July 7, 2025 • 25 mins
Eric Henry, 247Sports and Horns247 beat writer, joins the program to break down the latest in recruiting, including Felix Ojo's surprise commitment to Texas Tech and more. Then, Eric and Cameron rank their confidence level in each positional group and look at a dark horse in the Texas secondary.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
It's The Craigway Show with the voice of the Texas
Longhorns and Hall of Fame broadcaster Craig Way.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Back here on Monday's edition of The Craigway Show. Glad
to have you with us. Hope you are staying dry
and now joining us. My good friend who's taken the
time even though he's in Florida right now, hot and
humid Florida, which you might confuse with Texas the last
couple of weeks, is my guy Eric c Henry from
(00:35):
Horns two four seven and two four seven sports dot Com,
who joins us live from Florida. Man, I really appreciate
you doing taking some time even though technically are kind
like a little bit.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Of a work vacation. How you doing Eric?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
First off, caim my guy, what is going on? Appreciate
the invite as always appreciate you including the seed in
the titled in name right is always get included. And
on a serious notes, as you mentioned, I am away
from Florida. Thoughts and persons, everybody who's been afected in
Central Texas. I've seen the news of that well been away,
so just want to make sure to echo that sound.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Yeah, no doubt well, let's begin with Texas football recruiting
news from over the weekend. It was a good and
I don't know, maybe I don't know if bad's the
right word, but up and down weekend for Texas football recruiting.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Obviously, you add in some great pieces.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Okpala the four star, John Turntin the four star, and
then kind of the shocking news perhaps is Felix Ojo
ends up committing to Texas Tech when the day before
it felt like it was going to be Texas where
Ile State ends up at Texas Tech five million dollars
over three years. Let's begin with the good news. How
does the commitments of Turntime and Okpala effective recruiting class
(01:40):
for Texas here in twenty twenty six before we get
into the guys who didn't go the way of Texas.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Yeah, you know, I'll start with John Turntime, kid out
of North Crowley Harrea. Certainly that a streated Texas well
Fort Worth, Texas.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
This has been my big take, Kim when it comes.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
To offensive line with the Longhorns under Steve Starke position
coach Kyle Flood, Excuse me, it's really imperative that Texas
continue the pipeline of recruiting talent up front. The Longhorns
have been a program that have not hit the transfer
portal when it comes to offensive linemen. And it's interesting
because we've seen him hit the portal darn near every
(02:17):
other position, right, We've seen them bring a quarterback the cycle.
We've seen them you know, brand receivers, tight ends, defensive
lineman Edge Trey More, linebacker, Brad Spence, really across the board,
you know, kicker, a punter, a special specialists.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
They've been hesitant.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
To recruit offensive line or to hit recruit offensive line
to the portal.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
I think it's.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Twofold one because of the thing that I feel very
strongly about offensive line is such a technique position, such
a mental position.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
When you have two three four position coaches in.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Your collegiate career alone, that'll mess you up, right, So
I think, and Steve has kind of hinted at this.
He's never outright said it, but he's kind of hinted
at it. We like the way that we develop our guys, right,
So let's spend that forward and I'll bring into the
John Turntow.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
In a second.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
You take a look at the offensive line over the
last years saw home Grown, right, and now you lose
four starters. You are bringing guys who are a little
bit inexperience, necessarily young, but inexperienced Cole Hudson, Nato and
Missoulu and others. But because Texas isn't hitting the portal,
it's crucial that they have that backlog cam because look
at it this way, right, You're not gonna hit on
all of them.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
A kid like Lie.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Gogbo, for example, super talented, was in the heavy package
a few years he now moves on to West Virginia.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
You lose a couple other guys. I'm forgetting the kid's name.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
From Flora off top of my Peyton Kirkland right from
a few years ago. So you're not gonna hit on
all of them. So you need to have a deep
backlog if you're going to depend on recruiting.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
You talk about John Turnton again.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
A four star kid, someone who's upside seems to be
really high. I love getting those guys that tackle that
you can kind of swing into guard if they get
a little bit bigger. Right, Remember Cam Williams seem not
Cam Williams. DJ Campbell was initially you know someone who
could could play tackle right, assume it's slider inside the guard,
so definitely like that pickup. And then you go on
the defense side of the football. Get Cosey Akpala from Houston.
(04:03):
He kind of reminds me, and you know, I hope
this isn't you know, just being lazy of the comparison, Uh,
David Benda type, right.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Someone I think has while Benda maybe you say.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
His upside wasn't quite as high as I think you
have here with Akpala. Uh, someone who you knows, a
downhill linebacker going to make plays with the line of
scrimmage and just has that frame to grow into a
six two sixty three two hundred and you know, forty
five pound two and fifty pounds linebacker.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
He was already six two two thirty.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Now, all right, So you think and even even maybe
a different scenario camp, maybe he's an edge. Maybe he's
a six two sixty three two sixty edge at some
point in his career. So I'll love the upside here.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
The two guys that did not go in the way
of Texas Felix Ojo, the five star defensive lineman who
a couple days before the commitment date from July fourth,
it was trending towards Texas, Ohio state, and then all
of a sudden we see reports of Texas Tech coming
in out of nowhere. And the reason why, well, a
five million dollar contract over three years using some of
Texas Tech's revenue sharing, which I believe is about five
(05:01):
six percent of their yearly revenue devoted to Ojoe Texas Tech.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
You got to give it to him. They're getting very
creative in ways and landing players.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
And in Kaiton Finley, the Elito wide receiver going Notre Dame,
Texas has never been able to recruit a LEDO for
some reason. And Finley kind of following soup in the
way of Jayden Greathhouse to Austin Westlake product. How will
those two guys not committing the taxes impact this class?
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Yeah, you know, I'll start with Finley and I'll i'll
you know, kind of peer him with Jayden Greathouse.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Give a shout out to our guy, Jordan Scruggs is
a great.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Job or a recruiting guy over at Horns twenty four
to seven dot com, you know, and speaking with Jordan,
I don't want to speak for him, but in speaking.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
With him, you know, in work chats and whatnot.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
It kind of seemed as if this could be a
possibility with both of those players going elsewhere. Right, for
a myriad of reasons, I still think Texas again, talk
about that backlog, they're deep at receiver. Okay, all right,
can't forget you bringing Jamie French, Kalie Lockett, Dylan McCutcheon,
you have Parker Livingstone, others.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Right, Aaron Butler list goes on their deep at receiver.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
They'll say this as long as Steve Sarkigen is the
head coach in Austin, I don't think they're going to
have an issue recruiting receiver. And then also, and I've
made this point with You've made this point on the
morning kickoff at Harj and Mark Henry. Texas being able
to recruit the way they have at quarterback, right, getting
an arch man who is willing to sit for a
few years, getting a da Bel so when it comes
from that athletic you know mentality of course, being the
(06:22):
son of Raja Bell. If you can get a quarterback
cam who at least will sit for two years and
not hit the portal, then you've got quarterback covered. So
worst case scenario if Texas needs to dip into the portal,
they can at receiver.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
In terms of Felix Ojoe.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
You know, this might not be the answer that's going to,
you know, appease most Texas fans, but I look at
it is and I'm not accusing Texas fans paying. It's
just my perspective from the broader college football landscape. Don't
hate the player, hate the game, right because that's what
the game is right now. When it comes to Texas Tech,
they are taking advantage of the rules or should I
say lack there of rules, because there is still not
(06:57):
a true structure or true framework around this. I know
the house settled and dropped him that you know, gave
us revenue sharing, but we still don't have the guard
rails and kind of the framework that I think, whether
it be a Steve Sarcasian or you know, many collegetball.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Fans would want around a compensation of players.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
So you are going to have situations like you said,
Cam where Felix Ojo looked like it was down between
Texas and Oklahoma even though he canceled a zoh you visit.
Then Texas text swoops in at the last minute, and
God blessed the kid forgetting all guaranteed. This is not
going to be a Jaden rush out of type deal
where the money is promised and all of a sudden
it's the campus and it's not there. Right, But I
guess to spend that four for Texas again, it just
makes the the you know, verbal commitment of turn time
(07:35):
and and you know, Texas will need to continue recruiting
offensive line in from the high school ranks that much
more crucial because you miss out on a big time
talent like Ojoe.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, and I think with Ojo's commitment, I think you know,
fan bases had this idea of Okay, like, you want
to come to Texas because you want to win a
national championship.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Break what does a fan want?
Speaker 2 (07:53):
A fan wants to win a national championship for In
a sixteen to eighteen year old kid, you're thinking about, Okay,
I want to win, but also I want to do
what's best for my career and I want to make
sure I can make money, right, because all it takes
is one snap and all of a sudden you go
from having a twenty year NFL career to my career
ended in college, right, And so I'll never get upset
(08:13):
with an eighteen year old when you're offered five million
dollars for three years guaranteed.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
As you pointed out, who was saying no.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
If I got offered five million dollars right now the
Lubbock to do a radio show for three years, Eric,
you best believe I would have my butt out there immediately,
because that's money that is life changing.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Right, Felix is set up for the rest of his life.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Now if you want to talk about well, you know,
is he gonna have the best coaching and the best
development that's going to set them up for the league?
Different argument, but I'll never get upset with a kid
doing what's best for his career because playing football is
his career. It's not always about you know, ring legacy
that's so discussed so much in sports talk, TV and radio,
(08:51):
and that's just you know, we saw, whether it's Najorie
Kennedy or other players. This is just the new way
of how college football works in college.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Source in college sports.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
It's funny you gave the example of you and a
radio show because that's what I like to do. When
people say, oh man, how could you take the money?
Is it all about the money. I like to use
real life working examples. We all leave jobs every day
for pay raises. I left the by previous position covering
Group of five football to cover Texas in part because
my salary is being doubles.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Let's just call us fades paid.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Right.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
So, and you know, I guess to kind of.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Give a more substantive, you know, college sports answer. You know,
you're going to have to look at this in a
way like professional sports. And what I mean by that
is this, your favorite player may leave the Dallas.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Cowboys, right, and they may sign with Well.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Maybe the Cowboys isn't the best example, because I mean
they've been win challenged, right, but let's say, you know,
insert franchise at Kansas City Chiefs. They may leave the
Kansas City Chiefs and sign with, you know, the Las
Vegas Raiders. Not because it's the best chance to win,
but because finances played a part, right, and you have
some free agents are motivated by finance. This movated by winning.
(10:01):
You're going to have to adopt that mentality here in
college sports because guess what, sixteen through eighteen year olds
are even less evolved than the twenty five, twenty six,
twenty seven year olds, we're talking about making those grown decisions.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
So you got to kind of view in that sense
in my opinion.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, I mean, Myles Turner, former Longhorn basketball player, took
more money to leave an Indiana Pacer franchise that was
a game away from winning an NBA championship to go
to Milwaukee Bucks because the Milwaukee Bucks were willing to
pay him a lot more money. Yeah, I mean, I
think it's tough to do because the way that college
sports works in the pageantry and the love of the
(10:33):
game because you know, at one point you know you
like college football, but more possibly because players weren't getting
played a supposed to the NFL that's gone now. Like
as a fan, you have to understand that the difference
between NFL in college is very neglible now because of
the way the House Settlement has worked in revenue sharing
in the conferences. So I think it all comes back
to just not hating the player, just hate the game,
(10:56):
and unfortunately the game gets paid a lot of money
by ESPN and Fox to have these games aired in
the College Ball Playoff and all this stuff. It's not
changing any time too. It never will be changed.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
A cam I mean, listen, I could delabe with examples,
but you hit to nail on the head. And the
big thing for me, I think when you just take
a look at this structure as a whole, right, and
you talked about it is just becoming. I don't think
your love or fans love for college sports it needs
to evaporate because it is becoming more and more professional.
I think the love just has to evolve. I think
the lens with which we view it has to evolve.
(11:28):
I never forget Steve Starkesian a spring presser talking about, Hey,
you know, he didn't want to entertain hypotheticals.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
If you've ever you know, interviewed Steve, you know he's
not a big hypothetical guy.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
But the fact of the matter is it was coming
down the line the House settlement and him saying he
doesn't believe that student athletes want to be employees and
coaches don't want his really coach employees. And I agree
with him. I think his hard is in the right place.
But you can't ignore the fact. And again this brings
it full circle of the conversation we're talking about. You
can't ignore the fact that, guess what, Cam there's going
to be a point in time which Texas signs a
(11:58):
receiver that makes more than Chris Jackson.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Yeah, and that's going to be a.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Conversation when that receiver says, no, I don't feel like
or if that receiver Rusian say when, But if that
receiver says, I don't feel like doing X thing, I'm
making more of my position, coach, or there could be
a quarterback who's making more than Steve Sarkasian, And those
are the types of conversations I think every college coach.
I'm just using Steve because I cover him and he
said it in the presser, but every college coach is
facing this. We saw, you know in college basketball, right,
(12:22):
guys like Jay Wright and others say thanks, but no things.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
That's just where we're at.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
And you know, it kind of goes to Sark's point
on the Third and Long Courting podcast with Nick Shuley
and those guys. You know, he was talked about, you know,
not paying a certain amount of players to that number
that they want because they want to you know, still
have that culture. Right, if Texas really wanted to sign
Felix Ojo, you know, they could have got creative. You know,
(12:48):
any school could be like, hey, we'll give you five
six percent of our revenue. I mean, tex is making
how much money from the s SEC revenue TV deal.
It's there, But to your point, does it become a distraction?
And that's what Unfortunately for Sark and Texas where they're
at right now in this program, they don't have to
make sacrifices like that. Okay, thank's enough nil talk for today.
We can table that and come back next week. Eric
(13:10):
Henry from Horns two four seven, you have two pieces up,
and let's start with the confidence level in each Texas
football position group. And this is a really good piece here.
You know, I think now as we get closer and
closer for the football season, I've been thinking more about Okay,
what what groups do I feel confident in?
Speaker 3 (13:27):
What groups do I have questions in?
Speaker 2 (13:28):
And we can start from from ten to one and
begin with your with your group, Eric, but what is
the position group that you have the least amount of
confidence going in?
Speaker 4 (13:40):
To be clear, Yeah, to.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Be clear, when I say the least amount of confidence,
it's not that I think this group is going to
be a liability, that they're horrible. It's just relative to
the rest.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Of the positions.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
On the on the football team number ten, I'm going
with offensive line, right, and I'll just kind of you know,
we won't have time to go through all of them,
so I kind of lump ten through seven because in
my mind, Camp ten through seven could have.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Been flipped in any different order you want.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Right, we have offensive line, defensive line, receiver, and then
tight end ten through seven. But with offensive line, it's
just a matter of the relative and experience. Again, not youth,
as Steve Sarkingen said, but an experience for new starters
in the offensive line. How is that going to come together?
Let's not forget, let's not take for granted the level
of continuity, level of cohesion that Texas offensive line had
(14:24):
the last two years. But like I said, really quick,
I can kind of lump all these together here. Defensive tackle.
Despite the defensive tackle hall that texacott in the portal camp,
you only have one player and that's Mroad Watson from
Syracuse of the group of the five who they acquired
who have played starter level snaps, and for point of reference,
starter level snaps are north of four hundred and fifty
if you take a look the last two years. Devandre Sweat,
(14:46):
Byron Murphy, Vernon Brod and Alfred Collins have all played
four hundred and seventy five snaps are higher. Murad Watson's
the only one of the five who's played starter level snaps.
So how will these guys who they've acquired Phil fair
in increased roles and then with receiver again still taking
a bit of wait and see approach with some of
the youth behind guys like you know Mm Mosley and
Ryan Wingo and others, And I'm really high and Ryan
(15:06):
Wingo and I've said that before.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
And then with tight end, same thing. Jack injuries.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
I think he's gonna be an All Conference player quite frankly,
but behind him you do have some inexperience. And I'll
throw number six in real quick cause this was the
one cam not that you's steal in your thunder that
got you know, people riled up on our message boards.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
Quarterback I have quarterback number six.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
The reason for that again, I people say, Eric, you're
gonna look this sound real foolish. When Arch Manning is,
you know, heightened candidate. It's not number six as it
doesn't have much to do with Arch, although again he
is a first time starter.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
It's to position room as a whole.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
You have kJ Lacey possibly again more than likely won't
be the QB two, but he could be. Uh, you
know if something were to happen, hasn't played. Trey Owens
still in experience. I think Treys all the talent in
the world, hasn't played a ton. And then of course
get Matthew Holwell from Troy, who was a you know,
middle of the pack starter.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
In the Sun Belt. With no respect to the Sun Belt.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
I covered group of five, but that wasn't This wasn't
a peak Banner year for some Belt quarterback.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
So that's why quarterback is at number six.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Yeah, to your quarterback point, and I think I understand
like why people could get worked up over you know
where you have wide receiver offensive lineman, but it's the
you know, returning production. Texas is losing their three leading
receivers from last season, including Gunner helm offensive line. We're
replacing four starters quarterback outside of Arts Manning. You don't
really have anyone that's had you know, power for reps
(16:28):
at this level and you're playing in the SEC I
mean Owens.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Yeah. Sure.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
The talent and the ceiling for Tray Owens and kJ
Lacey is through the roof. But you know, we've seen
a lot, especially the quarterback position, where we haven't had
a season where the number one quarterback going in the
Week one for Steve Sarakjian has made it through the
year without getting injured. And that's why sark went out
and targeted de Troy quarterback and he talked about it
we leave the Houston Touchdown Club and during his spring
media availabilities is that, hey, the season is so long
(16:54):
and it's so grueling that there's likely at some point
Arts is gonna get nicked up. That's just the way
college football works. No one gets to the entire season
staying one hundred percent healthy. You know, as just asked
Quinn you wears, that asked Hudson Carter Casey Thompson, that
that's just part and especially when you're playing in an
SEC conference, I mean Week one in a while State,
that's going to be a very physical game, real quick.
(17:15):
From tight end, receiver, defensive tackle, and offensive line. Which
group do you think will move up this list the
most from this season by the end of the year.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Yeah, from those four and again I'll redo this midway
through camp and the right before the season starts, I
would go either wide receiver, offensive line. I think Trevor
Goosby the ceiling is really high. I think with wide
receiver again, I think I'm just willing to see how
some of those young guys fill in. But Ryan Wingo,
I've been on the record of saying this, Ryan Wingo
(17:46):
saws many targets as Ryan Williams, a Jeremiah Smith. He
would be in that conversation right as far as stunt
freshman going into their sophomore year.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
So I said one of those two.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
There's that picture of the Alabama receivers, whereas what Jylen Waddle,
Defonte Smith, Judy George and Harry Ruggs. I think we're
gonna look back at this receiver class in a couple
of years eric in compare it to it, especially with
with Wingo and DeAndre Moore, who I think are fantastic receivers,
just weren't on hundred percent healthy last season. And in
(18:14):
the class that Stark brought in with Lockett, French, Livingstone,
and McCutcheon, I'm super excited. I think that'll be the
group that by the end of the year will be
like holy cow, they impressed and Sark talked about it,
I think on Greg mncroy's show Always College Football. He said,
the position group that's not getting allowed to talk this
season ala hype has been the receiver group. And Sarks
seems very confident. And we have you mentioned Emitt Mosley
(18:36):
the Stanford transfer.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Okay, Now your top four spots and number four did
surprise me here because for some people I've seen similar lists,
number four has been their number ten.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
It's interesting. Yeah, you talked about number four the running
back spot. I mean, look, all right, CJ.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
Baxter. We've talked about him at nauseum.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Nation's former nations number one overall recruit at the running
back position. Everything we've heard is that CJ's hitten brown running.
And here's the thing. If the expectation was for him
to be the running back one, maybe I would have.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
The group down a little bit lower. But they're not
asking CJ. Baxter to come in and carry the low contriveron.
Wisner's going to be the start a running back. But CJ.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
Baxter coming off again a very serious knee injury. But
him at number two is the RB two. I'm very
comfortable with that. Quite frankly, I think that gives him
time to find his footing slowly become a guy gets
you know, six to nine carries to maybe you know,
nine to twelve, nine to fourteen carries, and then you
take a look at the guy Jarrett Gibson and James Simon.
We're hearing great things about those guys as well. So
(19:34):
that's why I have number four there. And again the
reason I said that the position rankings relative to the
rest of the team. I think one through three you
have not just you know, great on the team, but
arguably tops in the conference or tops in the nation.
I would take Texas linebacker duo in a two linebacker
base of Anthony Hill and the angela foul over any
linebacking duo in the nation. When you go three linebackers
(19:55):
and you possibly have a Tray More or a Brad
Spence or a ty Anthony Smith, I would still as
a static about that edge. I think Colin Simmons is
going to wreck college football quite frankly, Cam I think
when you talk about guys in recent history, and I'm
not one who engages in, you know, being hyperbolic, I
think you're talking about Jenevian Clowney. I think you're talking
(20:15):
about Terrell Suggs. I think you're talking about Julius Peppers.
As far as guys in the last twenty five years
of college football who can wreck the game, my Colin
Simmons can. And then of course we have Trey Moore
and Ethan Burke and others on the edge there. And
then safety Michael taff someone who hasn't got enough love
throughout his career. Jelani McDonald will see whether he's going
to be a star or safety. But you have Xavier
(20:36):
Phils and me, Jordan Johnson, Rubell and others very high
on that safety room.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Yeah, what's running back list? I think my only concern
is just the health of it. You know, we've heard
talk about c J. Baxter. You know they're not gonna
put him out there until he's ready to go. So
he may not be out there in Columbus, but all
it takes is one injury. And I love Jared Gibson,
baby Rhinald, but the question is, you know, Candy hold
on to the football. So if Gibson can take that
next step up and you tell me that Clark and
(21:01):
Baxter will be healthy, then I feel good about this
running back room. But for me, a lot of question
marks going in in your number one through three spots.
I think you can you can rotate linebacker, safety, edge,
all three of those could be number one. And I
think by the end of the season, I mean Anthony Hill,
Colin Simmons, Michael taff I think will be all SEC
possibly all Americans. And then the same thing for Trey Moore.
(21:24):
I think Ethan Burke can have a standout year. And
there's a lot of just unproven, but a lot of
guys that I don't think a lot of maybe casual
fans know about you mentioned Ali of McDonald will get
to in a second, but Jillen Gilbo, who has been
injured so much through his career now, I think playing
cornerback will Simmy you know, was he I think he
was a five star coming out of high school.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Was a five star. Yeah, So there's the talent there.
And then ty Anthony Smith.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
We've heard Sark talk about a couple of times he
made some big plays last season because there was just
so much depth there. So looking forward to seeing these
guys out there, looking forward to seeing how your list
changes throughout the season. Okay, last thing year, real quick,
your football expanded production series Horns two four seven and
two four seven sports dot Com. You mentioned Eliana McDonald.
This is the guy that I think can kind of
(22:06):
be the utility knife for Steve Sarkisian in PKS defense
in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Yeah, so I did this expanded production series because of
course with Texas having graduated and sent you know, double
dig guys to the NFL the last two years. Again,
a lot of guys who haven't played starter level snaps.
Jelani McDonald played in just over four hundred snaps last years,
mean just underfo into snaps last year you saw flashes
of it. So basically we're just trying to project what
that player could look like if they play starter level snaps,
(22:34):
whether that is at the Star or at safety. As
you said, Cam kind of a Swiss Army knife, and
I think he can be moved around. I think he
is a guy as a dime linebacker excellent. I mean
he could have a A and again I'm not trying
to you know, be hyperpolic a Jatte Baron like season.
In terms of being at the Star. Someone who can
make eight nine tackles for loss just due to his
physicality is tackling ability at the line of scrimmage while
(22:56):
also being a playmaker in the secondary. Point two one look,
right with each of these guys we profile, there's one
game where you get a little glimpse into that sample size.
Go watch the Bandy game. That was the game that
Andrew mcooba couldn't go. Julia McDonald the step in and
get his first career start, recorded a career high seven tackles.
One tackle for a loss was in on a myriad
of plays. Also, another guy we're gonna spot like, Kobe Black,
(23:18):
also got some crucial playing time in that game as well.
So else we didn't talk about in the secondary, right,
So Julia McDonald just trying to do a little projection.
He also at arch and said, wee, I also projected
arch Manning. We expanded his production as well. So go
check it out.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
Take a look. We got Jeli McDonald arch Manning up there.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
We'll do Kobe Black, Trevor Goospian probably won more before
Faul campbe Owens, and.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
I believe McDonald he played a lot of linebacker in
his high school career too.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Am I wrong on that?
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Who's a jack of all trades, a little bit of
linebacker played some corner played corner as well.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
So yeah, a guy who was moved around a lot.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
And we didn't even mention Derek Williams junior, who's coming
off that season correcting injury, I think right before the
Oklahoma game. So this is a Texas defense. You think
it's going to be top five in the country this season?
Speaker 4 (23:59):
Top three three?
Speaker 1 (24:00):
That's the top top five is low balling into my mind,
top three of US.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Okay, last thing here, I think next time I'll see
you will be next week in Atlanta the SEC Media Days.
What are you looking forward to? What storylines are you
going to be watching for next weekend? Besides, of course
Arch Manning walking through those hallways at the College Football
Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
I'm super interested to see where the rest of the
pack come in. Right, of course, we got to see
how Georgia reloads because or to beat the man, you
gotta beat the man.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
You know, the Bulldogs beat Texas twice last year.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
When I say the rest of the pack, oh you
Brent Venables, they're betting on a lot of things, most
notably John Mattier and Ben Arbuckle coming over to trying
to revamp that offense. I want to see what's going
on with the Sooners Auburn. They're trying to revamp things
with Jackson Arlold. Want to see what's going on there Florida,
DJ Lagway some of the what ifs in terms of quarterback.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
Definitely want to see what's going on there. And then
away from sec media days, you know, just going to
find some wings as.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
I typically am going to try to avoid. If you
know the story, you know how will then win trouble
avoid the seafood case of do you stick with the wings?
Speaker 4 (24:59):
That is my food foundation for Atlanta.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
He is Eric c Henry. I always take up way
too much of his time. I appreciate your time, brother,
looking forward to seeing you in Atlanta and check him
out on Twitter at Eric c Henry Underscore and follow
his work at Horns two four seven and two four
seven sports dot com. Hey enjoy Florida and I'll see
you in Hotlanta next week.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
Brother, much appreciate my man. Take care of Cam.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
All right, We'll be back to continue our three of
the day's program here on the free iHeartRadio app.
It's The Craigway Show with the voice of the Texas
Longhorns and Hall of Fame broadcaster Craig Way.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Back here on Monday's edition of The Craigway Show. Glad
to have you with us. Hope you are staying dry
and now joining us. My good friend who's taken the
time even though he's in Florida right now, hot and
humid Florida, which you might confuse with Texas the last
couple of weeks, is my guy Eric c Henry from
(00:35):
Horns two four seven and two four seven sports dot Com,
who joins us live from Florida. Man, I really appreciate
you doing taking some time even though technically are kind
like a little bit.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Of a work vacation. How you doing Eric?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
First off, caim my guy, what is going on? Appreciate
the invite as always appreciate you including the seed in
the titled in name right is always get included. And
on a serious notes, as you mentioned, I am away
from Florida. Thoughts and persons, everybody who's been afected in
Central Texas. I've seen the news of that well been away,
so just want to make sure to echo that sound.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Yeah, no doubt well, let's begin with Texas football recruiting
news from over the weekend. It was a good and
I don't know, maybe I don't know if bad's the
right word, but up and down weekend for Texas football recruiting.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Obviously, you add in some great pieces.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Okpala the four star, John Turntin the four star, and
then kind of the shocking news perhaps is Felix Ojo
ends up committing to Texas Tech when the day before
it felt like it was going to be Texas where
Ile State ends up at Texas Tech five million dollars
over three years. Let's begin with the good news. How
does the commitments of Turntime and Okpala effective recruiting class
(01:40):
for Texas here in twenty twenty six before we get
into the guys who didn't go the way of Texas.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Yeah, you know, I'll start with John Turntime, kid out
of North Crowley Harrea. Certainly that a streated Texas well
Fort Worth, Texas.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
This has been my big take, Kim when it comes.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
To offensive line with the Longhorns under Steve Starke position
coach Kyle Flood, Excuse me, it's really imperative that Texas
continue the pipeline of recruiting talent up front. The Longhorns
have been a program that have not hit the transfer
portal when it comes to offensive linemen. And it's interesting
because we've seen him hit the portal darn near every
(02:17):
other position, right, We've seen them bring a quarterback the cycle.
We've seen them you know, brand receivers, tight ends, defensive
lineman Edge Trey More, linebacker, Brad Spence, really across the board,
you know, kicker, a punter, a special specialists.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
They've been hesitant.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
To recruit offensive line or to hit recruit offensive line
to the portal.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
I think it's.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
Twofold one because of the thing that I feel very
strongly about offensive line is such a technique position, such
a mental position.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
When you have two three four position coaches in.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Your collegiate career alone, that'll mess you up, right, So
I think, and Steve has kind of hinted at this.
He's never outright said it, but he's kind of hinted
at it. We like the way that we develop our guys, right,
So let's spend that forward and I'll bring into the
John Turntow.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
In a second.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
You take a look at the offensive line over the
last years saw home Grown, right, and now you lose
four starters. You are bringing guys who are a little
bit inexperience, necessarily young, but inexperienced Cole Hudson, Nato and
Missoulu and others. But because Texas isn't hitting the portal,
it's crucial that they have that backlog cam because look
at it this way, right, You're not gonna hit on
all of them.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
A kid like Lie.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Gogbo, for example, super talented, was in the heavy package
a few years he now moves on to West Virginia.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
You lose a couple other guys. I'm forgetting the kid's name.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
From Flora off top of my Peyton Kirkland right from
a few years ago. So you're not gonna hit on
all of them. So you need to have a deep
backlog if you're going to depend on recruiting.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
You talk about John Turnton again.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
A four star kid, someone who's upside seems to be
really high. I love getting those guys that tackle that
you can kind of swing into guard if they get
a little bit bigger. Right, Remember Cam Williams seem not
Cam Williams. DJ Campbell was initially you know someone who
could could play tackle right, assume it's slider inside the guard,
so definitely like that pickup. And then you go on
the defense side of the football. Get Cosey Akpala from Houston.
(04:03):
He kind of reminds me, and you know, I hope
this isn't you know, just being lazy of the comparison, Uh,
David Benda type, right.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Someone I think has while Benda maybe you say.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
His upside wasn't quite as high as I think you
have here with Akpala. Uh, someone who you knows, a
downhill linebacker going to make plays with the line of
scrimmage and just has that frame to grow into a
six two sixty three two hundred and you know, forty
five pound two and fifty pounds linebacker.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
He was already six two two thirty.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Now, all right, So you think and even even maybe
a different scenario camp, maybe he's an edge. Maybe he's
a six two sixty three two sixty edge at some
point in his career. So I'll love the upside here.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
The two guys that did not go in the way
of Texas Felix Ojo, the five star defensive lineman who
a couple days before the commitment date from July fourth,
it was trending towards Texas, Ohio state, and then all
of a sudden we see reports of Texas Tech coming
in out of nowhere. And the reason why, well, a
five million dollar contract over three years using some of
Texas Tech's revenue sharing, which I believe is about five
(05:01):
six percent of their yearly revenue devoted to Ojoe Texas Tech.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
You got to give it to him. They're getting very
creative in ways and landing players.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
And in Kaiton Finley, the Elito wide receiver going Notre Dame,
Texas has never been able to recruit a LEDO for
some reason. And Finley kind of following soup in the
way of Jayden Greathhouse to Austin Westlake product. How will
those two guys not committing the taxes impact this class?
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Yeah, you know, I'll start with Finley and I'll i'll
you know, kind of peer him with Jayden Greathouse.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Give a shout out to our guy, Jordan Scruggs is
a great.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Job or a recruiting guy over at Horns twenty four
to seven dot com, you know, and speaking with Jordan,
I don't want to speak for him, but in speaking.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
With him, you know, in work chats and whatnot.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
It kind of seemed as if this could be a
possibility with both of those players going elsewhere. Right, for
a myriad of reasons, I still think Texas again, talk
about that backlog, they're deep at receiver. Okay, all right,
can't forget you bringing Jamie French, Kalie Lockett, Dylan McCutcheon,
you have Parker Livingstone, others.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Right, Aaron Butler list goes on their deep at receiver.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
They'll say this as long as Steve Sarkigen is the
head coach in Austin, I don't think they're going to
have an issue recruiting receiver. And then also, and I've
made this point with You've made this point on the
morning kickoff at Harj and Mark Henry. Texas being able
to recruit the way they have at quarterback, right, getting
an arch man who is willing to sit for a
few years, getting a da Bel so when it comes
from that athletic you know mentality of course, being the
(06:22):
son of Raja Bell. If you can get a quarterback
cam who at least will sit for two years and
not hit the portal, then you've got quarterback covered. So
worst case scenario if Texas needs to dip into the portal,
they can at receiver.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
In terms of Felix Ojoe.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
You know, this might not be the answer that's going to,
you know, appease most Texas fans, but I look at
it is and I'm not accusing Texas fans paying. It's
just my perspective from the broader college football landscape. Don't
hate the player, hate the game, right because that's what
the game is right now. When it comes to Texas Tech,
they are taking advantage of the rules or should I
say lack there of rules, because there is still not
(06:57):
a true structure or true framework around this. I know
the house settled and dropped him that you know, gave
us revenue sharing, but we still don't have the guard
rails and kind of the framework that I think, whether
it be a Steve Sarcasian or you know, many collegetball.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Fans would want around a compensation of players.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
So you are going to have situations like you said,
Cam where Felix Ojo looked like it was down between
Texas and Oklahoma even though he canceled a zoh you visit.
Then Texas text swoops in at the last minute, and
God blessed the kid forgetting all guaranteed. This is not
going to be a Jaden rush out of type deal
where the money is promised and all of a sudden
it's the campus and it's not there. Right, But I
guess to spend that four for Texas again, it just
makes the the you know, verbal commitment of turn time
(07:35):
and and you know, Texas will need to continue recruiting
offensive line in from the high school ranks that much
more crucial because you miss out on a big time
talent like Ojoe.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, and I think with Ojo's commitment, I think you know,
fan bases had this idea of Okay, like, you want
to come to Texas because you want to win a
national championship.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Break what does a fan want?
Speaker 2 (07:53):
A fan wants to win a national championship for In
a sixteen to eighteen year old kid, you're thinking about, Okay,
I want to win, but also I want to do
what's best for my career and I want to make
sure I can make money, right, because all it takes
is one snap and all of a sudden you go
from having a twenty year NFL career to my career
ended in college, right, And so I'll never get upset
(08:13):
with an eighteen year old when you're offered five million
dollars for three years guaranteed.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
As you pointed out, who was saying no.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
If I got offered five million dollars right now the
Lubbock to do a radio show for three years, Eric,
you best believe I would have my butt out there immediately,
because that's money that is life changing.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Right, Felix is set up for the rest of his life.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Now if you want to talk about well, you know,
is he gonna have the best coaching and the best
development that's going to set them up for the league?
Different argument, but I'll never get upset with a kid
doing what's best for his career because playing football is
his career. It's not always about you know, ring legacy
that's so discussed so much in sports talk, TV and radio,
(08:51):
and that's just you know, we saw, whether it's Najorie
Kennedy or other players. This is just the new way
of how college football works in college.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Source in college sports.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
It's funny you gave the example of you and a
radio show because that's what I like to do. When
people say, oh man, how could you take the money?
Is it all about the money. I like to use
real life working examples. We all leave jobs every day
for pay raises. I left the by previous position covering
Group of five football to cover Texas in part because
my salary is being doubles.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Let's just call us fades paid.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Right.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
So, and you know, I guess to kind of.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Give a more substantive, you know, college sports answer. You know,
you're going to have to look at this in a
way like professional sports. And what I mean by that
is this, your favorite player may leave the Dallas.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Cowboys, right, and they may sign with Well.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Maybe the Cowboys isn't the best example, because I mean
they've been win challenged, right, but let's say, you know,
insert franchise at Kansas City Chiefs. They may leave the
Kansas City Chiefs and sign with, you know, the Las
Vegas Raiders. Not because it's the best chance to win,
but because finances played a part, right, and you have
some free agents are motivated by finance. This movated by winning.
(10:01):
You're going to have to adopt that mentality here in
college sports because guess what, sixteen through eighteen year olds
are even less evolved than the twenty five, twenty six,
twenty seven year olds, we're talking about making those grown decisions.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
So you got to kind of view in that sense
in my opinion.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, I mean, Myles Turner, former Longhorn basketball player, took
more money to leave an Indiana Pacer franchise that was
a game away from winning an NBA championship to go
to Milwaukee Bucks because the Milwaukee Bucks were willing to
pay him a lot more money. Yeah, I mean, I
think it's tough to do because the way that college
sports works in the pageantry and the love of the
(10:33):
game because you know, at one point you know you
like college football, but more possibly because players weren't getting
played a supposed to the NFL that's gone now. Like
as a fan, you have to understand that the difference
between NFL in college is very neglible now because of
the way the House Settlement has worked in revenue sharing
in the conferences. So I think it all comes back
to just not hating the player, just hate the game,
(10:56):
and unfortunately the game gets paid a lot of money
by ESPN and Fox to have these games aired in
the College Ball Playoff and all this stuff. It's not
changing any time too. It never will be changed.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
A cam I mean, listen, I could delabe with examples,
but you hit to nail on the head. And the
big thing for me, I think when you just take
a look at this structure as a whole, right, and
you talked about it is just becoming. I don't think
your love or fans love for college sports it needs
to evaporate because it is becoming more and more professional.
I think the love just has to evolve. I think
the lens with which we view it has to evolve.
(11:28):
I never forget Steve Starkesian a spring presser talking about, Hey,
you know, he didn't want to entertain hypotheticals.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
If you've ever you know, interviewed Steve, you know he's
not a big hypothetical guy.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
But the fact of the matter is it was coming
down the line the House settlement and him saying he
doesn't believe that student athletes want to be employees and
coaches don't want his really coach employees. And I agree
with him. I think his hard is in the right place.
But you can't ignore the fact. And again this brings
it full circle of the conversation we're talking about. You
can't ignore the fact that, guess what, Cam there's going
to be a point in time which Texas signs a
(11:58):
receiver that makes more than Chris Jackson.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Yeah, and that's going to be a.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Conversation when that receiver says, no, I don't feel like
or if that receiver Rusian say when, But if that
receiver says, I don't feel like doing X thing, I'm
making more of my position, coach, or there could be
a quarterback who's making more than Steve Sarkasian, And those
are the types of conversations I think every college coach.
I'm just using Steve because I cover him and he
said it in the presser, but every college coach is
facing this. We saw, you know in college basketball, right,
(12:22):
guys like Jay Wright and others say thanks, but no things.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
That's just where we're at.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
And you know, it kind of goes to Sark's point
on the Third and Long Courting podcast with Nick Shuley
and those guys. You know, he was talked about, you know,
not paying a certain amount of players to that number
that they want because they want to you know, still
have that culture. Right, if Texas really wanted to sign
Felix Ojo, you know, they could have got creative. You know,
(12:48):
any school could be like, hey, we'll give you five
six percent of our revenue. I mean, tex is making
how much money from the s SEC revenue TV deal.
It's there, But to your point, does it become a distraction?
And that's what Unfortunately for Sark and Texas where they're
at right now in this program, they don't have to
make sacrifices like that. Okay, thank's enough nil talk for today.
We can table that and come back next week. Eric
(13:10):
Henry from Horns two four seven, you have two pieces up,
and let's start with the confidence level in each Texas
football position group. And this is a really good piece here.
You know, I think now as we get closer and
closer for the football season, I've been thinking more about Okay,
what what groups do I feel confident in?
Speaker 3 (13:27):
What groups do I have questions in?
Speaker 2 (13:28):
And we can start from from ten to one and
begin with your with your group, Eric, but what is
the position group that you have the least amount of
confidence going in?
Speaker 4 (13:40):
To be clear, Yeah, to.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Be clear, when I say the least amount of confidence,
it's not that I think this group is going to
be a liability, that they're horrible. It's just relative to
the rest.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Of the positions.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
On the on the football team number ten, I'm going
with offensive line, right, and I'll just kind of you know,
we won't have time to go through all of them,
so I kind of lump ten through seven because in
my mind, Camp ten through seven could have.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Been flipped in any different order you want.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Right, we have offensive line, defensive line, receiver, and then
tight end ten through seven. But with offensive line, it's
just a matter of the relative and experience. Again, not youth,
as Steve Sarkingen said, but an experience for new starters
in the offensive line. How is that going to come together?
Let's not forget, let's not take for granted the level
of continuity, level of cohesion that Texas offensive line had
(14:24):
the last two years. But like I said, really quick,
I can kind of lump all these together here. Defensive tackle.
Despite the defensive tackle hall that texacott in the portal camp,
you only have one player and that's Mroad Watson from
Syracuse of the group of the five who they acquired
who have played starter level snaps, and for point of reference,
starter level snaps are north of four hundred and fifty
if you take a look the last two years. Devandre Sweat,
(14:46):
Byron Murphy, Vernon Brod and Alfred Collins have all played
four hundred and seventy five snaps are higher. Murad Watson's
the only one of the five who's played starter level snaps.
So how will these guys who they've acquired Phil fair
in increased roles and then with receiver again still taking
a bit of wait and see approach with some of
the youth behind guys like you know Mm Mosley and
Ryan Wingo and others, And I'm really high and Ryan
(15:06):
Wingo and I've said that before.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
And then with tight end, same thing. Jack injuries.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
I think he's gonna be an All Conference player quite frankly,
but behind him you do have some inexperience. And I'll
throw number six in real quick cause this was the
one cam not that you's steal in your thunder that
got you know, people riled up on our message boards.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
Quarterback I have quarterback number six.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
The reason for that again, I people say, Eric, you're
gonna look this sound real foolish. When Arch Manning is,
you know, heightened candidate. It's not number six as it
doesn't have much to do with Arch, although again he
is a first time starter.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
It's to position room as a whole.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
You have kJ Lacey possibly again more than likely won't
be the QB two, but he could be. Uh, you
know if something were to happen, hasn't played. Trey Owens
still in experience. I think Treys all the talent in
the world, hasn't played a ton. And then of course
get Matthew Holwell from Troy, who was a you know,
middle of the pack starter.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
In the Sun Belt. With no respect to the Sun Belt.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
I covered group of five, but that wasn't This wasn't
a peak Banner year for some Belt quarterback.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
So that's why quarterback is at number six.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Yeah, to your quarterback point, and I think I understand
like why people could get worked up over you know
where you have wide receiver offensive lineman, but it's the
you know, returning production. Texas is losing their three leading
receivers from last season, including Gunner helm offensive line. We're
replacing four starters quarterback outside of Arts Manning. You don't
really have anyone that's had you know, power for reps
(16:28):
at this level and you're playing in the SEC I
mean Owens.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Yeah. Sure.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
The talent and the ceiling for Tray Owens and kJ
Lacey is through the roof. But you know, we've seen
a lot, especially the quarterback position, where we haven't had
a season where the number one quarterback going in the
Week one for Steve Sarakjian has made it through the
year without getting injured. And that's why sark went out
and targeted de Troy quarterback and he talked about it
we leave the Houston Touchdown Club and during his spring
media availabilities is that, hey, the season is so long
(16:54):
and it's so grueling that there's likely at some point
Arts is gonna get nicked up. That's just the way
college football works. No one gets to the entire season
staying one hundred percent healthy. You know, as just asked
Quinn you wears, that asked Hudson Carter Casey Thompson, that
that's just part and especially when you're playing in an
SEC conference, I mean Week one in a while State,
that's going to be a very physical game, real quick.
(17:15):
From tight end, receiver, defensive tackle, and offensive line. Which
group do you think will move up this list the
most from this season by the end of the year.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Yeah, from those four and again I'll redo this midway
through camp and the right before the season starts, I
would go either wide receiver, offensive line. I think Trevor
Goosby the ceiling is really high. I think with wide
receiver again, I think I'm just willing to see how
some of those young guys fill in. But Ryan Wingo,
I've been on the record of saying this, Ryan Wingo
(17:46):
saws many targets as Ryan Williams, a Jeremiah Smith. He
would be in that conversation right as far as stunt
freshman going into their sophomore year.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
So I said one of those two.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
There's that picture of the Alabama receivers, whereas what Jylen Waddle,
Defonte Smith, Judy George and Harry Ruggs. I think we're
gonna look back at this receiver class in a couple
of years eric in compare it to it, especially with
with Wingo and DeAndre Moore, who I think are fantastic receivers,
just weren't on hundred percent healthy last season. And in
(18:14):
the class that Stark brought in with Lockett, French, Livingstone,
and McCutcheon, I'm super excited. I think that'll be the
group that by the end of the year will be
like holy cow, they impressed and Sark talked about it,
I think on Greg mncroy's show Always College Football. He said,
the position group that's not getting allowed to talk this
season ala hype has been the receiver group. And Sarks
seems very confident. And we have you mentioned Emitt Mosley
(18:36):
the Stanford transfer.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Okay, Now your top four spots and number four did
surprise me here because for some people I've seen similar lists,
number four has been their number ten.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
It's interesting. Yeah, you talked about number four the running
back spot. I mean, look, all right, CJ.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
Baxter. We've talked about him at nauseum.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Nation's former nations number one overall recruit at the running
back position. Everything we've heard is that CJ's hitten brown running.
And here's the thing. If the expectation was for him
to be the running back one, maybe I would have.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
The group down a little bit lower. But they're not
asking CJ. Baxter to come in and carry the low contriveron.
Wisner's going to be the start a running back. But CJ.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
Baxter coming off again a very serious knee injury. But
him at number two is the RB two. I'm very
comfortable with that. Quite frankly, I think that gives him
time to find his footing slowly become a guy gets
you know, six to nine carries to maybe you know,
nine to twelve, nine to fourteen carries, and then you
take a look at the guy Jarrett Gibson and James Simon.
We're hearing great things about those guys as well. So
(19:34):
that's why I have number four there. And again the
reason I said that the position rankings relative to the
rest of the team. I think one through three you
have not just you know, great on the team, but
arguably tops in the conference or tops in the nation.
I would take Texas linebacker duo in a two linebacker
base of Anthony Hill and the angela foul over any
linebacking duo in the nation. When you go three linebackers
(19:55):
and you possibly have a Tray More or a Brad
Spence or a ty Anthony Smith, I would still as
a static about that edge. I think Colin Simmons is
going to wreck college football quite frankly, Cam I think
when you talk about guys in recent history, and I'm
not one who engages in, you know, being hyperbolic, I
think you're talking about Jenevian Clowney. I think you're talking
(20:15):
about Terrell Suggs. I think you're talking about Julius Peppers.
As far as guys in the last twenty five years
of college football who can wreck the game, my Colin
Simmons can. And then of course we have Trey Moore
and Ethan Burke and others on the edge there. And
then safety Michael taff someone who hasn't got enough love
throughout his career. Jelani McDonald will see whether he's going
to be a star or safety. But you have Xavier
(20:36):
Phils and me, Jordan Johnson, Rubell and others very high
on that safety room.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Yeah, what's running back list? I think my only concern
is just the health of it. You know, we've heard
talk about c J. Baxter. You know they're not gonna
put him out there until he's ready to go. So
he may not be out there in Columbus, but all
it takes is one injury. And I love Jared Gibson,
baby Rhinald, but the question is, you know, Candy hold
on to the football. So if Gibson can take that
next step up and you tell me that Clark and
(21:01):
Baxter will be healthy, then I feel good about this
running back room. But for me, a lot of question
marks going in in your number one through three spots.
I think you can you can rotate linebacker, safety, edge,
all three of those could be number one. And I
think by the end of the season, I mean Anthony Hill,
Colin Simmons, Michael taff I think will be all SEC
possibly all Americans. And then the same thing for Trey Moore.
(21:24):
I think Ethan Burke can have a standout year. And
there's a lot of just unproven, but a lot of
guys that I don't think a lot of maybe casual
fans know about you mentioned Ali of McDonald will get
to in a second, but Jillen Gilbo, who has been
injured so much through his career now, I think playing
cornerback will Simmy you know, was he I think he
was a five star coming out of high school.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Was a five star. Yeah, So there's the talent there.
And then ty Anthony Smith.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
We've heard Sark talk about a couple of times he
made some big plays last season because there was just
so much depth there. So looking forward to seeing these
guys out there, looking forward to seeing how your list
changes throughout the season. Okay, last thing year, real quick,
your football expanded production series Horns two four seven and
two four seven sports dot Com. You mentioned Eliana McDonald.
This is the guy that I think can kind of
(22:06):
be the utility knife for Steve Sarkisian in PKS defense
in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Yeah, so I did this expanded production series because of
course with Texas having graduated and sent you know, double
dig guys to the NFL the last two years. Again,
a lot of guys who haven't played starter level snaps.
Jelani McDonald played in just over four hundred snaps last years,
mean just underfo into snaps last year you saw flashes
of it. So basically we're just trying to project what
that player could look like if they play starter level snaps,
(22:34):
whether that is at the Star or at safety. As
you said, Cam kind of a Swiss Army knife, and
I think he can be moved around. I think he
is a guy as a dime linebacker excellent. I mean
he could have a A and again I'm not trying
to you know, be hyperpolic a Jatte Baron like season.
In terms of being at the Star. Someone who can
make eight nine tackles for loss just due to his
physicality is tackling ability at the line of scrimmage while
(22:56):
also being a playmaker in the secondary. Point two one look,
right with each of these guys we profile, there's one
game where you get a little glimpse into that sample size.
Go watch the Bandy game. That was the game that
Andrew mcooba couldn't go. Julia McDonald the step in and
get his first career start, recorded a career high seven tackles.
One tackle for a loss was in on a myriad
of plays. Also, another guy we're gonna spot like, Kobe Black,
(23:18):
also got some crucial playing time in that game as well.
So else we didn't talk about in the secondary, right,
So Julia McDonald just trying to do a little projection.
He also at arch and said, wee, I also projected
arch Manning. We expanded his production as well. So go
check it out.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
Take a look. We got Jeli McDonald arch Manning up there.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
We'll do Kobe Black, Trevor Goospian probably won more before
Faul campbe Owens, and.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
I believe McDonald he played a lot of linebacker in
his high school career too.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Am I wrong on that?
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Who's a jack of all trades, a little bit of
linebacker played some corner played corner as well.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
So yeah, a guy who was moved around a lot.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
And we didn't even mention Derek Williams junior, who's coming
off that season correcting injury, I think right before the
Oklahoma game. So this is a Texas defense. You think
it's going to be top five in the country this season?
Speaker 4 (23:59):
Top three three?
Speaker 1 (24:00):
That's the top top five is low balling into my mind,
top three of US.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Okay, last thing here, I think next time I'll see
you will be next week in Atlanta the SEC Media Days.
What are you looking forward to? What storylines are you
going to be watching for next weekend? Besides, of course
Arch Manning walking through those hallways at the College Football
Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
I'm super interested to see where the rest of the
pack come in. Right, of course, we got to see
how Georgia reloads because or to beat the man, you
gotta beat the man.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
You know, the Bulldogs beat Texas twice last year.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
When I say the rest of the pack, oh you
Brent Venables, they're betting on a lot of things, most
notably John Mattier and Ben Arbuckle coming over to trying
to revamp that offense. I want to see what's going
on with the Sooners Auburn. They're trying to revamp things
with Jackson Arlold. Want to see what's going on there Florida,
DJ Lagway some of the what ifs in terms of quarterback.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
Definitely want to see what's going on there. And then
away from sec media days, you know, just going to
find some wings as.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
I typically am going to try to avoid. If you
know the story, you know how will then win trouble
avoid the seafood case of do you stick with the wings?
Speaker 4 (24:59):
That is my food foundation for Atlanta.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
He is Eric c Henry. I always take up way
too much of his time. I appreciate your time, brother,
looking forward to seeing you in Atlanta and check him
out on Twitter at Eric c Henry Underscore and follow
his work at Horns two four seven and two four
seven sports dot com. Hey enjoy Florida and I'll see
you in Hotlanta next week.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
Brother, much appreciate my man. Take care of Cam.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
All right, We'll be back to continue our three of
the day's program here on the free iHeartRadio app.
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