Scouting Kansas

The Longhorns have another long road trip this week, traveling to Lawrence to
take on Kansas at 1 p.m. Saturday. The game will not be televised.
The Jayhawks are 4-5. They lost to SMU, 31-17, to open the season, then beat
Alabama-Birmingham, 23-20, and Southern Illinois, 42-0, before falling to
Oklahoma, 34-16, and Kansas State, 52-13.
Then they defeated Missouri, 38-17, and Colorado, 23-15, before dropping a
45-39 game to Texas Tech and then getting hammered by Nebraska, 56-17.
The Jayhawks have a unique offense. QB Dylen Smith is one of the rare
quarterbacks who feels just as comfortable running the option or dropping
back into a four-wide receiver set. He is 6-1, 190, and fast and shifty.
Texas coach Mack Brown says Smith "is a really athletic quarterback who has a
great arm and who can make plays" with his arm or his quick feet.
He also says RB David Winbush, 5-7, 180, "is the leading rusher in Kansas
history, and that's a school that has had Gale Sayers and John Riggins" of
Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins fame, respectively.
WR Harrison Hill is one of the best in the league.
Defensively, nose tackle Nate Dwyer, 6-3, 300, is the anchor in the middle of
the line, and LBs Chaz Murphy, 6-3, 252, and Andrew LeClair, 6-6, 245, are
big run stoppers.
The Jayhawks are giving up more yards than they are gaining, which is never a
good sign, but they have been impressive at times, particularly when they are
playing at home.
The Longhorns are a 13-point favorite, but this is a dangerous road game
because Kansas has to beat Texas and then Iowa State next week to qualify for
a bowl game.
To win the Horns need to start quickly, like they did in Lubbock, and the
defense needs to pressure Smith and keep Winbush under control.
If Major Applewhite's knee injury turns out to be serious, they also need to
have a balanced offense to keep all the pressure from falling on Chris Simms'
inexperienced shoulders. They also need to score more touchdowns than field
goals when they get inside the 10.
Here's how the teams compare statistically (national rank in parenthesis):
Texas                             Kansas
Offense
(80)   121.7         Rushing Avg.          (39) 163.1
(15)   289.0         Passing Avg.          (78) 194.9
(33)   410.7        Total Off. Avg.  (68) 358.0
(12)     36.8        Scoring Avg           (64)   25.3
Defense
(12)     92.0        Rushing Avg.          (70) 160.8
(20)   180.7         Passing Avg.          (39) 201.9
(5)   272.7       Total Def. Avg.        (56) 362.7
(18)     18.2    Opp. Scoring Avg          (85)   30.0

Big 12 Roundup

Nebraska visits Kansas State in a game that will decide the Northern Division
crown Saturday, while top-ranked Oklahoma travels to Texas A&M in a huge game
in the Southern Division.
The winner of the Nebraska-Kansas State game is a virtual lock to represent
the North in the Big 12 championship game.
If Oklahoma beats A&M, the Sooners also will be assured of a spot in the
title game. But if the Aggies pull an upset, then a three-way tie would exist
in the South if Texas beats Kansas.

BIG 12 STANDINGS

SOUTHERN DIVISION
Conference              Season
W   L   PF    PA     Pct.      W   L    PF     PA     Pct.
Oklahoma        5    0  225     82   1.000     8    0   367   117    1.000
Texas           5    1  207   127     .833     7    2   331   164      .778
Texas A&M       5    1  153     74     .833     7    2   259   118      .778
Texas Tech  2    4  131   185     .333     6    4   232   211      .600
Okla State      0    5    80   157     .000     2    6  145   211      .250
Baylor          0    6    38   246     .000     2    7     95   300      .222

NORTHERN DIVISION
Conference                  Season
W   L   PF     PA         Pct.     W    L   PF    PA
Pct.
Nebraska        5    1  276   102      .833     8     1   394  152     .888
Kansas State    4    2  221   134      .667     8     2   433  161     .800
Iowa State      3    3  147   198      .500     6     3   233  249     .667
Colorado        3    3  141   153      .500     3     6  193   215     .333
Kansas          2    4  146   219      .333     4     5   228  270     .444
Missouri        1    5  115   203      .167     2     7  184    298     .222

Last Week's Results

Texas 29, Texas Tech 17
Texas A&M 21, Oklahoma State 16
Oklahoma 56, Baylor 7
Colorado 28 Missouri 18
Kansas State 56, Iowa State 10
Nebraska 56, Kansas 17

This Week's Games
Texas at Kansas, 1 p.m.
Oklahoma at Texas A&M, noon
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech, 1 p.m.
Missouri at Baylor, 1 p.m.
Iowa State at Colorado, 2:30 p.m.
Nebraska at Kansas State, 6 p.m.

2000 Longhorn Schedule, Record (7-2)

Texas  Opp.
Sept. 9     Louisiana-Lafayette  52 10
Sept 16    at Stanford              24  27
Sept 23    Houston                  48    0
Sept 30    Oklahoma State           42    7
Oct. 7       Oklahoma (Dallas)      14  63
Oct. 14    at Colorado              28  14
Oct. 21    Missouri                 46  12
Oct. 28    Baylor                   48  14
Nov. 4      at Texas Tech           29  17
Nov. 11    at Kansas
Nov. 24    Texas A&M

Scoring by Quarters
Texas         35    116   76    104 -  331
Opponents     40      61      42     21 -  164

The Blue Chips
Here's my updated list of the top Texas football recruits.
I have inserted * * * * at each position. The players above that mark are my
Fabulous 40.

The Elite 80 Recruits

Quarterback (6)

Matt Nordgren, 6-5, 225, 4.7, Dallas Bishop Lynch (UT Commitment)
Jason Carter, 5-11, 180, 4.5, Caldwell (A&M Commitment)
* * * *
Tye Gunn, 6-4, 200, 4.62, La Grange (TCU Commitment)
Kevin Ford, 6-0, 188, 4.5, Madisonville (Rice Commitment)
Mike Pankratz, 6-3, 200, 4.8, Katy Taylor (A&M, UCLA, OU, KSU, ND)
Davon Vinson, 6-3, 185, 4.5, Kilgore (A&M, Ark, OU, Bay)

Running Back (8)

Cedric Benson, 5-11, 200, 4.5, Midland Lee (UT Commitment)
David Underwood, 6-0, 220, 4.38, Madisonville (Michigan Commitment)
Anthony Johnson, 5-11, 195, 4.4, Jefferson (UT Commitment)
Donta Hickson, 5-9, 180, 4.4, McKinney (FSU, Neb, A&M, OU, Mich, Tenn, TT)
Eron Haynes, 6-1, 195, 4.4, Borger (TT, A&M, ASU, Kan, Wash)
* * * *
David Williams, 5-11, 180, 4.4, Carrollton Smith (FSU, A&M, Colo, OU, Mia)
Anthony Evans, 5-9, 195, 4.5, Pearland (Bay, A&M, Az, KSU, UCLA)
Cody Thibodeaux, 6-1, 200, 4.5, Winnie East Chambers (A&M, Neb, Ok St, LSU)

Fullback (2)
Darnell Sims, 6-2, 230, 4.7, Aldine (A&M, UH, LSU)
* * * *
Mark Pierce, 6-2, 215, 4.6, Weatherford (TCU Commitment)

Tight End (1)
James Moses, 6-3, 225, 4.7, GP North Shore (UT, Colo, Tenn, Mia, OU, A&M)
* * * *

Wide Receiver (10)
Armon Dorrough, 6-1, 168, 4.4, Lancaster (ND, Pur)
Brandon Jones, 6-3, 205, 4.4, Texark. Liberty-Eylau (Ky, Ark, A&M, FSU, UT)
Bennie Brazell, 6-2, 168, 4.4, Houston Westbury (LSU, UCLA, Ark, Ky, LSU, Mia)
Thomson Omboga, 6-2, 175, 4.5, Grand Prairie (OU, ND, Ga, A&M, Mo)
Cedric Williams, 6-0, 170, 4.4, Jefferson (KSU, FSU, LSU, Neb, A&M, OU)
Keith Mills, 5-11, 175, 4.4, Garland (A&M, FSU, Fla, Ark, TT, OU)
* * * *
Terrence Thomas, 5-9, 175, 4.4, Houston Washington (Mia, FSU, UCLA, A&M, UH)
Corey Roberts, 6-4, 190, 4.4, Carthage (LSU, A&M, SMU, TCU)
Jesse Woods, 6-4, 190, 4.5, Katy Taylor (A&M Commitment)
Kenneth Shelton, 6-1, 175, 4.4, Port Arthur Jefferson (A&M, OU, TT)

Offensive Line (13)
Jonathan Scott, 6-7, 290, 4.9, Dallas Carter (UT Commitment)
Jami Hightower, 6-4, 305, 5.2, Jacksonville (Neb, UT, A&M)
Ben Wilkerson, 6-4, 265, 4.9, Hemphill (Tenn, LSU, UCLA, OU, Ark, A&M)
Abe Robinson, 6-6, 270, 4.9, Jersey Village (UT Commitment)
William Winston, 6-6, 330, 5.3, Houston Madison (A&M, UT, UCLA, LSU, Mia)
Mike Garcia, 6-5, 280, 5.2, Galena Park (UT Commitment)
* * * *
Will Allen, 6-5, 300, 5.2, Cypress Falls (UT Commitment)
Terrance Young, 6-6, 330, 5.5, Longview (UT Commitment)
Bryan Kegans, 6-6, 305, 5.2, Stephenville (Texas Tech Commitment
Shane Simms, 6-2, 300, 4.9, Tomball (TCU Commitment)
Roman Reeves, 6-6, 295, 5.2, Livingston (UT Commitment)
E. J. Whitley, 6-5, 290, 5.3, Texas City (Kentucky Commitment)
Clint O'Neal, 6-6, 290, 5.2, Weatherford (Colorado Commitment)

Defensive End (9)

Jonathon Jackson, 6-4, 222, 4.56, GP North Shore (UT, A&M, Mia, Colo, Az)
Kevin Everett, 6-5, 235, 4.6, Port Arthur Jefferson (UT, ND, Colo, Pur, Mia)
* * * *
Simeon Jones, 6-3, 240, 4.7, Houston Jones (A&M, UH, Colo, Bay)
Lawrence Hooper, 6-4, 255, 4.7, Aldine (A&M, PSU, LSU, Colo, Fla, OSU, UCLA)
Jamie Jackson, 6-3, 225, 4.7 Andrews (TT, OU, A&M)
McKenzie Tilmon, 6-3, 235, 4.7, Irving MacArthur (KSU, A&M, Tenn)
Colin Allred, 6-3, 225, 4.7, Dallas Hillcrest (Neb, TT, TCU, Mich)
Bret Rayl, 6-7, 265, 4.9, Lewisville (A&M, FSU, OU, PSU, TCU)
Quintene Newhouse, 6-2, 250, 4.7, Emory Rains (A&M, Ky, Mich, Bay, TCU)

Defensive Tackle (7)

Tommie Harris, 6-3, 280, 4.8, Killeen Ellison (UT, FSU, A&M, Mia, OU, LSU)
Thomas Derricks, 6-0, 275, 4.9, Dallas Jesuit (PSU, ND, Neb, A&M, TCU)
Fred Thwreat, 6-2, 300, 4.9, Midland Lee (TT, A&M, Az)
* * * *
Clayton Harmon, 6-6, 260, 5.1, Stephenville (Texas Tech Commitment)
Sharod McGowan, 6-2, 250, 4.7, Waco (A&M, TT, NC, OU, NC)
Brandon Goodlett, 6-2, 280, 5.1, Conroe (Ky, OU, Neb)
Jeremy Calahan, 6-3, 260, 5.0, Pflugerville (ND, A&M, OSU, Stan, TCU, Van)

Outside Linebacker (4)

Derrick Johnson, 6-3, 205, 4.5, Waco (UT, FSU, A&M, Ark, OU)
Lance McFarland, 6-1, 225, 4.6, Jefferson (UT Commitment)
* * * *
Lee Foliaki, 6-2, 200, 4.5, Euless Trinity (A&M, FSU, Neb, KSU, TCU)
Shawn Willis 6-2, 215, 4.6, Flatonia (A&M, FSU, Bay, TT)

Inside Linebacker (2)

Yamil Lebron, 6-2, 240, 4.7, Killeen Ellison (UT Commitment)
* * * *
Jeff Billings, 6-2, 232, 4.7, Pasadena Rayburn (A&M, Ky, Az, ASU, NW)

Cornerback (7)

Byron Jones, 5-10, 180, 4.4, Bay City (A&M Commitment)
Cedric Griffin, 6-1, 180, 4.4, San Antonio Holmes (UT Commitment)
Danielle Manning, 5-11, 187, 4.4, Corsicana (A&M Commitment)
Aaron Ross, 6-1, 180, 4.42, Tyler John Tyler (UT Commitment)
* * * *
Bryant Singleton, 6-0, 175, 4.4, Galveston Ball (LSU, Tenn, A&M, Ark)
Moses Harris, 6-1, 170, 4.4, Dallas Carter (FSU, OU, Mia, TCU, Gramb)
Courtney Sterling, 5-7, 170, 4.4, Dallas Carter (Arizona State Commitment)

Safety (5)

Dewayne Brandon, 6-3, 198, 4.46, Temple  (UT, FSU, Colo, A&M, Tenn, Ky)
Rufus Harris, 5-11, 180, 4.4, LaPorte (A&M, LSU, Az, Mia, UT)
Kendall Briles, 5-10, 175, 4.5, Wolfforth Frenship (UT Commitment)
* * * *
Jarvis Mayes, 6-2, 180, 4.45, Dallas Kimball (A&M Commitment)
Jaxson Appel, 6-0, 190, 4.5, Friendswood (A&M Commitment)

Athlete (6)
Joseph Addai, 6-1, 195, 4.5, Hstn Sharpstown (UT, Neb, KSU, TCU, LSU)
Quan Cosby, 5-10, 180, 4.4, Mart (UT, A&M, UCLA, FSU, Bay)
Gainus Scott, 5-9, 170, 4.4, La Porte (FSU, Az, Tenn, Mia, ASU, Ky)
Ryan Gilbert, 5-11, 180, 4.4, Dallas Hillcrest (Mich, Neb, Mia, Tenn, FSU)
* * * *
Braden Johnson, 6-2, 200, 4.5, Euless Trinity (UT Commitment)
Brian Carter, 5-11, 180, 4.5, The Woodlands (UT Commitment)

The 25 "Difference Makers"

These are Texas' top 25 players, in my opinion:
1. DT Tommie Harris, Killeen Ellison
2. OL Jonathan Scott, Dallas Carter (Texas)
3. OL Jami Hightower, Jacksonville
4. LB Derrick Johnson, Waco
5. RB Cedric Benson, Midland Lee (Texas)
6. S Dewayne Brandon, Temple
7. RB David Underwood, Madisonville (Michigan)
8. C Ben Wilkerson, Hemphill
9. QB Matt Nordgren, Dallas Bishop Lynch (Texas)
10. OL Abe Robinson, Jersey Village (Texas)
11. OL William Winston, Houston Madison
12. Ath Joseph Addai, Houston Sharpstown
13. DE Jonathon Jackson, Galena Park North Shore
14. WR Armon Dorrough, Lancaster
15. RB Anthony Johnson, Jefferson (Texas)
16. WR Brandon Jones, Texarkana Liberty Eylau
17. Ath Quan Cosby, Mart
18. CB Byron Jones, Bay City (Texas A&M)
19. RB Donta Hickson, McKinney
20. CB Cedric Griffin, San Antonio Holmes (Texas)
21. DT Thomas Derricks, Dallas Jesuit
22. CB Danielle Manning, Corsicana (Texas A&M)
23. LB Lance McFarland, Jefferson (Texas)
24. CB Aaron Ross, Tyler (Texas
25. WR Bennie Brazell, Houston Westbury

UT Commitments

The Longhorns have 19 commitments, including 17 high school players and 2 JC
players. They are:
QB Matt Nordgren, 6-5, 225, 4.7, Dallas Bishop Lynch
RB Cedric Benson, 5-11, 200, 4.5, Midland Lee
RB Anthony Johnson, 5-11, 195, 4.4, Jefferson
OL Jonathan Scott, 6-7, 290, 4.9, Dallas Carter
OL Abe Robinson, 6-6, 270, 4.9, Jersey Village
OL Mike Garcia, 6-5, 280, 5.2, Galena Park
OL Will Allen, 6-5, 300, 5.2, Cypress Falls
OL Terrance Young, 6-6, 330, 5.5, Longview
OL Roman Reeves, 6-6, 295, 5.2, Livingston
OL Alfio Randall, 6-6, 300, 5.1, Blinn JC
DE Eric Hall, 6-2, 240, 4.5, Clarksville, Tenn
LB Lance McFarland, 6-1, 225, 4.6, Jefferson
LB Yamil Lebron, 6-2, 240, 4.7, Killeen Ellison
CB Cedric Griffin, 6-1, 180, 4.4, San Antonio Holmes
CB Aaron Ross, 6-1, 180, 4.42, Tyler John Tyler
Ath Kendall Briles, 5-10, 175, 4.5, Wolfforth Frenship
Ath Braden Johnson, 6-2, 200, 4.5, Euless Trinity
Ath Brian Carter, 5-11, 180, 4.5, The Woodlands
P - Brian Bradford, 6-2, 210, Trinity Valley JC

Recruiting Roundup

OL Jonathan Scott of Dallas Carter created quite a stir last week when he
was quoted in the Dallas News as saying he remains committed to Texas, but
might take a visit or two just to be sure of his commitment.
Texas coach Mack Brown generally sees a commitment as being binding on both
parties. He tells recruits when they are ready to commit that UT will
guarantee them scholarships, and they are supposed to guarantee they will
honor their commitments and refrain from visiting other schools.
Scott has talked off an on about visiting other schools, but he hasn't set up
any visits yet. I'll keep you posted if he does.
* * * *
QB-Athlete Kendal Briles of Wollforth Frenship, another UT pledge, says
Nebraska continues to recruit him, but he says he is solid for the Longhorns.
* * * *
Central Texas normally doesn't have very many top recruits, but four of best
in the state and in the nation his year are in Central Texas and three of
them play in District 13-5A, which stretches from Waco in the north to
Georgetown in the south.
Those four recruits will go a long ways toward determining whether the
Longhorns have a great recruiting class or just a very good one.
The 13-5A players are DT Tommie Harris of Killeen Ellison, LB Derrick Johnson
of Waco and DB Dewayne Brandon of Temple.
The other top prospect is QB-Athlete Quan Cosby of Mart, who led his team to
a 15-0 record and a Class 2A state title last year.
Texas is recruiting all four of them and has the lead with Johnson, Brandon
and Cosby. Harris has favored Texas when he lists a preference, but he has
been more noncommital about his college choice recently.
Texas has a good chance to get all four of them and that would really put the
icing on an already outstanding recruiting class.
Student Sports magazine currently has UT ranked No. 2 behind Michigan in the 
national recruiting rankings.
If the Horns get three or four of those Central Texans I mentioned earlier,
they will have a great shot at the top spot.
And for those of you who have expressed concern that the Longhorns' two-loss
season could pose a problem, Michigan has three losses already. A 7-2 season
at this point is a very good year to sell to recruits.
I still expect the Longhorns to sign 25 or 26 kids. With 19 already
committed, that leaves room for only six or seven more players.
* * * *
In addition to the obvious recruiting targets I have been writing about
recently, there are two super prospects in Louisiana who are talking about
taking official visits to Texas the weekend of the Texas-Texas A&M game.
They are DT Marquise Hill, 6-7, 290, 5.1, of New Orleans De La Salle and TE
Marcus Spears, 6-5, 270, 4.75, of Baton Rouge Southern Lab.
The two Louisiana prospects and DL Kaelen Jakes, 6-4, 265, 4.75, of Valencia,
Cal., are the only out-of-state prospects on the Longhorn radar screen at
this time. UT has a very good shot at Jakes. Hill and Spears are long shots.

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