Jeff Howe

I have not.

It gets started at 2:30 on the LHN app for those interested in watching.

LHN app

Weaver was on the SEC injury report Friday night and was ruled out for Saturday’s road game against LSU.

It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been naive regarding the Longhorns. But unless there’s a legitimate answer in the portal, Washington, Townsend and Shannon will have to grow up in a hurry.

Strong ties, I hear.

We'll try to remedy that in the future.

The injury set him back. I can't recall him being an active practice participant in the practices I've watched since he got to Texas.

Sark would probably tell you it's a little of both. I'll lean more toward a lack of options. Klare is/was redundant with Niblack, which made it easier for the staff to move on from him, IMO. Either way, Texas would rather be in a position of trying to make the pieces fit than being one injury away from being in a bind. What I was thinking of when I wrote this was from the perspective that there might not be a suitable option in the portal. Rather than reach for someone to improve the numbers, I'd rather Sark double down on playmaking ability at either RB or WR to give Arch another weapon.

That’s next on “First Take!”

Just some food for thought heading into the weekend.

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. View full news story

Well, let me tell you about this pig I raised. My pig found itself smart enough to hop over the barrier from his pen to the next pen and eat all of that pig's food, and then go to the next one and eat all of that pig's food, and then the next one and eat all of that pig's food and make his way back in time for when it was my turn my time to feed him, he had already eaten three meals and would just be sitting there waiting for me and I would feed him and he would eat that. That’s why he gained so much weight and got sifted at the fat stock show

The injury really set him back. I can't recall him being a full participant in any practice I've attended since he's been on campus.

They used him as an extra body in short-yardage and goal line, but nowhere near like Karic or Agbo were used in that role.

Right now, I don't think WR3 is currently on the roster.

If there's such a thing as a lean 374 pounds, it's this guy. He carries it very well.

Has the Arch clickbait officially jumped the shark?

My late father's all-time favorite Longhorn.

To your point, DanielOnorato, Rod and I talked on Football Theory this week about using Jelani McDonald and eventually Jonah Williams as the middle safety a the three-high scheme. Those guys are perfect for that role. You'll need to break out the three-high against Jeremiah Smith in the opener.

Very good points, drag worm. Good post.

I could see him in the Silas Bolden role on offense as a jet sweep/catch-and-run guy in the quick game.

One more wouldn't hurt, TTaylor2135. But I don't think they should take one if it means not taking a running back or receiver who could make a difference.

Tight end is interesting because the option of the six-OL package means you can take another receiver or running back rather than settling for a tight end just to get the numbers up at the position. If I'm Sark, I'm looking for playmakers, especially if it means not forcing a replacement for Helm who might not measure up.