Part 2

The Blue Chips
Here's my updated list of the top Texas football recruits. The ones in bold
type are my Fabulous 40.  I have placed * * * * to separate the Fabulous 40
from the Elite 80 at every position.

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, but taking visits)

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

Wide Receiver (10)
Armon Dorrough, 6-1, 168, 4.4, Lancaster (Texas Tech Commitment)
Brandon Jones, 6-3, 205, 4.4, Texark. Liberty-Eylau (TT, Ky, Ark, A&M, FSU)
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 (A&M, Mia, 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 (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 (UT, A&M, 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 (8)
Jonathon Jackson, 6-4, 222, 4.56, GP North Shore (UT, A&M, Mia, Colo, Az)
Kevin Everett, 6-5, 225, 4.6, Port Arthur Jefferson (UT, Pur, ND, Colo, 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, 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)
Quintene Newhouse, 6-2, 250, 4.7, Emory Rains (A&M, Ky, Mich, Bay, TCU)

Defensive Tackle (8)
Tommie Harris, 6-3, 280, 4.8, Killeen Ellison (OU, UT, FSU, A&M, Mia, LSU)
Thomas Derricks, 6-0, 275, 4.9, Dallas Jesuit (PSU, ND, Neb)
Fred Thwreat, 6-3, 300, 4.9, Midland Lee (TT, A&M, Az)
* * * *
Clayton Harmon, 6-6, 260, 5.1, Stephenville (Texas Tech Commitment)
Bret Rayl, 6-7, 265, 4.9, Lewisville (A&M, FSU, OU, PSU, TCU)
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)
Kendal Briles, 5-10, 175, 4.5, Wolfforth Frenship (UT Commitment)
* * * *
Jarvis Mayes, 6-2, 180, 4.45, Dallas Kimball (A&M, LSU)
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. RB Cedric Benson, Midland Lee (Texas)
2. DT Tommie Harris, Killeen Ellison
3. OL Jonathan Scott, Dallas Carter (Texas)
4. OL Jami Hightower, Jacksonville
5. LB Derrick Johnson, Waco
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 (Texas Tech)
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:
OFFENSE (10)
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
DEFENSE (9)
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

Horns 12th in Both Polls

Texas is ranked 12th in the final regular season polls by the Associated
Press poll and USA Today/ESPN.
Three other Big 12 teams are in the AP top 25 ) No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 9
Nebraska and No. 11 Kansas State.
Texas' bowl foe, Oregon, is No. 8 in the AP poll.
If the Longhorns beat Oregon, they will be almost certain to finish in the AP
top 10 for the first time since 1983.

Longhorn Women Win, Go to 7-1

Sophomore guard Tai Dillard led six Longhorns in double-figure scoring with a
team-high 15 points to pace the Texas women's basketball team to a 96-60 win
over Denver Saturday at the Erwin Center.
Texas improved to 7-1 to match its best start since the 1989-90 season when
the Horns opened 9-1. It marked the Longhorns' second win over Denver (3-2)
in seven days following UT's 74-70 victory on Nov. 28 in the Torneo Cancun de
Basquetbol championship game in Cancun, Mexico.
UT held a commanding 52-20 scoring advantage in the paint, thanks to the
solid play of its young frontcourt. Freshman Stacy Stephens had 12 points in
just 13 minutes, hitting six-of-seven of her shots from the floor, while her
replacement, freshman Annissa Hastings scored 11 points and had five rebounds
in 20 minutes of action.
Texas shot a season-best 54.7% from the floor.
Texas had beaten Sam Houston State, 98-51, last week behind junior forward
Tracy Cook's 15 points.
Texas jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first six minutes of the game and
dominated the boards.
The Horns return to action Wednesday when they battle No. 24 Illinois in
Champaign, Ill. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m.
Swimmers Win Meet
The No.1-ranked Texas mens swimming and diving team ran away with a
first-place finish at the Texas Invitational Sunday, scoring 751 points, and
beating a who's who in college swimming.
Trailing the Longhorns were No. 7 California (563), No. 5 Arizona (554), No.
25 Wisconsin (493), No. 22 Harvard (398), No. 9 Michigan (321), No. 19 SMU
(250), No. 12 Arizona State (210), TCU (149), Nebraska (131), No. 3 Stanford
(89) and Kansas (39).
The Texas women's team placed third with 501.5 points, behind No. 2 UCLA
(553.5) and No. 3 Stanford (501.5). Following the Longhorns were No. 3
Arizona (495.50), No. 12 Wisconsin (398.50), No. 5 California (367), No. 13
Michigan (362), No. 15 SMU (290), Rice (152), No. 18 Minnesota (130), No. 16
Arizona State (128.50), TCU (71), Nebraska (47) and Harvard (2).

UT Recruits Play in Austin

All the Austin area Longhorn football fans will have a great opportunity this
weekend to see two top players who have committed to play football at Texas
next year.
One of them is Cedric Benson, the awesome running back from two-time
defending state champion Midland Lee, and the other is The Woodlands' Brian
Carter, a wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner.
The teams meet in the Class 5A Division I state semifinals at 2 p.m. Saturday
in Royal Memorial Stadium.

Evans Leads UT Men

Maurice Evans scored 21 points and led Texas out of its offensive doldrums in
a 90-60 romp past Southwest Texas State Saturday in Austin.
The Longhorns, who improved their record to 5-1,  shot 53 percent and held
Southwest Texas to 39 percent.
Freshman James Thomas had his first career double-double at Texas with 14
points and 14 rebounds. Chris Owens had 20 points for the Longhorns and and
freshman Brian Boddicker added 10.
Evans also paced the Horns past Texas-San Antonio, 70-51, last week, scoring
23 points.
The Longhorns won despite 24 turnovers.
Owens had a double-double, hitting eight of ten free throws to finish with 10
points and 11 rebounds. Thomas had 3 points and 11 rebounds.
Freshman Brandon Mouton had 12 points for the Longhorns and Brian Boddicker
added 11 on three-of-six 3-point shooting.
The Longhorns cracked the USA Today/ESPN top 25 this week, coming in at No.
25.

Former Swim Coach Dies

Hank Chapman, an All-American diving champion at Texas who returned to coach
the Longhorn swimming and diving team from 1951 through 1970, died last
Thursday. He was 82.
An All-American and Southwest Conference  diving champion in 1940 for the
Longhorns, Chapman returned as the program's head coach in 1951 and guided UT
to three SWC titles and 15 runner-up conference finishes over his 20-year
tenure.
A native of California, Chapman also served for several years on the NCAA
Swimming Rules Committee and was named the Team USA diving coach for the 1964
Olympic games in Tokyo - which he did not attend due to a heart ailment.
Among his pupils, which included 23 All-Americans and 78 individual
conference champions, was the late David "Skippy" Browning, who was a
three-time SWC diving champion and two-time NCAA Champion on both the
one-meter and three-meter boards, and also became the Longhorns' first
Olympian diver and gold medalist during the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.

Women Sign Top Swim Class

Texas women's swimming co-head coaches Jill Sterkel and Mike Walker have
signed seven top prospects. Two transfers also are joining the team.
The signees are Kim Bercen of Austin Westlake, Elizabeth Hoffman of Houston
Cypress Fairbanks, Kaela Humphries of Chaska, Minn., who also competed at
Paradise Valley HS in Phoenix; Michelle Molina  of Scottsdale Chaparall HS in
Phoenix, Rebecca Rice of Kingwood, Alisa Schuknecht of Bend, Oregon and Sarah
Wanezek of Brookfield, Wis.
Joining the team in January are Helen Denman of Dalkeith, Australia, a
transfer from Western Australia University, and Joscelin Yeo from the
Republic of Singapore, who transferred from the University of California.
Denman is a foreign exchange student, while Yeo, a junior transfer, will sit
out the season under NCAA transfer rules.
"Our goal this year in recruiting was to sign great student-athletes who
could add depth and versatility to our swimming ranks," Walker said. "This
class accomplishes each of these goals and also gives us even more. They are
great swimmers who have wonderful attitudes and strong work ethics."
"We are extremely blessed with this year's signings," Sterkel said. "We
definitely wanted to bring in versatile swimmers who could compete in several
events."
Bercen is the defending state champion in the 100 breaststroke. She won the
100 breaststroke at the 1999 Junior Nationals and qualified for the U.S.
Olympic Trials in the 100 and 200 back, as well as 100 and 200 breaststroke
events.
Hoffman is a 15-time high school All-American who has placed first in the 500
freestyle and 200 IM at the Texas district and regional championships for the
past three years. She also won back-to-back state championships in the 500
freestyle. She also placed 17th in the 800 freestyle (8:52.10) at the 1999
Junior Nationals and competed in four events (200 free, 400 free, 800 free
and 400 IM) at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Humphries is the 2000 Wisconsin state champion in both the 100 breaststroke
and 100 IM, and led her high school to three-consecutive state championship
appearances. She also is a four-time All-State selection and six-time high
school All-American. She was second in the 100 free and 100 butterfly at the 
2000 Spring Junior Nationals.
Molina is a two-time state champion in the 200 freestyle where she also was
named the 1998 and 1999 Arizona High School Swimmer of the Year. A two-time
All-American, she placed first in the 200 freestyle at the 1999 Junior
Nationals.
Rice is a four-time high school All-American and three-time All-State
selection in the 100 breaststroke, 200 IM and 200 medley relay events. She
was the state runner-up in the 100 breaststroke.
Schuknecht is a three-time Oregon state champion in the 200 individual medley
and a two-time champion in the 100 breaststroke. She swam a  state record
2:02.65 in winning the 200 IM. She also won state in the 100 butterfly as a
freshman and was fifth-place finish  in the 400 IM (4:52.00) and seventh in
the 200 breaststroke (2:34.00) at the 1999 Junior Nationals.
Wanezek is a three-time Wisconsin State Champion in the 100 backstroke and
100 fly and posted a state record time of 54.55 in the fly. She also has
garnered eight All-American honors and was named the 1999 Wisconsin High
School Swimmer of the Year. She won the 1999 Junior National title in the 100
freestyle (50.91) and qualified for the 2000 U.S Olympic Trials in the 100
fly and 100 backstroke.
Denman was a 1996 Olympian and captured a silver medal as a member of
Australia's 400 medley relay team in Atlanta. She finished first in the 100
breaststroke at the 1998 Commonwealth Games while also placing second in the
100 breaststroke at the 1998 World Championships.
Yeo is a six-time All-American junior transfer from the University of
California and a three-time Olympian for Singapore. She set a world record as
a member of Cal's 2000 NCAA Champion 200-meter medley relay team (1:49.23).
She also was a part of the winning NCAA 200 free relay in a U.S. Open-record
time of 1:40.18. She won the 200 IM (1:57.14), 200 medley (1:39.27) and 400
medley relay (3:35.71) at the 2000 Pac-10 Conference Championships. She has
been a member of the Singapore National team since 1990.

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