was curious.
    Who was Steve McMichael as a recruit?
    I found this from the Corpus Christi Caller-Times:
    "Besides playing football, McMichael lettered in basketball, track and field, baseball, golf and tennis."
    That's SIX varsity sports. How is that even possible? Golf and tennis?
    Baseball seems to have been his second best sport. As a catcher, he was offered a minor-league deal by the St. Louis Cardinals.
    **
    This morning, I spoke with one of McMichael's former Texas teammates, Les Koenning, to see what I could learn.
    First, the Bam Bam nickname stemmed from the old Flinstones cartoon. Like the Bam Bam in the cartoon, McMichael had "muscles everywhere" and he loved the nickname, according to Koenning.
    But what about McMichael does Koenning remember the most?
    "He was so dadgum tough," Koenning, who was a year below McMichael in school, said. "He was a real type of tough, tough to the core. Strong, too, and just a determination. He had a will to him. He wanted to win no matter what, he was just so competitive, strong and athletic."
    Koenning called McMichael and his fellow defensive tackles Steve Massey and Bill Acker the "heart and soul" of the team.
    Koennnig even laughed about one memory of McMichael that revolved around spring break. It's not a tale of debauchery that you might normally think.
    While Koenning and some of the other players would go home, to the beach, or try to find a job to make some spending money during spring break, McMichael and Acker, who were both from the small south Texas town of Freer, had other plans.
    McMichael went went home every spring break to the "Rattlesnake Roundup", where, you guessed it, he would try to catch rattlesnakes bare-handed.
    Koenning said McMichael also wasn't much for team speeches, at least not ones from the coaches. But he recalled a time where McMichael addressed the team before a game after the coaches had left the room.
    It was a pre-game speech.
    "I want everybody on the kickoff team to stand up," McMichael said. They all stood, and he addressed them in front of the entire team.
    "Listen here, we're gonna beat the shit out of this team. But y'all better start it right. You better go down there and knock the crap out of them or, you and me, we're gonna have a little talk about it after the game, and you're not gonna like that."
    McMichael then sat down. The kickoff team, made up mostly of younger players, remained standing for a few seconds in awkward silence before sitting down.
    Suffice to say, the kickoff team gave maximum effort.
    **
    McMichael's nickname morphed from Bam Bam at Texas to "Mongo" later in life. He was a colorful person. After the Bears, he even took a turn at pro wrestling.
    Unfortunately, like so many former football players of his era, McMichael has been fighting ALS for several years. Former Texas players and friends visit him often.
    But the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a fitting end for a tennis-playing defensive tackle from Freer, Texas, who was a Longhorn through and through. 
    **
    McMichael becomes the sixth Longhorn to become a member of the Hall of Fame. He joins Earl Campbell, Bobby Layne, Tom Landry, Bobby Dillon and Tex Schramm.

    Gerry Hamilton
    Friday Morning Recruiting Nuggets
    OnTexasFootball begins Friday morning with recruiting nuggets and notes.
    The first is OnTexasFootball 4-star EDGE Chad Woodfork out of the Houston area.
    OTF also made stops at Texas High, Pleasant Grove High and Carthage High Thursday. 
     
    Chad Woodfork and Texas
    Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and Jeff Banks made a stop at Humble (Texas) Summer Creek in late January to see OnTexasFootball 4-star EDGE Chad Woodfork. The stop at Summer Creek followed up Woodfork attending Texas Junior Day January 20, where he got to spend some one-on-one time with Sarkisian in the office of the head coach. The message from Texas has been consistent in liking his upside ability as a pass rush prospect with long levers. 
    Woodfork, 6-4.5 and 218 pounds, plans a return visit to Texas this spring. Trips to LSU (January 29 offer), Michigan (January 31 offer) and TCU are expected.   Spring or summer trips to Florida State (January 26 offer) and Ole Miss (February 2 offer) are also possible. 
    Texas is in solid position with Woodfork headed into the spring. It’s not a lock Woodfork’s recruitment plays out until July. 
     
    Texas commit Lance Jackson 
    One coach in the area that has gone against the 6-foot-5, near 260 pound two-sport star believes Jackson’s highest upside could actually be tight end. This East Texas head coach gave Jackson high praise from a hands, catch radius and movement skills standpoint. Texas plans to begin Jackson’s career at EDGE with a frame that can carry 275-280 pounds well proportioned. 
     
    Tradarian Ball is smooth 
    What makes Texas High 2026 running back Tradarian Ball a high-end prospect at the position? Ball, 5-10.5 and 183 pounds, is a very smooth mover with versatility. Speaking with Texas High head coach at Texas High Thursday, it the versatility that is key. Ball played a lot in the slot in 2023, putting up 500 yards receiving in addition to over 1,300 on the ground as a sophomore. 
    Texas is considered the current front-runner according to one source in the area - not a member of the Texas High staff. Ball enters the spring evaluation period with 30 offers. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and area recruiter Blake Gideon stopped by Texas High in January. 
     
    Jett Surratt is a two-sport future star
    When talking about two-sport stars in the state of Texas, the football and golf combination isn’t one that happens very often - at all. In the case of Surratt, he’s going to be en elite prospect in both. 
    Surratt, now 6-1 and 177 pounds, has hit a physical maturity spurt in the last year. He was around 145 pounds at one point during his freshman year. After spending three hours in Carthage Thursday, I’m ready to be the first to make Surratt a 4-star prospect. The reasons are very simple: He possesses very high end understanding, feel, anticipation with elite accuracy, feet and calmness in the pocket, toughness and leadership in spades. He currently has offers from Texas Tech, Houston and UTSA. That offer list will grow during the spring evaluation period. One of the school coming to watch him throw this spring will be Texas (A.J. Milwee).
    As talented as he is at quarterback, he’s going to be offered by every golf program that watches him in person. Suratt has won both high school tournaments this season with 65 as his low round. He has extremely high-end ability as a golfer. He’s a natural at golf with club head speed in the 127-128 range and ball speed in the 187-188 range as a 16 year old. For those that don’t follow golf, those numbers are that of few on the PGA Tour. And he’s got a tremendous pair of hands that translate to the short game and putting.  
    Jett Surratt is an OnTexasFootball 4-star prospect in the 2026 cycle. 
     
    Carthage 2026 RB KJ Edwards
    Spent some time at Carthage High Thursday afternoon with the best coach in the Lone Star State, Scott Surratt. What makes Edwards a OnTexasFootball 4-star and national recruit? It’s his ability to press the hole, jump cut and accelerate instantly. Those qualities are elite. Georgia offered in early November, and Oklahoma State and Arkansas offered in January. Texas remains in contact with the Carthage staff.
    Edwards rushed for 1,706 yards and 24 TD’s in 2023. 
     
    Kiotti Armstrong’s TE offers are elite
    Spoke with a source at Jasper High Thursday night. OnTexasFootball watched Kiotti Armstrong at a 7v7 tournament last weekend. He’s currently 6-5, 250 with skinny ankles and a waist of a 6-3, 210 pound type of player. The source said Texas, Texas A&M, Alabama, LSU, Florida, Ole Miss and Mississippi State all offered as a tight end. Texas or Texas A&M remains expected to be the eventual winner of this recruitment with the Aggies trying to make a big push knowing the Longhorns surged in January. 
     
    Pleasant Grove has future 4-stars
    Pleasant Grove has produced a number of 4-star prospect in recent years. Up next will be 2027 OL Jaden Withered. Seeing his up close Thursday, he has the size, arm length, flexibility, agility and frame upside to be a national recruit. Withered checks in at 6-4 and 284 pounds currently. 
    An eighth grader, yes 8th grader, was head turning prospect Thursday. Kedrid Smith (6-3, 195) will be a highly recruited prospect if he ascends over the next couple of years. He’s a TE/EDGE player long term with the frame and movement skills. His older sister is LSU Women’s basketball forward Sa’Myah Smith, who played in high school at DeSoto High.
     
    Texas High has two names to know
    Class of 2027 offensive tackle Donquavius Ford will be a national recruit if he continues to ascend toward his ceiling. Ford, 6-6 and 270 pounds, is a fluid mover that can run with arm length. He has early offers from Mississippi State, Arkansas, Texas Tech, SMU, Houston, Arizona State and UTSA. Texas is aware of Ford. 
    Sophomore DL Duncan McGhee (6-4, 280) is another name to know at Texas High in the 2026 cycle. He has early offers from Mississippi State, Baylor, Texas Tech, SMU, Houston and UTSA. 

    Blake Munroe
    It's Friday! Help kick off your weekend the right way, by joining us on Coffee and Football at 8 AM CST to discuss all things Longhorns. Bobby Burton, CJ Vogel, Gerry Hamilton and I will be talking the latest news, taking your questions and more. 
    Today's special guest is former Longhorns baseball player Brooks Kieschnick.
    I'd like to thank BKCW for sponsoring today's show. Contact them today and let them help you escape the insurance trap!
     

    CJ Vogel

    In The Pipeline | EDGE & LB

    By CJ Vogel, in Articles,

    Time to move to the remainder of the front seven on the defensive side of the ball. Earlier today I spoke about the future of the trenches for the Texas program – and yes, I did remember Sydir Mitchell was on roster for those wondering. 
    For this piece, a look at the edge rushers and linebackers. Two positions that have seen an increase in production, and project to be amongst the strength of the Texas defense for the upcoming years. Should be a fun rabbit hole to dive into.
    Defensive Ends
    On Roster: Trey Moore, Ethan Burke, Barryn Sorrell, Trey Moore, J'Mond Tapp, Justice Finkley, Colton Vasek, Tausili Akana, Billy Walton, Colin Simmons, Zina Umeozulu
    Coming Soon: Lance Jackson
    For 2024: On paper, this unit should see an increase in production from a year ago. UTSA transfer joins the room as does five-star EDGE Colin Simmons. Both guys figure to crack the rotation at early on this season. Where Texas can really see an increase in on-field success is with the returning vets, Barryn Sorrell and Ethan Burke. There is plenty of experience and big moments from the both of them, but finding consistency will be key. Texas will toss in Finkley and Tapp for extra depth to this room as well. What kind of steps will we see taken from Vasek, Akana, Walton and Umeozulu? Remains to be seen.
    Beyond: Building off that final sentence above, the future here is very bright, especially when you add in 2025 commit Lance Jackson out of Pleasant Grove, TX. Colin Simmons is the star of this group moving forward. He is the highest rated prospect on the defensive end spot in 15 years. But who else joins him in the production category? Right now, I look at Colton Vasek as someone that can eventually take that leap, he is bendier than Burke with a 6-foot-5 frame of his own, but when will we see him fully healthy? How soon can Akana and Waltotn get up to speed physically? I think we are all awaiting the light to flick on for J'Mond Tapp and Justice Finkley, but by 2025 will it be too late? It is a great issue to have, as the iron makes stronger iron as we all know. Depth won't be an issue here, but finding the one or two additional gamechangers is the key.
     
    Linebackers
    On Roster: Anthony Hill Jr., David Gbenda, Kendrick Blackshire, Morice Blackshire, Derion Gullette, S'Maje Burrell, Liona Lefau, Tyanthony Smith
    Coming Soon: Anthony Williams
    For 2024: I wouldn't say the linebacker group is a concern for me, but it is a spot where I will have questions that will need answering in the spring session. Of course, Anthony Hill Jr. is a special player. That won't come as a surprise to anyone who watched a possession of Texas football last fall. But where does Texas go after that at LB? David Gbenda is the experienced piece in the room, but as we saw in 2023, is he ready for a full slate of snaps? I question how often you can keep Gbenda and Blackshire on the field in obvious passing downs which leads me to someone like Liona Lefau potentially coming in to the rotation full time. The staff likes Mo Blackwell a lot, but his role seems to be refined solely to those aforementioned passing downs. Feels like Texas may be at a crossroads of personnel tipping tendency here at LB, unless someone can take that next step – potentially Lefau?
    Beyond: I have mentioned Lefau's name plenty here. But I do see him being a multi-year starter for the Longhorns in the middle of the defense. My biggest question coming out of HS was Lefau's size – he is firmly in the 6-foot-1 range and carries 230 pounds relatively well at the moment. He can play. One guy that is worth mentioning now and should have been mentioned above is Derion Gullette. This spring will be really key for Gullette to prove he can play at this speed and level now that he is fully healthy. I like both Burrell and Smith at the back end of this list and believe one of the two will be a starter to pair next to Gullette or Lefau way down the road in 2026. Also, Texas is in pursuit of a loaded 2025 linebacking class, will be interesting to see who joins this room after the 2024 season.
     

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