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1. Tyrone Swoopes is the starting QB: Charlie Strong announced Monday what many have speculated for weeks now – Tyrone Swoopes will start at quarterback against Notre Dame. Strong said Swoopes has “won the team” and he’s been impressed with his leadership. Strong did maintain, however, that redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard will see some snaps. Strong said there is already a plan in place as to how Texas would use Heard, and he’ll see the field. Either way, both quarterbacks will go against a Notre Dame defense that returns 10 starters from last season and just added cornerbackKeiVarae Russell, a likely first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
2. Texas isn’t afraid to go young: Texas unveiled its depth chart for Notre Dame on Monday and there are 23 freshmen (11 true freshmen) on the depth chart. Currently, four are listed as starters: Malik Jefferson (MLB), Patrick Vahe (RG) and Connor Williams (LT) and John Burt (WR). Jefferson and Williams both enrolled early at Texas, but Vahe impressed enough in camp for offensive line coach Joe Wickline to slide Kent Perkins to offensive tackle and move senior Marcus Hutchins to the reserves. Burt emerged quickly in the summer and in fall camp thanks to his ability to grab the ball at the highest point and stretch the field. The message is clear, though, Charlie Strong will play the best player no matter their classification.
3. Special teams will be a mix of youth and veterans: Texas’ special teams were a big issue for the team costing the Longhorns on several occasions last year. The group is under new leadership in 2015 – tight ends coach Jeff Traylor is taking over as special teams coordinator – and the personnel will also have a new look. Seniors Daje Johnson and Duke Thomas will handle the team’s punt return duties, with senior running back Johnathan Grayand Johnson working kick return. Senior place kicker Nick Rose will still be in charge of field goals and kickoffs with junior Trey Holtz holding and junior Kyle Ashby snapping. The only real place on special teams with inexperience is punter, where true freshman Michael Dickson will start. His appearance against Notre Dame will be his first ever punt in live-game action.
4. Texas is aware of Notre Dame’s history: It’s not a big shock, but the Longhorns are well aware of the prestige and history that surrounds Notre Dame’s program. Strong was an assistant in South Bend from 1995-98. The Longhorns have been shown clips of the Fighting Irish for the last few weeks and Strong said he’s pushing his team on the importance of the matchup. Texas normally travels to road games a day early in order to do a walkthrough at the opponent’s stadium, but that won’t be the case in South Bend. Because of the long flight and class conflictions, the Longhorns won’t be able to do their normal day before walkthrough. The first time the team sees Notre Dame Stadium will be on gameday. Also quickly, not very many Longhorns players have actually seen “Rudy” the movie that helped make Notre Dame football famous.
5. Players make a fashion statement: Normally Texas’ players roll into media availability wearing a Sports Information Director provided polo, but some players decided to change that up Monday. Senior defensive tackle Desomond Jackson walked into Belmont in style rocking suit pants, a white button-down shirt and a tie. Jackson said he actually owns eight suits. The looked was a bit sullied, however, by a camo Texas Longhorns hat he wore. Sophomore defensive tackle Poona Ford also drew some eyes with his hat of choice – a Texas Longhorns beanie with a fuzzy ball on top. He got a few questions about it and Strong took a minute to make fun of Ford asking if “he was cold.” After Ford said no, he also laughed “I’d never wear that.”
1. Tyrone Swoopes is the starting QB: Charlie Strong announced Monday what many have speculated for weeks now – Tyrone Swoopes will start at quarterback against Notre Dame. Strong said Swoopes has “won the team” and he’s been impressed with his leadership. Strong did maintain, however, that redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard will see some snaps. Strong said there is already a plan in place as to how Texas would use Heard, and he’ll see the field. Either way, both quarterbacks will go against a Notre Dame defense that returns 10 starters from last season and just added cornerbackKeiVarae Russell, a likely first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
2. Texas isn’t afraid to go young: Texas unveiled its depth chart for Notre Dame on Monday and there are 23 freshmen (11 true freshmen) on the depth chart. Currently, four are listed as starters: Malik Jefferson (MLB), Patrick Vahe (RG) and Connor Williams (LT) and John Burt (WR). Jefferson and Williams both enrolled early at Texas, but Vahe impressed enough in camp for offensive line coach Joe Wickline to slide Kent Perkins to offensive tackle and move senior Marcus Hutchins to the reserves. Burt emerged quickly in the summer and in fall camp thanks to his ability to grab the ball at the highest point and stretch the field. The message is clear, though, Charlie Strong will play the best player no matter their classification.
3. Special teams will be a mix of youth and veterans: Texas’ special teams were a big issue for the team costing the Longhorns on several occasions last year. The group is under new leadership in 2015 – tight ends coach Jeff Traylor is taking over as special teams coordinator – and the personnel will also have a new look. Seniors Daje Johnson and Duke Thomas will handle the team’s punt return duties, with senior running back Johnathan Grayand Johnson working kick return. Senior place kicker Nick Rose will still be in charge of field goals and kickoffs with junior Trey Holtz holding and junior Kyle Ashby snapping. The only real place on special teams with inexperience is punter, where true freshman Michael Dickson will start. His appearance against Notre Dame will be his first ever punt in live-game action.
4. Texas is aware of Notre Dame’s history: It’s not a big shock, but the Longhorns are well aware of the prestige and history that surrounds Notre Dame’s program. Strong was an assistant in South Bend from 1995-98. The Longhorns have been shown clips of the Fighting Irish for the last few weeks and Strong said he’s pushing his team on the importance of the matchup. Texas normally travels to road games a day early in order to do a walkthrough at the opponent’s stadium, but that won’t be the case in South Bend. Because of the long flight and class conflictions, the Longhorns won’t be able to do their normal day before walkthrough. The first time the team sees Notre Dame Stadium will be on gameday. Also quickly, not very many Longhorns players have actually seen “Rudy” the movie that helped make Notre Dame football famous.
5. Players make a fashion statement: Normally Texas’ players roll into media availability wearing a Sports Information Director provided polo, but some players decided to change that up Monday. Senior defensive tackle Desomond Jackson walked into Belmont in style rocking suit pants, a white button-down shirt and a tie. Jackson said he actually owns eight suits. The looked was a bit sullied, however, by a camo Texas Longhorns hat he wore. Sophomore defensive tackle Poona Ford also drew some eyes with his hat of choice – a Texas Longhorns beanie with a fuzzy ball on top. He got a few questions about it and Strong took a minute to make fun of Ford asking if “he was cold.” After Ford said no, he also laughed “I’d never wear that.”
