These notes are from Anwar Richardson, who covers Texas for Orangebloods.com on the Rivals network:
- Longhorn coaches decided to switch up their routine and practice in the stadium on Wednesday. To our knowledge, this is the first time Texas has practiced in the stadium since training camp began a few weeks ago
- The Longhorns received some disappointing news on Wednesday when tight end Devonaire Clarington was not cleared by the NCAA, delaying his enrollment into Texas. The NCAA questioned Clarington’s ACT score, but the Longhorns were optimistic he would be allowed to join the team this week. Instead, Andrew Beck will likely start at tight end against Notre Dame, while freshman DeAndre McNeal will likely receive playing time.
- Texas quarterback Tyrone Swoopes’ biggest issue last season was not responding well after he was hit. Swoopes admitted to reporters that he was thrown off after being hit during a game last season. However, most Longhorn observers expect Swoopes to start in the season opener. When asked how Swoopes might react to being hit this year, Strong said, ‘Sometimes when you’ve been knocked down, you can pick yourself back up. I think he’s been one of those guys who’s been knocked down. You have to have enough around you. That’s what I said to him, that’s what I said to our staff, you don’t want to put it all in his hands. We have to play better up front. We have to be able to block people. If we can block people, move them off the line of scrimmage, turn around and hand the ball off to J-Gray (Johnathan Gray) and those running backs, just create a seam, then it’s going to make things better for Tyrone. Then you have guys who can make catches, Marcus (Johnson), Daje (Johnson), (John) Burt, (Ryan) Newsome, Armanti Foreman. If those guys can make the catches and take the pressure off Tyrone, it’s going to make it easier for him. You look at most quarterbacks. When they have enough around them, it makes them good."
- One of Strong's biggest challenges after he was hired was changing the culture. There was a sense of entitlement by some players, while others withered under the pressure. Strong's 2015 recruiting class stepped on campus with a lot of swagger and confidence, which has fueled the upperclassmen. Strong said, "I met with them (freshmen) right when they got in back in June, and said so much is going to be said about you. The thing I don’t want you to do is lose your confidence. A lot of you guys have a lot of confidence, and I want you guys to have that confidence. We’re lacking that right now. We need that. It hasn’t changed. You walk out there in practice, you play the music, and the only guys that are really dancing are the freshmen. They haven’t been in a game yet. Overall, it’s just amazing watching those young guys. (Cornerback) Kris Boyd is the one that keeps them going. He has so much liveliness. It’s been fun."
- This from Orangebloods writer Alex Dunlap:
As we're rounding past halfway though fall camp, I updated these depth charts to show how things are shaping up personnel-wise with the football team. Of course, these are subject to change at any time throughout camp. Furthermore, these are not official depth charts from the University, but rather my own projections based on the practices we've been able to attend and more importantly, information gathered by OB from sources at closed practices.
Base 4-3 defense
Nickel 4-3 defense
Offensive line
Offensive skill positions
- Longhorn coaches decided to switch up their routine and practice in the stadium on Wednesday. To our knowledge, this is the first time Texas has practiced in the stadium since training camp began a few weeks ago
- The Longhorns received some disappointing news on Wednesday when tight end Devonaire Clarington was not cleared by the NCAA, delaying his enrollment into Texas. The NCAA questioned Clarington’s ACT score, but the Longhorns were optimistic he would be allowed to join the team this week. Instead, Andrew Beck will likely start at tight end against Notre Dame, while freshman DeAndre McNeal will likely receive playing time.
- Texas quarterback Tyrone Swoopes’ biggest issue last season was not responding well after he was hit. Swoopes admitted to reporters that he was thrown off after being hit during a game last season. However, most Longhorn observers expect Swoopes to start in the season opener. When asked how Swoopes might react to being hit this year, Strong said, ‘Sometimes when you’ve been knocked down, you can pick yourself back up. I think he’s been one of those guys who’s been knocked down. You have to have enough around you. That’s what I said to him, that’s what I said to our staff, you don’t want to put it all in his hands. We have to play better up front. We have to be able to block people. If we can block people, move them off the line of scrimmage, turn around and hand the ball off to J-Gray (Johnathan Gray) and those running backs, just create a seam, then it’s going to make things better for Tyrone. Then you have guys who can make catches, Marcus (Johnson), Daje (Johnson), (John) Burt, (Ryan) Newsome, Armanti Foreman. If those guys can make the catches and take the pressure off Tyrone, it’s going to make it easier for him. You look at most quarterbacks. When they have enough around them, it makes them good."
- One of Strong's biggest challenges after he was hired was changing the culture. There was a sense of entitlement by some players, while others withered under the pressure. Strong's 2015 recruiting class stepped on campus with a lot of swagger and confidence, which has fueled the upperclassmen. Strong said, "I met with them (freshmen) right when they got in back in June, and said so much is going to be said about you. The thing I don’t want you to do is lose your confidence. A lot of you guys have a lot of confidence, and I want you guys to have that confidence. We’re lacking that right now. We need that. It hasn’t changed. You walk out there in practice, you play the music, and the only guys that are really dancing are the freshmen. They haven’t been in a game yet. Overall, it’s just amazing watching those young guys. (Cornerback) Kris Boyd is the one that keeps them going. He has so much liveliness. It’s been fun."
- This from Orangebloods writer Alex Dunlap:
As we're rounding past halfway though fall camp, I updated these depth charts to show how things are shaping up personnel-wise with the football team. Of course, these are subject to change at any time throughout camp. Furthermore, these are not official depth charts from the University, but rather my own projections based on the practices we've been able to attend and more importantly, information gathered by OB from sources at closed practices.
Base 4-3 defense
Nickel 4-3 defense
Offensive line
Offensive skill positions
