Offensive Tackle and JUCO transfer Desmond Harrison is still not practicing with the team, as he and the UT coaches await his appeal to Brigham Young University regarding an independent studies class he took online. BYU officials have reportedly maintained the notion that independent studies classes are only available to student-athletes enrolled at BYU (2006 rule).  The nitty-gritty will more than likely be determined in the courts if BYU refuses to grant course-credit to Harrison but Longhorn fans could see Harrison missing the 2013 season entirely if it ends bad. Regardless of the outcome it won’t look good for the University – or its JUCO recruiting process. Recruiting a guy, vetting him, admitting him and then having to deal with this kind of uncertainty is a complete embarrassment to Harrison and the University. No other way to say it.
In other news Mike Davis and Jaxson Shipley are looking better each day.  Both receivers wear green practice jerseys (meaning no hits) but both seem to be cutting and running routes with more momentum. The Longhorns are currently depleted at wide receiver as both players recover and Marcus Johnson nurses a recently sprained MCL. According to OC Major Applewhite, John Harris, Kendall Sanders and Bryant Jackson are getting a lot of reps at wide receiver due to the injured players being limited in practice.
On defense the Longhorns look promising. Jackson Jeffcoat is healthy, Steve Edmond is back to full-strength and flying around the field and Jordan Hicks is ready to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. The defensive backfield as a whole also appears to be ready to maintain the stranglehold knows as DBU. That’s right. Adrian Phillips and Quandre Diggs may have a new moniker for the secondary – “The Gatekeepers.”
Lastly, David Ash continues to impress with his accuracy and poise. Case McCoy, in the eyes of the Texas coaching staff, is looking more and more like the 2nd string quarterback due to his experience and accuracy. Tyrone Swoopes is refining his snaps and Jalen Overstreet seems to be intertwined in quarterback snaps and tailback schemes. Overstreet appears to have caught the eye of the Texas coaches, rightfully so, and he should play a bigger part in the offense this season.
August 13th Practice Video:
