CJ Vogel

Texas added grad transfer RB Velton Gardner out of the transfer portal late Wednesday evening. The former Dallas Skyline prospect has spent five years at the D1 level prior to joining the Texas roster and has over 220 career rushing attempts. While that is not a workload that compares to that of work horses or bell cows, it is enough experience to believe he could carve out a role at some point for the Texas running game. How large of a role you ask? Well, that's a bit of what this article is about. I do think Gardner will see the field in 2024, Texas would not have taken if they had no plan to use him. But it will certainly take some time to see him on the field. Real quick, a look at his career usage. Gardner spent 2019-21 at Kansas, then 2022 and 2023 at SMU before entering the portal as a grad transfer. In 2023, Gardner saw just 67 snaps with the Mustangs where he had just 32 rushing attempts. However, he did force seven missed tackles in those limited touches and found the end zone once. Over half of Gardner's rush attempts a year ago were in between the guards, so despite the smaller stature, he does have the ability to run inside the tackles and be effective. In 2022, almost 44% of Gardner's rush attempts were in between the guards as well. So it is not a limitation. *** My expectation for Gardner this fall includes some mop up duty late in games. Of course, getting him up to speed with the playbook is of the utmost importance at the moment, but when it comes to those final 10:00 minutes or so against teams like Colorado State and ULM, Texas would be best served if Jerrick Gibson was not the back seeing unnecessary touches. Even if needing the experience, Gibson is going to play a vital part of the Longhorn rushing game in 2024 and keeping him healthy and out of risk of unnecessary touches would be where my brain goes. Insert Gardner. Those final minutes when a game is out of hand is exactly the situation he was brought in for in my eyes. Of course, Texas will also deploy some Colin Page, who has been getting some run with the 2's this fall camp. The duo should be deployed to preserve Wisner, Gibson and Blue. Entering SEC play, and once the playbook has been absorbed, then I could see a larger role becoming part of the plan for Gardner. Ultimately, the depth and experience added are the most important part of this addition and Texas did a fine job of roster management to ensure there would be a spot available for him.

Lol

As it should be. Never move it.

Yep! One of my takeaways too

It is official. The five-star picks Oklahoma. Texas turns all attention to Nick Brooks who decides this Friday.

Miss State only having six is crazy.

The Reese's Senior Bowl has announced 16 Longhorns have been added to its 2025 Bowl and Draft watch list. Those Longhorns include: QB Quinn Ewers WR Silas Bolden WR Isaiah Bond TE Gunnar Helm LT Kelvin Banks Jr. LG Hayden Conner C Jake Majors DL Vernon Broughton DL Alfred Collins DL Jermayne Lole EDGE Trey Moore EDGE Barryn Sorrell LB David Gbenda DB Jahdae Barron DB Andrew Mukuba PK Bert Auburn Here is the count for the remainder of the SEC programs and how they stack up. Alabama: 19 Arkansas: 13 Auburn: 15 Florida: 16 Georgia: 20 Kentucky: 13 LSU: 18 Miss State: 6 Missouri: 12 Oklahoma: 11 Ole Miss: 21 South Carolina: 16 Tennessee: 9 Texas: 16 Texas A&M: 20 Vanderbilt: 7

They have posted him probably 15 times this preseason! Cooper Kupp also had a great interview about him as well.

Fun class!

Yes. I ended up asking him about the pass rush to which he came around to saying he feels like he has to cover shorter amounts of time this offseason.

Conner says Vernon Broughton is making the most of his shot as a top iDL right now. Says he and Jake Majors were talking about it earlier today, that he works every day.

Nate Kibble is “eager to learn” says Conner. “He is going to be a great development guy.”

Hayden Conner says the OL has “all of the requirements” for Joe Moore Award on the wall in the locker room and they slap it as they walk out onto the field.

Muhammad says Warren Roberson is a heck of an athlete and has improved tremendously.

“Kobe is big, long, strong, physical and can move well for his size… he had a great spring and fall camp.” Muhammad on Kobe Black.

“Gavin has been doing great. I’m ready to see what he can do come August 31.” Muhammad on Gavin Holmes.

“We got a great coach in Terry Joseph.” Muhammad says he and Jahdae are savvy and the whole room has benefitted as a result of their versatility.

CB Manny Muhammad on the podium now.

Broughton says the locker room has been more mature since he first arrived. Adds the room has been more locked in mentally.

Run defense “should be good” says Broughton. He added the DL room has been ”busting our ass” this offseason.