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Rule no. 1 of business. Never stop improving, ever. ** OTF is proud to announce that we are adding new voices to the channel and the site for the 2025 football season while simultaneously expanding the current roles of several key contributors. Please join me in welcoming former Longhorn players Marcus Myers and Will Matthews to our weekly programming. Will, who is the sideline analyst for the Longhorn Radio Network, is joining us every Thursday morning to talk about the upcoming game. Marcus will be joining the crew twice a week, including the Thursday Night Livestream with Rod and Coach Bob Shipley. I’m happy and proud to say that that brings us to s…

Criteria considered: All-American accolades, all-conference selections, statistical impact, team accomplishments, duration of time at Texas, legacy/impact on fans and program (fan recognition) and Rod’s individual discretion (departing transfers have been removed). Rod Babers’ All-Time DBU Rankings 1. Johnnie Johnson 2. Michael Huff 3. Jerry Gray 4. Jahdae Barron 5. Aaron Ross 6. Earl Thomas 7. Quentin Jammer 8. Nathan Vasher 9. Michael Griffin 10. DeShon Elliott 11. Lance Gunn 12. "The Sheriff" Stanley Richard 13. Kenny Vaccaro 14. Mossy Cade 15. Raymond Clayborn 16. Bobby Dillon 17…

We'll start it off with projected two-deep for Ohio State from Cleveland newspaper https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2025/08/projecting-ohio-state-footballs-starting-offense-against-texas.html View full news story

It's go time: SEC schedule week 1 The appetite was whet yesterday. And now it's officially game week for the 2025 college football season. To start your first game week of the season, it's time to take a look at the SEC games week 1. Thursday, Aug. 28 ... Central Arkansas at Missouri 6:30 SECN Line: None O/U: None Friday, Aug. 29 ... Auburn at Baylor 7pm FOX Line: Auburn -2.5 O/U: 57.5 Saturday, Aug. 30 ... 1 Texas at 3 Ohio State 11am FOX Line: Ohio State -1.5 O/U: 47.5 Syracuse at 24 Tennessee 11am ABC Line: Tennessee -13.5 O/U: 50.5 Mississippi State at Southern Miss 11am ESPN Line: Mississippi St…

We’ve spent a lot of time the last week discussing the Ohio State offense and Ryan Day’s decision to go with Julian Sayin at quarterback. So I think it’s time we explore the other side of the ball a little more - the Buckeye defense. In 2024, Texas was pretty darn salty on defense. Ohio State was even better. The Buckeyes finished the season ranked no. 1 in the country in yards allowed per game (254ypg), points allowed per game (12.9ppg), red zone scoring (60pct) and yards allowed per play (4ypp). Everyone feared the vaunted Ohio State offense. But just as was the case with Texas a year ago, it was actually their defense that led the way. Th…

Trevor Goosby’s hand injury has been the talk of the last week. Will the newly minted starting left tackle actually be able to start against Ohio State? After a couple of days off, the prognosis has been day-to-day. Things seem to be moving in the right direction though. As of now, he should be able to go against the Buckeyes. But that “should” also factors in continued healing at the current pace and no setbacks in the interim. Goosby js a key piece to this offense. He is the blindside protection for Arch Manning. ** I spoke with Tim May earlier for the Saturday Conversation. May is the most senior sportswriter covering Ohio State. Tim is origina…

What is the Texas football team up to today and tomorrow? Texas coaches are taking the team through an entire mock game weekend experience. The team will board a bus and head to a hotel today, they'll have team dinners, and team meetings tonight, just as if the Horns were in Columbus a week from now. The players will even room with the same guys who they will be rooming with next weekend. Then they'll wake up, get breakfast, have more meetings at the hotel and head to DKR to get ready for a mock game situation. With so many new faces this year, the coaches do these sorts of things to give everyone familiarity with what to expect. ** Trevor Goosby …

Updates on the 2026 Class *** Five-star Texas OT commit John Turntine III lived up to the ranking in his scrimmage on Thursday against Allen. In pass protection specifically, Turntine was nails. Afterwards, Turntine told me that he is entering his senior season around 270 pounds with hopes to get up to about 280-285 by the time he enrolls at Texas in January for the spring semester. This was also the first time I have been able to speak with Turntine since his commitment on July 4th. I asked him when he officially knew Texas was going to be the pick, and how he alerted the staff of his decision. "I always had an idea," Turntine said about his dec…

North Crowley and Allen are scrimmaging this morning in Crowley. OTF is on the scene. Texas commit OT John Turntine III will be active this morning. Others to know on the field include 2027 CB Jerry Outhouse Jr. and 2027 DB Elijajaun “Fat” Houston, both holding Texas offers. North Crowley also has a 2028 WR Damarion Mays who could be as talented a WR in the country for the cycle. 2029 CB Braylen Cunningham has received all sorts of praise as well. Could be a freshman starting at QB for the reigning 6A champs. View full news story

We’ve talked all off-season about which Longhorn could be the team’s breakout star in 2025. Arch Manning could easily fit that bill. After all, he has only started two games. But the national media already has him pegged as a Heisman front-runner. How can I call someone who is favored to be in New York in December a “breakout” star? So if I had to make the call today - and this is based on feedback from multiple sources across multiple parts of the program both inside and out - I’d go with Ryan Wingo. The sophomore from St. Louis has been on fire the last three weeks. He’s caught multiple touchdowns in a variety of ways - from absolute bombs to lo…

OTF Super Team 2025 The high school season is almost here with scrimmages getting underway today around the state. That means some new names in 2027 will become household names for recruiting fans around the state, and 2026 commitments to various schools will put together standout seasons. OnTexasFootball is going to wet the appetite with a first ... the OTF Super Team for the 2025 season. We aren't just going to have seniors, however. This will be a combined senior and junior Super Team entering the season. Here is OTF's first edition: Quarterback ... Kavian Bryant, Palestine/Westwood - 2027 6-2, 185 Commitment: None Running back ... K.…

No. 2 Safety in Texas Speaks Coach Akina and Longhorns There may not be a safety in the state of Texas who has a better combination of frame and athleticism than Cibolo Steele safety Eli Johnson. From the spring to August 20th, Johnson looks like he has added 10-15 pounds without losing a step of mobility. Now up to 30 offers, Johnson said this is what he has been working for since he began playing football. "It's been a blessing," Johnson told OTF. "It's the only way to describe all of this, it's a blessing. But at the same time, it is a reflection of all of the hard work that I have been put in. I earned it, but it is a blessing from God and I have to ne…

A comment made by Steve Sarkisian on Monday really caught my attention: "I'm not too consumed with, 'Hey, this is our starting 11,' knowing, especially on defense — we'll probably play over 30 guys in the first half of this game. At least well into the 20s of guys that will play in the game." Could Texas realistically play 30 players on the defensive side of the ball in the season opener against Ohio State? It would be an extreme jump from what we have seen in previous early season, marquee matchups where the Longhorns took on Alabama twice and Michigan a year ago. 21 players played five or more defensive snaps at Michigan in 2024 22 players p…

I'm told that the Texas coaches are pushing the team hard this week. That's not all that unusual; we are just 10 days out from the first game of the season. But it seems the idea is to push them hard one last week prior to the beginning of game week. Plus, there is some offensive line movement occurring given the absence of Trevor Goosby currently. As I reported late yesterday, Brandon Baker has seen some action at left tackle in recent practices. ** Yesterday, I asked a former player who had attended a scrimmage which Longhorn would "surprise" fans this season. The answer was immediate: Brad Spence. They commented on Spence's speed, ten…

Texas 2026 class season openers this week Outside of the state of Texas, the majority of the Texas 2026 class begins their final high school season this week. OTF provides a look at this week's schedule. 4-star+ DL Vodney Cleveland ... Birmingham (Ala.) Parker plays at Birmingham (Ala.) Ramsey Thursday, August 21 at 7pm CT. Cleveland posted 50 tackles, 7.5 TFL's and 5.5 sacks in 2024. 4-star+ DL Dylan Berymon ... Monroe (La.) Ouachita plays at Bossier City (La.) Parkway Thursday, August 21 at 7pm CST at Preston Crownover Stadium. Berymon has 47 tackles, 19 TFL's and 9 sacks in 15 career games. 4-star++ CB Samari Matthews ... Cornelius (N.C.) Ho…

With Trevor Goosby currently sidelined with a finger injury, we've discussed the different ways Kyle Flood is trying to backfill the various OL positions. Yesterday, CJ reported Neto Umeozulu had seen some action at left tackle. We're hearing Brandon Baker is now getting some reps over on the left side, too. Texas, with just 11 days to go until they matchup with Ohio State in Columbus, is repping all emergency-type scenarios. It's important to remember that Jaydon Chatman is coming off of an off-season knee surgery, so the Horns are making sure there is depth for the long haul. ** Someone yesterday mentioned that Brandon Baker had not really stepped fo…

I’m told that Javorskie Lane Jr, son of former Texas A&M standout Javorskie Lane, is transferring to Grapevine High School from OD Wyatt. Yall have asked about him numerous times in the past. I still don’t expect Texas to recruit him at this time. No sense in putting all your eggs in a basket that is 99.9% draft bound.

Recruiting notes and a team note A few late lunchtime notes on recruiting and the team. Kavian Bryant ... The 2027 4-star QB out of Palestine (Texas) Westwood has plans to attend two Texas games this season per a source close to the recruitment. Bryant and family have been talking to AJ Milwee about attending the San Jose State game in Austin, and the Texas-OU game at the Cotton Bowl. Bryant and Milwee speak weekly, and are building a solid relationship. Bryant is the lone in-state offer at quarterback in 2027. Texas and Texas Tech are receiving the most mentioned early on. 4-star game visits ... Missouri City (Texas) Crawford 4-star wide receiv…

Top In-State 2027 Wide Receiver to Visit Texas for Texas A&M Game on November 28 Pflugerville – OnTexasFootball visited Weiss High School on Tuesday morning to catch up with Tre Moore, the top-ranked wide receiver in Texas for the class of 2027. The 6-foot-3 prospect has put together a busy offseason, expanding his offer list to 33 Division I programs. Recent additions include Washington, Michigan, Syracuse, and Miami (Fla.), adding to what has quickly become one of the most competitive recruitments in the country. Texas has remained a steady presence in Moore’s process since wide receivers coach Chris Jackson extended an offer on January 25. Moore prai…

What defines a successful football season? It is a straightforward question that seldom carries a straightforward answer. For Steve Sarkisian, now entering his fifth year as head coach of the Texas Longhorns, that answer may be clearer than ever. Texas begins the 2025 season ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first preseason top ranking in program history. Following consecutive College Football Playoff Semifinal appearances, the Longhorns enter the year with what many consider the country’s most formidable defense and a quarterback projected to be a future No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick. In many ways, the narrative mirrors last season, when Texas opened with …

Following this past Saturday’s second and final scrimmage of training camp, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said he liked what he saw from his team. There were a couple of explosive plays on offense he said he liked, from Ryan Wingo and others, while he also made sure to mention his defensive front as a source of excitement for 2025. At 11am today, Sark steps to the podium once more. But this time will be slightly different. This means it’s now officially football season because Sark typically meets with the media every Monday during football season. Sark is making the transition from training camp to regular season and the players will be doing the s…

Recruiting: Sunshine State reclass?; in season visits A part of the Texas Longhorns 2025 No. 1 recruiting class included the reclassification of 4-star safety Zelus Hicks (Carrollton, Ga./High) during his junior season. OnTexasFootball has mentioned the likelihood of 2027 to 2026 reclass possibilities for the Longhorns in the 2026 cycle as well. One potential possibility is already emerging. Miami (Fla.) Norland High 6-foot-1 four-star cornerback Kenton Dopson III is strongly considering trying to reclassify from 2027 to 2026. Should the Miami Hurricanes pledge get that done, the Longhorns will have serious interest. A person very close to the recruitmen…

Freshman Class Expectations: After two scrimmages The Texas Longhorns have two scrimmages in the rearview mirror, and now begin prep for the season opener at Ohio State. While some of the competition will play out during the season, a number of members of the freshman class are already factoring into the staff's plans for the 2025 season. OnTexasFootball checks in on the freshman class after the August 16 scrimmage. Quarterback ... KJ Lacey, Saraland (Ala.) High 2025 season: Redshirt ... but he's been one of the most impressive freshmen. Fourth team due to plan to redshirt. Made plays in both scrimmages. Running back ... James Simon, Shre…

We had some major questions going into the scrimmage yesterday. Some of them were answered: Back-up QB The role feels more and more like transfer Matthew Caldwell’s to lose. We’re told Caldwell looked more than serviceable again yesterday and even started with the second unit. Granted, Steve Sarkisian singled out KJ Lacey, too. The freshman engineered a two-minute drive for a score while working with the 1s. But the plan has always been to redshirt Lacey while letting Caldwell and Trey Owens fight over the back-up role. Tight end rotation Texas worked a lot in 12 personnel yesterday and the first two in the rotation were Jack Endries and Spen…

Scrimmage No. 2 Takeaways *** • It was a much cleaner day for the offense. Across all three teams, there was only one turnover, which was on a bobbled exchange from the center and quarterback. • The offense moved the ball much better, and quicker than a week ago as well. By all accounts, the offense won the day. • Still, the defense had some success in the red zone against the offense. • The field goal unit was much improved this week as well. Will Stone handled the kickoff duties. • OT Jaydon Chatman was the first tackle on the field, over Nick Brooks, when Trevor Goosby left the scrimmage. • RB CJ Baxter continues to increase his wor…