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  • Saturday: The Movers


    Bobby Burton

    We’re two weeks in to spring practice.

    We’re hearing about some “movers” behind the scenes. And by that term, we mean players who are moving up the depth chart or who are changing the way they are perceived by teammates and coaches alike.

    Here’s a quick rundown.

    1. Tre Wisner RB - while Wisner is likely to play third fiddle to the mix of Jaydon Blue and Cedric Baxter, he could also be forcing himself on the field in a role not all that dissimilar to Keilan Robinson. Wisner is even more versatile than Robinson, because of his ability to truly play the RB position.

    2. Matthew Golden WR - Consistent and reliable. Those are the words folks are using to describe the Houston transfer. Perhaps that shouldn’t be surprising. But it’s still good to hear.

    3. DeAndre Moore WR - an afterthought by some prior to spring ball, Moore has attacked practice like the game means something extra to him. Coaches and teammates have taken notice.

    4. Amari Niblack/Gunnar Helm TE - anyone thinking Helm would be passed over by the arrival of Niblack are mistaken. The senior from Denver is set to play a lot in 2024. Likewise, Niblack is finding his own niche as a gifted receiver. Both are moving in the right direction.

    5. Neto Umeozulu LG - his move forward really started late last season, but it hasn’t stopped since. For the first time in two years, there is very real competition for the starting left guard spot.

    6. Alex January DT - January has already moved ahead of Sydir Mitchell in the DT pecking order in practice.

    7. Trey Moore DE - even with two returning starters at defensive end, the Longhorns will not be able to keep the UTSA transfer off the field.

    8. Colton Vasek - oft hampered by injury, Vasek is finally seeing some action and looking the part.

    9. Derion Gullette LB - Gullette is starting to make plays during live action.

    10. David Gbenda LB - He is clearly someone Steve Sarkisian and staff are counting on, which is a clear change from just two months ago. He and Anthony Hill are your game one starters.

    11. Gavin Holmes CB - Holmes played the run too soft a year ago and it put him behind a newcomer like Manny Muhammad. This off-season Holmes has taken the constructive criticism to heart and is trying to mix it up more often to prove he’s not a liability in the run game  

    12. Jaylon Guilbeau Star - Guilbeau never really recovered from his knee injury two years ago. But now he’s performing at a better level.

    13. Michael Taaffe  - do not discount his presence in the secondary. A year ago, everyone thought he might play *some*. This year, he is making the move to become the leader of the secondary as well as a team leader.

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    Michael Taaffe as the leader of the secondary. Who would have thought?  All this guy does is make plays. Love his character and heart.  Reminds me of a guy from yesteryear out of Tennessee named Bill Bates who played for the Dallas Cowboys for 15 years. Same mold.

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    8 minutes ago, GetHooked said:

    Really like hearing all this news.

    On the downside, is Mitchell setting himself up for the portal?

    Players develop at their own pace, not add water instant player.  Sweat and Murphy didn’t break out until last season.

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    What's Austin Jordan up to? Don't hear much about him and I wish he'd play more. But I get it.

    We're about five over the 85 limit right? We need to be at or under it by August, correct?

     

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    44 minutes ago, Red Five said:

    What's Austin Jordan up to? Don't hear much about him and I wish he'd play more. But I get it.

    We're about five over the 85 limit right? We need to be at or under it by August, correct?

     

    He’s fighting for playing time at Star. 

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    Lots of movers.

    Need some more movers at DT, but that’s about the only position I’m concerned about. 
     

    Very fascinated how the WR rotation plays out. 
     

    Is Gilbeau finally 100% or will he never be the same following the  knee injury? I wasn’t sure which one you were saying in the article

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    1 hour ago, Texas fan in Georgia said:

    Wisner is gonna be needed at some point in the season. I don’t wanna say Texas has a 3 headed monster at RB, but a nice 1–2 punch with a more than capable 3rd option

    No doubt. Just last year we lost brooks, but aside from that he and Baxter were constantly in and out of games with minor injuries.  

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    58 minutes ago, ChoateTheGoat said:

    Great stuff Bobby! Do you think Guilbeau is back to his pre-injury form?

    I think he’s definitely headed in that direction and more. 

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    3 hours ago, Bobby Burton said:

    We’re two weeks in to spring practice.

    We’re hearing about some “movers” behind the scenes. And by that term, we mean players who are moving up the depth chart or who are changing the way they are perceived by teammates and coaches alike.

    Here’s a quick rundown.

    1. Tre Wisner RB - while Wisner is likely to play third fiddle to the mix of Jaydon Blue and Cedric Baxter, he could also be forcing himself on the field in a role not all that dissimilar to Keilan Robinson. Wisner is even more versatile than Robinson, because of his ability to truly play the RB position.

    2. Matthew Golden WR - Consistent and reliable. Those are the words folks are using to describe the Houston transfer. Perhaps that shouldn’t be surprising. But it’s still good to hear.

    3. DeAndre Moore WR - an afterthought by some prior to spring ball, Moore has attacked practice like the game means something extra to him. Coaches and teammates have taken notice.

    4. Amari Niblack/Gunnar Helm TE - anyone thinking Helm would be passed over by the arrival of Niblack are mistaken. The senior from Denver is set to play a lot in 2024. Likewise, Niblack is finding his own niche as a gifted receiver. Both are moving in the right direction.

    5. Neto Umeozulu LG - his move forward really started late last season, but it hasn’t stopped since. For the first time in two years, there is very real competition for the starting left guard spot.

    6. Alex January DT - January has already moved ahead of Sydir Mitchell in the DT pecking order in practice.

    7. Trey Moore DE - even with two returning starters at defensive end, the Longhorns will not be able to keep the UTSA transfer off the field.

    8. Colton Vasek - oft hampered by injury, Vasek is finally seeing some action and looking the part.

    9. Derion Gullette LB - Gullette is starting to make plays during live action.

    10. David Gbenda LB - He is clearly someone Steve Sarkisian and staff are counting on, which is a clear change from just two months ago. He and Anthony Hill are your game one starters.

    11. Gavin Holmes CB - Holmes played the run too soft a year ago and it put him behind a newcomer like Manny Muhammad. This off-season Holmes has taken the constructive criticism to heart and is trying to mix it up more often to prove he’s not a liability in the run game  

    12. Jaylon Guilbeau Star - Guilbeau never really recovered from his knee injury two years ago. But now he’s performing at a better level.

    13. Michael Taaffe  - do not discount his presence in the secondary. A year ago, everyone thought he might play *some*. This year, he is making the move to become the leader of the secondary as well as a team leader.

     

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    How is Trey Moore looking against Banks??? 

    Is Moore making it difficult for just Big Cam Or for all the lineman? 

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    Taafe is the Hayden Conner of the secondary. He sets a decent floor, but the ceiling will never be reached for the entire unit until he's replaced almost completely.

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    17 minutes ago, Neil Leininger said:

    Taafe is the Hayden Conner of the secondary. He sets a decent floor, but the ceiling will never be reached for the entire unit until he's replaced almost completely.

    Harsh. 

    Damning with faint praise, but Taaffe ended up being better than Jerrin Thompson and Kitan Crawford. He's also great on special teams (that block against I think Tech was awesome). 

    But he's a walk-on who has overachieved, so everyone is going to hate him. 

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    23 minutes ago, Neil Leininger said:

    Taafe is the Hayden Conner of the secondary. He sets a decent floor, but the ceiling will never be reached for the entire unit until he's replaced almost completely.

    Comments like this fuel his fire. He's somewhat limited athletically, but he is always in the right place and is athletic enough to make the play. 

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    When is the last time Texas was this deep at running back?

    Malcolm Brown, Jonathan Grey and Joe Bergeron were all good but played behind terrible lines

    Maybe 1990 with Butch Hadnot, Phil Brown, Chris Samuels, Adrian Walker and Patrick Wilson 

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    28 minutes ago, SuperDave0805 said:

    When is the last time Texas was this deep at running back?

    Malcolm Brown, Jonathan Grey and Joe Bergeron were all good but played behind terrible lines

    Maybe 1990 with Butch Hadnot, Phil Brown, Chris Samuels, Adrian Walker and Patrick Wilson 

    Bijan roschon and brooks. Granted it wasn’t all 3 of them sharing Carries it’s still 3 NFL backs

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    9 minutes ago, Texas fan in Georgia said:

    Bijan roschon and brooks. Granted it wasn’t all 3 of them sharing Carries it’s still 3 NFL backs

    Blue was there too, technically. 

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    1 hour ago, Texas fan in Georgia said:

    Bijan roschon and brooks. Granted it wasn’t all 3 of them sharing Carries it’s still 3 NFL backs

    Great group though Brooks didn't get many carries

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    1 hour ago, Quinncent McManning, Jr. said:

    Still partial to Priest, Ricky, and Shon in the mid 90s

    Thought about them but with Priest missing all of the 95 season and Shon while still playing wasn't a 100% most of 96 we never really got to see them all healthy and getting carries at the same time 

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    2 hours ago, Neil Leininger said:

    Taafe is the Hayden Conner of the secondary. He sets a decent floor, but the ceiling will never be reached for the entire unit until he's replaced almost completely.

    I agree. He’s going to get targeted early and often if he’s starting for us. 

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