Welcome Jeff, excited to have you here.  I met you several years ago at a Fort Worth Texas Exes season kickoff event.  I was also I member of the 247 site for years.  I can't wait to see you contributing.  This is awesome.

Y’all have Rod and Jeff!!! Garry and CJ with Bobby leading the team. We couldn’t have dreamt a better group to represent UT for one site!!!!

Welcome, Jeff!

Hey @Jeff Howefancy seeing you here! You leaving plus the deal @Bobby Burtonoffered I had to make the switch from 247.

Hook em

Excited to have you over here Jeff, was a big fan at the other site. Left when Bobby did. But I've been a Longhorn Blitz fan for years now and hopefully for the return of that as well! Welcome!!

6 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

 

I'm elated to be a part of On Texas Football.

My conversations with Bobby and Gerry recently reminded me of the early days of building the Texas site for 247Sports. What made those days exciting (and, for me, when working in the market was the most fulfilling) was that the bottom line was about building a community where fans who bled burnt orange wanted to be.

That’s what excites me about continuing to write about, analyze, and report on the Longhorns with OTF. August 2010 wasn’t the ideal time to launch and build an online community and news source for Texas fans, but OTF is experiencing rapid growth at a time when Steve Sarkisian looks primed to lead the Longhorns through a historic run of success.

With Arch Manning in the saddle as QB1, the bulk of the No. 1 recruiting class in 2025 currently on campus and the 2025 NFL Draft possibly making it back-to-back drafts in which Texas produces double-digit picks, the train isn’t slowing down.

It’s time to puff out your chest and walk tall if you're a Longhorn fan, making it the perfect time to be a part of OTF. After slogging through the dark ages (2010-2021), I hope everyone reading this is as excited as I am to be a part of something special.

Whether you’ve followed me for a while or you’re reading me for the first time (thank you for the support, by the way, and I look forward to talking Texas football with the OTF community), one of the things I’ve always been fascinated by (and will often discuss) is the group of players entering their third season in the program.

Spring practice will be a now-or-never time for the 2023 signees who’ve yet to break through. Thankfully, a good chunk of the class has panned out.

Of the 18 signees still with the program (including Will Randle), I count 11 who are either proven commodities or who’ve shown enough that we’ve got a feel for what they’ll bring to the table in 2025: Arch Manning, CJ Baxter, Quintrevion Wisner, DeAndre Moore Jr., Trevor Goosby, Colton Vasek, Anthony Hill Jr., Liona Lefau, Malik Muhammad, Jelani McDonald and Derek Williams Jr.

The third-year guys are a critical group because if you’re evaluating and developing the right way at a place like Texas, you should have a decent number of guys on NFL trajectories. By Year 3, a recruiting class should form a team’s nucleus; if you’re a championship-caliber squad, the core must include elite players.

Of the 11 mentioned, the biggest concerns are Baxter and Williams bouncing back from their knee injuries and Vasek being healthy enough to remain in a tremendous EDGE rotation with Ethan Burke, Trey Moore and Colin Simmons.

What about the other eight? Well, they'll determine whether the Longhorns have enough talented depth to make it through SEC play and the College Football Playoff to reach the top of the mountain.

Can Spencer Shannon provide the kind of presence as an in-line blocking tight end to demand snaps and let Jordan Washington grow into his role?

Will Jaydon Chatman, Andre Cojoe or Connor Stroh push the older linemen in the program for playing time?

Is Ryan Niblett capable of filling Silas Bolden’s role as a burner with big-play potential in the slot on offense?

With Jahdae Barron and Gavin Holmes gone, does Warren Roberson play himself into the cornerback rotation?

At an exciting time for the program, I can’t wait for arguably the most competitive spring on the Forty Acres in a long time.

 

 

View full news story

 

Jeff, you were one of the first guys I ever read when I started delving into Longhorn recruiting back in the day. I'm so glad youre here with OTF now. It feels like this giant reunion of sorts. 

The band is back together again.

Hell Yeah.

Welcome, Jeff. Glad to see you here. It's like a reunion from years back.

This makes so much sense!!

Exceptional portal acquisition!!! 

Edited January 23, 20251 yr by rocketman

Welcome and congrats, @Jeff Howe.

Suggestion for off-season content- can you explain how a trading card for a teenaged darts thrower is such a big deal?🤷‍♂️

 

I’m not a trading cards dude, but that story has to be something.

I was hoping this was going to happen

4 hours ago, Texbam said:

Welcome!  Just arrived here from another site myself early in the season. Love the atmosphere on this site…much more good natured and less snarky attitudes.  And love the demeanor and expertise of Bobby, Gerry and crew.

Glad to be here with you, Texbam!

4 hours ago, Hookem1012 said:

Couldn't be happier that you're here, Jeff. Once you're nWo, you're nWo 4 lyfe(or until one of the big egos kicks you out).

Hopefully, we don't need to form the Wolfpac. I'm excited to be here, Hookem1012!

4 hours ago, Longhornmd said:

Welcome aboard!  Always enjoyed reading your threads on 247.  Enjoyed the podcasts and your live game threads.

Thank you for the kind words, Longhornmd. I'm looking forward to bringing those things and more to OTF.

4 hours ago, NothinButDaHorns34 said:

FU*K YESSS! Welcome, Jeff. I never forgot what you did for over 10 years ago. I was a financially struggling college student that you gave a year free sub to horns247. 

Anything for passionate Longhorn fans, NothinButDaHorns34! Glad you're here!

4 hours ago, Josh said:

BOOM! You’re one of the people I enjoyed most outside of OTF. The best in the business just got better!

Special things are happening here, Josh. As I've said elsewhere, I'm just happy Bobby had a jersey and a spot on the team for me.

4 hours ago, Bevo92 said:

@Bobby Burton you had the most awesome moment this morning on Coffee & Football during closing remarks when you had a smile on your face while talking in code about an announcement likely coming later today as part of taking OTF to the next level!

I loved the dream team picture post on this thread earlier cuz that’s what it feels like.   @Bobby Burton @Gerry Hamilton @CJ Vogel @Rod Babers @Blake Munroe and now @Jeff Howe.    Unbelievable mix of incredible men who love the Horns, each of you know your stuff and have thoughtful perspectives.   Most important, you call it like you see and keep it real without going negative like some sites. 

Love the positive vibe, high integrity, depth of insider knowledge, collaborative spirit, and genuine love for the Horns at OTF.   Keep up the great work.   Oh, Jeff, great first perspective on 3rd yr player importance.   Love it!!

Hook em!! 🧡🤘🏼🐂

 

Good post, Bevo92. Much appreciated!

4 hours ago, calabasas-horn said:

The HookEm.com days. Wow. Seems like an eternity. Congrats on the new gig, Jeff! 

I'll be on watching tonight! 

Hope you enjoyed the stream, calabasas-horn!

4 hours ago, Clay said:

Glad your here Jeff, this is a Great Place. 

Glad to be here, Clay!

4 hours ago, Shawn Strayhorn said:

Tsk Tsk Tsk....... I guess there are till some things you have yet to learn from Gerry! Welcome aboard anyways 😃

 

I'll pass on anything mayo-related, Shawn Strayhorn!

4 hours ago, DscofTX said:

LETS GOOOO 

As soon as I saw your Twitter message I DMd Bobby begging him to scoop you up. Obviously, a ton of others did as well (and for all I know it could’ve already been done by that point) but I’ll gladly be taking full credit for this portal pick up and won’t accept any other explanations 🤘

Been a loyal OTF YouTube follower but this deserved an annual sub. @Bobby Burton loving the site already and happy @Jeff Howe joined this power team!

Hook 'Em, DscofTX! 

3 hours ago, goattalk100 said:

Welcome @Jeff Howe to the best longhorn sports community around. Glad to have you and excited for what you’ll bring. Hook em.

Thanks, goattalk100!

3 hours ago, Paul Jespersen said:

Welcome over @Jeff Howe and congrats on the move.
Bobby at it again!

🤘

Thanks Paul! Excited to work with Bobby and Gerry again!

3 hours ago, WBWFIT said:

This is big time. OTF keeps raising the bar. All Star Cast 🤘🏾🤘🏾

Just happy I've got a spot in the rotation, WBWFIT!