I am wondering if anyone on this board knows what in the hell happened to the Longhorns O-line class of two years ago. Remember the one that some experts tabbed as the best O-line class in the nation. I went on a website and found two redshirt freshman listed at 6-7 and 350 a piece. They were William Winston and Terrance Young. Are these guys busts or are there just better people in front of them? Also has anyone had a chance to watch Vincent Young in practice and is he the real deal? Thanks for any information provided.
I don't know either but take comfort in the fact that Williams and Davis didn't really come around till their Junior and Senior seasons either, so there's hope I guess.
Vince has looked good in practices, but as expected by any freshman, he was having trouble grasping the offense in the practices just prior to the season. Vince was used versus the starting D to prepare for the UNC game, and Lee Jackson made the statement that Vince was the most gifted QB he faced and that it will be fun to watch him for the next few years. However, if in the preseason practices he shows he is head & shoulders better than Mock, do not be shocked to see Mock starting for the first half of the season. Hope not.
There are a couple theories on HS O-linemen being recruited: 1. Draft the huge kids in high school that can step in and play immediately. Good thing is they can play immediately. Bad things is these are the kids who may lack the work ethic due o their size and are also more likely to be obese and could continue to be obese. Ohio State in the past has gone after these kids (you know 6'3/290 pounds out of HS) 2. Now there is a newer trend where schhol recruit the big kids who haven't quite filled in yet (instead of the 300 pound monsters they go after the better athlete who may only be 230-250 pounds out of HS). Downside is they probably won't play for a year or two. Upside is huge though. These kids are generally more athletic (vesatile, so you can pull them, have them and generally use blocking schemes big guys can't do) you usually keep them for 4 years, and once they get on campus and work with a strength coach they can easily add 20-30 pounds in a year or two. So my question is did Texas draft the huge monster or the athletes who they are waiting for. If they drafted the big guys (which the two 6'7/350 are) then yeah you may have a problem, but if they drafter smaller, more athletic kids then give them time.
Typically, Mack likes the quicker more atletic types. That is why he has been known in the past to more a bigger & quicker D lineman over to the O line (ie Mike Williams). Personally I thought that Rodrique Wright was going to fit that mold. 6'6" 310# and ran a 4.8 40, but he has stepped into the starting roll at tackle on D and has been extremely productive! His numbers are much better than the numbers Tommie Harris (the OU wonder boy). In Rodrique's 5 BIG XII games he has: 38 tackles (10 of which were for a loss of yards) 3 sacks 7 QB hurries. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR HIM!!!
Johnathon Scott is starting. Winston should take Dockery's spot next year. Terrance Young is second string and has looked solid. He should compete with Blalock next year for one of the guard spots. Garcia has played, but his knee keeps bothering him.
Good take chance. Here's how I see it. Will Allen is bigger and much better than Jason Glynn. I look forward to him taking over at center next year. Jonathan Scott is protecting Simms' blindside at RT, and took over for Mike Williams. Mike Garcia was a stud out of Galena Park, but may never reach his full potential due to his bum knees. William Winston out of Madison is slow to grasp the fundamentals of blocking, and has not seen the field much. Roman Reeves is not on the roster this year. Hopefully he returns next season. Alfio Randall-Veasey has been a bust.
