HornSports Staff
HornSports.com
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2013
- Messages
- 2,515
The point on a brisket is typically the fattiest cut. Pitmasters often trim the point (and select edges) off a brisket and return those pieces to the smoker.
Are burnt ends tough, chewy worthless cuts of meat, or are they heavenly bites of smoky goodness? It depends on who you ask...
Rather than discard the trimmings and fat, we choose to savor all the information that flows through the site. So, sit down and help yourself to some burnt ends.
+++++
This is a free site, so anyone can read this report. If you share it with someone, please take time to attribute the information to HornSports.
+++++
After Saturday’s performance in Ames it’s clear that Charlie Strong will have to make a hire at offensive coordinator in the offseason. As a defensive specialist, Strong doesn’t have much to do with the offense which means he will need to hire a proven coach - someone who can run the entire side of the ball with minimal supervision. Simply put, he can’t risk his job on another year of Jay Norvell (who has done well stabilizing things in the midst of turnover) who isn't a long-term solution. Multiple hurdles stand in front of Strong when it comes to making this hire. The most evident is that it will be difficult to nab a top candidate if they think Charlie Strong is one year away from potentially losing his job. Hiring a "big fish" is important to the team and Strong's future. If he does it correctly he could buy himself some time both on the job and the recruiting trail. Fans are fond of saying, “We’re Texas.â€Well now it’s time for the program to back it up. Coming off a 2014 year that saw the wheels fly off of their program, Texas A&M hired John Chavis away from LSU. Chavis is widely known as one of the top defensive minds in football and the Aggies paid a handsome price for him (a staggering 1.3 million dollars/year). Chavis quickly came in and made great strides for the Aggie defense (though they still have a ways to go). It’s time for the Longhorns to flex their muscles and write a big check. Money talks and can likely talk one of the top coordinators in college football into coming to Austin.
Who might (or should) be on the Texas radar this offseason? Of course we have you covered.
Sonny Cumbie – Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks coach – TCU
Bio: Cumbie is a former Texas Tech quarterback who has been a large part of the turnaround at TCU. He’s 34 years old and a very popular guy on the recruiting trail. Cumbie has experience in both the air raid system he executed and coached at Texas Tech, as well as the blended run/pass system he oversees at TCU along with Doug Meacham.
Obstacles: Cumbie is a hot name right now and could either be in line for a head coaching position at a smaller school, or to take over for Meacham if he were to get a new position.
Advantages: Like most on this list it will be salary. The last reported numbers from the TCU deal were a “Nominal raise from his previous salary of 250Kâ€, and Texas could easily top that if interested.
Scott Frost – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks coach – Oregon
Bio: Frost was a quarterback at Nebraska before having a 10 year NFL career as a defensive back and special teams player. Following retirement, the 40 year old went to work at Northern Iowa as a defensive assistant before Chip Kelly brought him to Oregon to coach receivers and learn under Mark Helfrich. When Helfrich was promoted so was Frost and he helped take them to the National Championship game last season on the legs and arm of Heisman winner Marcus Mariota.
Obstacles: Frost is already getting a ton of looks as a head coach, and could be off the market following this season.
Advantages: Frost runs an offensive system already in-line with what Charlie Strong desires from that side of the ball and his salary is reported to be around 400K. Once again, Texas could triple that salary and give Frost the chance to get out on his own and prove himself without the shadow of Chip Kelly or Mark Helfrich looming.
Seth Littrell – Assistant Head Coach Offense/Tight Ends Coach – North Carolina
Bio: A former Oklahoma Sooner player, Littrell transitioned into coaching easily. He was named co-offensive coordinator in 2010 for Arizona and then given primary duties in 2011. Following turnover he performed the same job at Indiana before being brought on in a similar capacity at North Carolina. Littrell blends his philosophies with those of Larry Fedora who is a respected offensive mind.
Obstacles: For one he’s a Sooner, but so was DKR. Littrell also recently got to North Carolina, and might feel a need to stick around.
Advantages: Reported salary 250K, and Texas might not have to go over 700k to get it done.
Major Applewhite – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Houston
Bio: You all know the story, the former Texas legend came back home to coach for Texas and went down with Mack Brown and the rest of the ship at the end of his tenure. The Major has now surfaced in “H-Town†and is still a hot recruiter that is now calling plays for one of the best offensive units in the nation. Questions remain if Applewhite could actually install that offense as opposed to just calling it.
Obstacles: A few, mainly fan backlash after Major’s last stint here. Applewhite will also face questions as to if he’s a legit coordinator, or just a man pulling the strings for Tom Herman’s machine.
Advantages: I’m sure Major would love another opportunity to make things right at his dream school. I could not find his reported salary but I’m sure Texas could top it.
Dana Holgerson – Head Coach – West Virginia University
Bio: Perhaps it’s a bit of a pipe dream, but the offensive wunderkind who learned the Air Raid offense from the best seems to be on a warm seat in Morgantown. It’s possible he could turn his season around as he’s out of the difficult part, but it’s also possible the Mountaineers could choose to go in another direction after the season.
Obstacles: The most important would be his employment status. This obviously doesn’t happen unless he is fired from West Virginia. Once he does he will be one of the most hotly pursued guys on the market. His past might also bring up some questions as to if he’s a cultural fit or not.
Advantages: It’s been said that Holgerson would really love a shot to work at Texas, and if a bidding war ensued, Texas has the means.
Sterlin Gilbert – Co-offensive Coordinator/WR and QB coach – Tulsa
Bio: Gilbert is a former star quarterback at San Angelo State who cut his teeth in the Texas high school ranks at Abilene Cooper and Temple High School. Gilbert helped install offenses at Houston and Baylor and developed Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at Eastern Illinois. A student of the Art Briles offense, Gilbert was hired by Phil Montgomery when he took the job at Tulsa. Gilbert has great ties to the state with experience installing offense from his time under Briles and Montgomery.
Obstacles: This might not be a big enough name for some people, and Gilbert hasn’t had a big time coordinator job.
Advantages: He’d be a fool to say no, and it wouldn’t cost nearly as much as the others.
+++++
With so many questions surrounding the program and coaching staff it’s really difficult to prognosticate realistically how the recruiting class will end up, but here’s a look at where things stand for the Texas targets.
Running Backs
Kyle Porter – Katy
Porter detests the recruiting process and doing interviews, but our sources tell us Texas is in very good shape for the talented Katy runner.
Devwah Whaley – Beaumont Central
Whaley has Texas behind a trio of SEC schools, and they are likely to stay that way unless they get involved for Davion Curtis who could help Texas reel the talented runner in.
Receivers
Lil’Jordan Humphrey – Southlake Carroll
The intriguing dragon athlete is probably a receiver at the next level, and from what we are hearing it will probably be in Austin. Humphrey is looking for a mix of academics and athletics with California being the only opponent.
Dee Anderson – DeSoto
Texas is trying and trying here but our sources tell us they are less optimistic on this by the day. Texas isn’t showing anything in the passing department, and Anderson is pretty locked in for LSU.
Devin Duvernay – Sachse
Dev Duv has all but eliminated Texas since they declined to recruit his twin brother Donovan. Texas won’t get an official, and this one is probably headed to Baylor.
Tight Ends
Zarrian Holcombe – Humble Summer Creek
Holcombe is back on the market and would make a great pairing with Texas commit Peyton Aucoin, but Texas looks unlikely to pursue at this point.
Irvin Smith – New Orleans Brother Martin
Texas seems all in on the thought of Aucoin flipping his high school teammate. Smith is committed to A&M but we will see what happens after the two visit.
Jamal Pettigrew – New Orleans St. Augustine
Chalk this one up as a recruitment Texas can feel proud about, but unlikely to happen. Pettigrew has given the Longhorns a lot of chances and seems to genuinely like them, but it’s going to be very difficult to get a New Orleans kid away from an LSU commitment.
Offensive Linemen
Jean Delance – North Mesquite
Delance has a top 5, but the three standing out for him are Texas, Michigan, and Alabama. While Michigan is threatening, we hear Delance will stay close to home and his mother who really loves Charlie Strong.
Denzel Okafor – Lewisville
It’s been down to TCU and Texas for the longest time, but things are trending the way of the Longhorns. We expect Texas to land the athletic guard.
Kellen Diesch – Trophy Club Byron Nelson
Diesch is open again but don’t expect Texas to get a lot of consideration.
Patrick Hudson – Silsbee
While Hudson has always hinted the door is open, it’s getting tougher to think this one will go the way of the Longhorns.
Defensive Line
Jordan Elliott – Houston Westside
Elliott is hard to get a read on, but pretty much everyone we talk to thinks in the end Elliott is a Longhorn.
Keyshon Camp – Lakeland (FL) Lake Gibson
Camp is a newer offer, things could be looking up if Texas can in fact get him on campus.
Stephon Taylor – New Orleans McDonogh 35
A source this weekend told me he had a gut feeling this would be a surprise win for Texas.
Andrew Fitzgerald – Flower Mound Marcus
From what we hear, there is a strong Texas vibe coming from Fitzgerald. Don’t be surprised to see this one end soon.
Marcel Southall – Duncanville
Still a feeling Oklahoma leads in this one and Texas isn’t in the picture very much.
Brandon Bowen – Trophy Club Byron Nelson
Texas is pretty much out of it. Baylor leads from all indications.
Mike Williams – FW All Saints
It’s going to come down to whether or not he is accepted to Stanford. If not, Texas could be in the lead.
D’Andre Christmas-Giles – New Orleans St. Augustine
The Tennessee pledge is a soft commit, and the last indications we received were very positive for Texas.
Linebacker
Dontavious Jackson – Elsik
He will take his visits and consider everyone, but in the end I think he stays home and picks Texas.
David Reese – Farmington (MI)
Visitng Texas this week and is on definite commit watch.
Jeffrey McCulloch – Aldine Davis
For whatever reason, the Longhorns just keep slipping in this recruitment.
Shemar Smith – Miami (FL) Jackson
It will be interesting to see if Texas pushes for Smith late in the process.
Erick Fowler – Manor
Fowler is committed to LSU but he seems to be giving the Longhorns lots of chances to win his commitment. Getting him on campus will continue to be important.
Secondary
Deontay Anderson – Manvel
Sources still indicate Ole Miss leads, but Anderson will take a very late visit to Texas and they could close him then.
Brandon Jones – Nacogdoches
We spoke with someone that has ties to the Nacogdoches coaching staff who told us that Texas is in a lot better position than anyone knows. We’ve heard this for a long time, but can’t quite believe it. We will see if Jones takes his official to Texas.
Chris Brown – Elsik
Texas believes he can play corner or safety, and they should be able to close him and Jackson together.
Eric Cuffee – Waco
This one seems done as both sides seem to have backed off from each other.
+++++
HornSports wraps up regular season high school coverage this week with our Mike Roach covering LD Bell vs. Southlake Carroll. In the last game before the playoffs we will have another chance to see Texas commit Obi Eboh and Texas target Lil’Jordan Humphrey. The playoffs begin next week, and we will have you covered there as well as from all over the state.
Last edited by a moderator:
