HornSports Staff
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The point on a brisket is typically the fattiest cut. Pitmasters often trim the point and select edges off a whole brisket and return them to the smoker.
Are burnt ends tough, chewy worthless cuts of meat, or are they a heavenly bites of smoky goodness? I suppose it depends on who you ask...
Rather than discard trimmings and fat, we chose to savor all the information that flows through the site. So, sit down and help yourself to some burnt ends.
***DO NOT FORWARD***
Late on Monday afternoon, reports circulated among UT recruiting sites that Soso Jamabo and Daylon Mack are no longer considering Texas. That’s noteworthy because it directly contradicts some of the information we gathered as late as Monday evening.
Long story short: This is always a crazy time of year for rumors, insider sources, and off the record conversations. As usual, HornSports is not going to filter information out of Burnt Ends based on other reports.
Our goal is to provide readers with as much information as we are able, and then let them decide for themselves what is accurate.
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With the above in mind, let’s jump right in with some intel that we gathered at the same time those reports were surfacing. A very connected Metroplex friend passed along some interesting information late on Monday.
According to him, DaMarkus Lodge and Kyler Murray are not quite as close as they once were. Since decommiting from Texas A&M, Lodge has forged some great friendships with other recruits. One notable such bond is with Daylon Mack. In fact, according to our source, Lodge and Mack are now closer than Lodge and Murray.
The conversation got even more interesting when we were told that Lodge will sign with Texas on Wednesday.
Our first reaction was to discount the information, but if the reports of Cedar Hill’s Joey McGuire being Charlie Strong’s leading candidate as the new Tight Ends Coach are correct, Lodge to Texas isn’t the stretch it seems.
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We’ve had multiple people tell us in one way or another that Ryan Newsome remains a possible target for the Horns. When announcing his intention to attend UCLA last week, Newsome was uncertainty personified. Aledo’s special teams star was visibly unsure of his decision, and what we’re being told is that those feelings are lingering.
One contact was bold enough to basically tell us that if Texas decides they need Newsome, then they’ll get him. “Need†seemed to be the operative word with more than one person, as several mentioned DaMarkus Lodge and Dominique Reed as alternative targets. In fact, only two things seemed to be a consensus:
1. That Texas will take another wide receiver, if possible.
2. As one source put it, “No way Charlie will pass up on one of the state’s best athletes.â€
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Cornerback is a clear position of need for the Longhorns. Charlie Strong and Vance Bedford have done an excellent job of assembling a collection of players that appear to have the talent to contribute immediately.
Not so fast…a current DB recruit was characterized to us as a “riskyâ€. According to a current player’s parent, the DB prospect doesn’t fit the mold of someone that will mesh with Charlie Strong’s core values.
Whether he matures and blossoms in a structured locker room or rebels against it will be a big factor in whether or not his potential is realized. This isn’t something that fans, or coaches, will know right away. File this one under, TBD.
While we’re on the subject of Coach Strong’s core values, it’s worth noting that we’ve heard the same thing about a big-time uncommitted prospect still on the Longhorns’ recruiting board. Depending on what happens on Wednesday, there may be two names to keep track of next Fall.
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Now that we’re several days removed from Kyler Murray announcing his intention to stick with his pledge to Texas A&M, some of the behind the scenes intel is leaking out. Paul Harvey made “the rest of the story†famous, and while this isn’t guaranteed to have been the deciding factor, it does shed light on the inner-workings of the recruitment.
According to a source that was close the recruitment, Kevin Murray requested access to UT’s practice field, during the summer, for his QB camp business. From what we were told, Murray proposed a rental arrangement to some folks in Bellmont.
There was upstairs "resistance" - putting it politely, Bellmont balked.
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With Spring football fast approaching, the team is involved in offseason conditioning drills. According to a member of the coaching staff, the team did some early morning running last week. Longhorn fans will like a detail from that workout:
“Guess who was right in middle of the front line? Jerrod Heard. Dead smack in the front. Leading the way."
After the last 2 games (TCU and Arkansas), that’s all fans need to hear to further cement opinions that Heard will be the opening day starter in 2015, but just in case you need more…
"He [Heard] looked more involved than Swoopes."
And for good measure:
"Jerrod Heard looks good physically."
One other note from the same conversation – the same coach told us that Malik Jefferson looked a little nervous. That’s to be expected of someone that should still be in high school. Realistically, it illustrates why it’s beneficial for Jefferson to already be on campus and participating in drills.
The same source checked in today with one more quote on conditioning drills that fans will appreciate:
"Team started agility drills today - shuttle, cone, mat drills. The guys are getting after it. Do it right, or do it long."
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Certainly one of the last major targets on UT’s recruiting board is running back Soso Jamabo. The Plano West blue chipper will make his final decision on national signing day between Texas and UCLA. His announcement will be broadcast live on ESPNU at 9AM (EST). There appears to be cause for concern for UT – we’ve heard from two sources that there is a personal trainer attempting to influence Jamabo to go UCLA.
A couple years ago, when Bryce Cottrell was at Plano West, the same trainer tried to send him to Westwood. Obviously, that didn’t happen, so the entire situation never gained much traction. Now that it’s happening for a second time within a short timeframe, we’re told that UT is well aware of the situation and watching closely.
A few details of the situation:
- Jamabo’s parents really like Strong and UT. That’s something to keep in mind when he makes his announcement.
- Plano West has banned the trainer from their campus.
Fans often hear how slimy the recruiting world is, but rarely are there examples of what goes on behind the scenes. This situation may never amount to anything, but it’s still worth mentioning.
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We spoke to Coach Rodney Southern at Huntsville High School about offensive lineman Ronnie Major. For those unaware, Major is rumored to be an eligibility risk due to sub-standard performance in the classroom.
We specifically asked Coach Southern about the speculation surrounding Major’s grades and were told:
"He still has some work to do and he knows it, but we are putting some things in place to get him the help he needs. He'll be all right."
One other note from that conversation – Major's official signing ceremony time is slated for 8:00AM but he will actually sign his LOI earlier in the morning.
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Another quick note regarding classroom work…
We were told that former Texas commitment (and current Wisconsin pledge), Jordan Stevenson will not qualify academically. It sounds like the South Oak Cliff running back will be a double signee and is headed to Navarro.
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Between returning the majority of the 2013-14 team, the signing of Myles Turner, and Top 10 preseason rankings, Texas fans had lofty expectations for their basketball team. No one imagined the Horns would be 14-7 and have a losing Big 12 record. When fans thought about February, they imagined a team that would be making final tweaks to a deep rotation of players in order to better compete for a conference championship.
That was the prevailing mindset in October. Now that February is here, the reality is Texas is 3-5 in the Big 12, and what was assumed to be the easiest four-game stretch in league play now looks like a mine field. Even if the team wins 3 of 4, they will only be a .500 team in conference play.
We checked in with someone that regularly attends practices to find out what the team’s and coaches’ mindset is at this point in the season. Our contact painted a pretty interesting picture:
“Rick – really everyone on staff – is frustrated. The team that practices in the gym is not at all the same team that plays games.
My take is that when the team is in a practice environment, the coaches are able to keep a tight grip on the guys and manage the situation. When this team puts on their jersey and takes the floor for a game, they abandon all their practice habits.
It’s not that they take the court and panic, it’s more that they get out there and free style. The team is talented and they know they’re talented. When they’re in games, they’re relaxed and confident. Instead of playing how they practice, everybody is trying to be a hero and do too much.
When you hear Rick say things like “mental toughness†or “understanding how to winâ€, he is talking about the discipline required to translate practice play over to games.
Between Taylor being out at the beginning of the season, and the constant rotation of players in games, this team doesn’t have a dominant personality to lead when they’re on the court in games. The coaches can’t do it for them from the bench – they need to do it for themselves.
If they would stop playing as individuals and become a team, there is a lot of potential. There’s time still, but they need to know that they’re making it harder on themselves with each game that slips by.â€
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We’ll close with the latest on Charlie Strong’s search for a tight ends coach:
A coach who is on good terms with Joey McGuire says the decision is really weighing on Cedar Hill’s head coach, but he may have told some of his staff that he is leaning towards accepting a position in Austin. McGuire has great love for his players and the community of Cedar Hill but he has literally done it all at the high school level. The Texas job just might be too big of an opportunity to pass up.
