A handful of players will be meeting with the local media inside of Moncrief this morning. 

Texas is wrapping up on the practice field shortly and we will have updates below. 

11 days away from Ohio State!

Getting started in 2-3.

 

Anthony Hill Jr to start 

Xavier Filsaime and Graceson Littleton were mentioned by Anthony Hill Jr. as youngsters really stepping up. 

Hill says Arch has done a great job of extending plays with his legs and finding receivers down field. 

On how the defense has changed:

Hill says they’ve been doing a good job of tweaking what’s been needed to fit personnel. But shouldn’t be too different from a year ago. 

Hill on taking a day to day approach: “We have to go win week one before we can look ahead to winning week 16.”

5 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

Xavier Filsaime and Graceson Littleton were mentioned by Anthony Hill Jr. as youngsters really stepping up. 

Nice.

Hill said as long as the defense is playing physical and smart, he can live with the results.

Hill says he loves playing on the road — says he loves seeing home fans clear out after a Texas victory. 

“I know he’s going to back it up and be ready to go.” — Hill on Colin Simmons

“I wouldn’t say won, but I think we were really physical and won at the line of scrimmage,” Hill said on how the defensive performed in the scrimmages.

 

Michael Taaffe time 

Michael Taaffe said watching the guys who were leaders and guys trying to emulate what Sam Ehlinger, Roschon Johnson, DeMarvion Overshown and Jaylan Ford (among others) has helped Texas form a strong leadership core that’s carried over from one season to the next.

Taaffe points to having staff continuity at all three phases of the game as a key reason for why the team has grown over the years. 

Taaffe says he watches tape with Michael Huff every day. 

He just cares about ball and that’s really it,” Taaffe said when asked about Arch Manning is handling the pressure he’s under going into the season.

2 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

 

Haircut puts an edge on Hill.

Taaffe says the maturity with Arch has been proven with his ability to check down. 

Compares him to Sam Ehlinger in their ability to not wanting to take a sack and finding ways to get out of pressure situations.   

Taaffe was asked if this defense can be better than a year ago: 

“Sure it can!”

Points to Hill, Lefau, Jelani, Malik, Black, Colin all being a year better. 

“Sure it can,” Taaffe said when asked if the 2025 defense can be better than the 2024 defense.

Texas lost a lot, but the returners being a year older along with what the Longhorns, Taaffe said the defense can be elite again.

Taaffe said Xavier Filsame has been doing “really, really well.” Growing mentally has allows his athletic ability to shine, Taaffe said.

 

Taaffe says communication on the field is great in the back seven.