Bohls: First peek at Texas’ freshmen reveals a potentially loaded Longhorns roster
Kirk Bohls
Austin American-Statesman
New Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell works on kick returns Monday morning during the team’s first spring football practice at Frank Denius Fields. Mitchell, a transfer from Georgia, could make an immediate impact in the passing game.
Freshmen like linebacker Anthony Hill, wideout Johntay Cook II and running back C.J. Baxter could contribute immediately on Texas roster.
Third-year Texas women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer won Big 12 Coach of the Year honors, guiding an injury-riddled team to the league title.
Could Texas Tech really consider rehiring fired Longhorn basketball coach Chris Beard? Stranger things have happened.
While I got ya, here are nine things and one crazy prediction:
1. After one practice, here’s what we think we know
A few perceptions and maybe a misperception: Football practice has begun, which means it will suck all the oxygen out of the Austin air. I tweeted Monday that some of the freshmen looked as good and ripped as I’ve seen. Of course, the detractors came out and said they’d heard it all before. Perhaps.
The comment wasn’t intended to suggest Texas will run the table and go 15-0. But the talent has been upgraded.
Big-time. I could see a dozen contributing and three or so like linebacker Anthony Hill, wide receiver Johntay Cook II and perhaps tailback CJ Baxter starting. …
Hill, at 6-foot-3 and 229 pounds, looks like a grown man and somebody who might start from Day 1 and never give up the position.
OK, maybe Day 2. But the combination of Jaylan Ford and Hill should strike some fear in Big 12 offenses this fall. … Asked why he played Xavier Worthy the second half of the season, even though Steve Sarkisian revealed the receiver had a broken hand, instead of a healthier backup, Sarkisian said, “I felt like he was the best option for us.”
That doesn’t speak well for last year’s group of receivers. … Sarkisian admits he was trying to protect Worthy. From whom or what, I’m not sure.
It sure doesn’t speak well to Texas’ transparency. Now that Sark put it out there, fans and media will be wondering every time a star athlete’s performance falls off if he’s hurt. … Another reason with the growth of legalized gambling in so many states, we’ll eventually see mandatory injury reports in college football.
… Looking like Cook is being groomed as a punt returner as is Georgia receiver transfer Adonai Mitchell along with Worthy. … Arkansas transfer safety Jalen Catalon has very thick legs and looks very sturdy. Hoping he can stay well. … Have always been impressed by tight end Juan Davis. He sure looks the part. … That Arch Manning fellow. He looks a legit 6-4. … Really surprised to see quarterback Maalik Murphy’s foot injury is still lingering. Big setback for him.
