Message-ID: <23419307.1075857329196.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 05:05:00 -0700 (PDT) From: truorange@aol.com To: truorange@aol.com Subject: True Orange, Oct. 2, 2000, Part 2 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ANSI_X3.4-1968 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-From: TruOrange@aol.com X-To: TruOrange@aol.com X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \Clint_Dean_Dec2000\Notes Folders\All documents X-Origin: Dean-C X-FileName: cdean.nsf Part 2 Scouting Oklahoma Texas and Oklahoma, both ranked in the top 15 for the first time since 1984= , meet at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas to battle for the leadership in the Big 12's Southern Division. The Sooners are 4-0 and ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press poll. The Longhorns are 3-1 and are No. 11 in the AP voting. OU has six offensive and seven defensive starters back from last year's 7-= 5 team. Oklahoma opened the season with a 55-14 rout of Texas-El Paso, then wallope= d Arkansas State, 45-7, hammered Rice, 42-14, and opened Big 12 play Saturday with a 34-16 win over Kansas Texas leads the all-time series 55-34-5 and has a three-year winning streak= . In fact, Texas dominated Oklahoma in the 1990s, going 7-2-1. But coach Bob Stoops, in his second year as the Sooners' head man, has OU humming along with an undefeated record and big ambitions. Behind his all-out passing attack, the Sooners jumped out to a quick 17-0 lead over the Longhorns last season before UT defense coordinator Carl Rees= e changed his blitz packages and started getting enough pressure on QB Josh Heupel to put the brakes on the OU offense and allow Texas to rally for a 38-28 win. But it will be tougher this year because the Sooners of 1999 had no running threat at all. They are rushing the ball much better this season, which kee= ps some of the pressure of Heupel. The Longhorn defense should be able to pressure Heupel and corral the Soone= r backs if the Texas offense shows up early. The Longhorn offense hasn't done much in the first quarter of any of its games this year. One field goal and very little yardage is all UT has garnered offensively this season. But QB Major Applewhite, who killed the Sooners last year with his clutch throws, seems to be regaining his magic touch after off-season knee surgery= , and sophomore RB Kenny Hayter had his coming-out party Saturday. They keys to a Longhorn victory: (1) get a quick start on both sides of the ball, (2) pressure Heupel and make him throw before he wants to, (3) a reasonably balanced offensive attack, (4) no punt blocks, and (5) win the turnover and time-of-possession battles. Here's how the teams compare statistically (national rank in parenthesis): Texas Oklahoma Offense (86) 100.2 Rushing Avg. (53) 154.2 (6) 321.3 Passing Avg. (5) 325.3 (26) 421.5 Total Off. Avg. (6) 479.5 (8) 41.5 Scoring Avg (5) 44.0 Defense (11) 77.3 Rushing Avg. (39) 118.3 (32) 181.0 Passing Avg. (51) 197.7 (132) 258.2 Total Def. Avg. (30) 314.0 (10) 11.0 Opp. Scoring Avg (15) 12.8 Big 12 Roundup The big Texas-Oklahoma clash in Dallas is the headliner for the second week of Big 12 play. It features the two pre-season favorites in the South and also pits two nationally ranked teams. Nebraska visits Iowa State in a battle of unbeatens in the North, but the Huskers should romp. The potential upset of the week features winless Colorado at Texas A&M. The Buffaloes are winless, but they have played four very tough foes in a row. They are a dangerous team, at their place or yours. BIG 12 STANDINGS SOUTHERN DIVISION Conference Season W L PF PA Pct. W L PF PA Pct. Oklahoma 1 0 34 16 1.000 4 0 176 51 1.0= 00 Texas 1 0 42 7 1.000 3 1 166 44 .750 Texas A&M 1 0 33 15 1.000 3 1 139 59 .= 750 Texas Tech 0 1 15 33 .000 4 1 116 59 .80= 0 Baylor 0 1 17 31 .000 2 2 74 85 .500 Okla State 0 1 7 42 .000 2 2 72 96 .500 NORTHERN DIVISION Conference Season W L PF PA Pct. W L PF PA Pct. Kansas State 1 0 44 21 1.000 5 0 256 48 1.0= 00 Nebraska 1 0 42 24 1.000 4 0 160 74 1.000 Iowa State 1 0 31 17 1.000 4 0 127 68 1.00= 0 Kansas 0 1 16 34 .000 2 2 98 85 .500 Missouri 0 1 24 42 .000 1 3 93 137 .25= 0 Colorado 0 1 21 44 .000 0 4 73 106 .= 000 Last Week's Results Texas 42, Oklahoma State 7 Texas A&M 33, Texas Tech 15 Oklahoma 34, Kansas 16 Iowa State 31, Baylor 17 Nebraska 42, Missouri 24 Kansas State 44, Colorado 21 This Week's Games Texas vs. Oklahoma (Dallas) 11 a.m. (ABC) Colorado at Texas A&M 1 p.m. Oklahoma State at Missouri, 1 p.m. Kansas State at Kansas 1 p.m. Nebraska at Iowa State, 2:30 p.m. (ABC) Baylor at Texas Tech 6 p.m. 2000 Longhorn Schedule, Record (3-1) Texas Opp. Sept. 9 Louisiana-Lafayette 52 10 Sept 16 at Stanford 24 27 Sept 23 Houston 48 0 Sept 30 Oklahoma State 42 7 Oct. 7 Oklahoma (Dallas) Oct. 14 at Colorado Oct. 21 Missouri Oct. 28 Baylor Nov. 4 at Texas Tech Nov. 11 at Kansas Nov. 24 Texas A&M Scoring by Quarters Texas 12 55 47 52 - 166 Opponents 16 14 7 7 - 44 The Blue Chips Here's my updated list of the top Texas football recruits. I used * * * * a= s a dividing line at each position between the Fabulous 40 and the remainder = of the Elite 80. Now that I have weekly newsletters, I'll have my updated Elite 80 in at lea= st one issue per month. The Elite 80 Recruits Quarterback (6) Matt Nordgren, 6-5, 225, 4.7, Dallas Bishop Lynch (UT, LSU, Colo, Ky, Fla) Jason Carter, 5-11, 180, 4.5, Caldwell (A&M Commitment) * * * * Mike Pankratz, 6-3, 200, 4.8, Katy Taylor (A&M, UCLA, OU, KSU, ND) Davon Vinson, 6-3, 185, 4.5, Kilgore (A&M, Ark, OU, Bay) Tye Gunn, 6-4, 200, 4.62, La Grange (TCU Commitment) Kevin Ford, 6-0, 188, 4.5, Madisonville (Rice Commitment) Running Back (8) Cedric Benson, 5-11, 200, 4.5, Midland Lee (UT Commitment) David Underwood, 6-0, 220, 4.38, Madisonville (Michigan Commitment) Anthony Johnson, 5-11, 195, 4.4, Jefferson (UT Commitment) Donta Hickson, 5-9, 180, 4.4, McKinney (FSU, Neb, A&M, OU, Mich, Tenn, TT) * * * * Eron Haynes, 6-1, 195, 4.4, Borger (TT, A&M, ASU, Kan, Wash) David Williams, 5-11, 180, 4.4, Carrollton Smith (FSU, A&M, Colo, OU, Mia) Anthony Evans, 5-9, 195, 4.5, Pearland (Bay, A&M, Az, KSU, UCLA) Cody Thibodeaux, 6-1, 200, 4.5, Winnie East Chambers (A&M, Neb, Ok St, LSU) Fullback (2) Darnell Sims, 6-2, 230, 4.7, Aldine (A&M, UH, LSU) * * * * Mark Pierce, 6-2, 215, 4.6, Weatherford (TCU Commitment) Tight End (1) James Moses, 6-3, 225, 4.7, GP North Shore (UT, A&M, Az, Mich, Colo) * * * * Wide Receiver (10) Armon Dorrough, 6-1, 168, 4.4, Lancaster (ND, UT, Tenn) Brandon Jones, 6-3, 205, 4.4, Texark. Liberty-Eylau (Ky, Ark, A&M, FSU, UT) Bennie Brazell, 6-2, 168, 4.4, Houston Westbury (LSU, UCLA, Ark, Ky, LSU, M= ia) Thomson Omboga, 6-2, 175, 4.5, Grand Prairie (UT, OU, ND, Ga, A&M, Mo) Cedric Williams, 6-0, 170, 4.4, Jefferson (KSU, FSU, LSU, Neb, A&M, OU) Keith Mills, 5-11, 175, 4.4, Garland (A&M, FSU, Fla, Ark, TT, OU) * * * * Terrence Thomas, 5-9, 175, 4.4, Houston Washington (Mia, FSU, UCLa, A&M, UH= ) Corey Roberts, 6-4, 190, 4.4, Carthage (LSU, A&M, SMU, TCU, UT) Jesse Woods, 6-4, 190, 4.5, Katy Taylor (A&M Commitment) Kenneth Shelton, 6-1, 175, 4.4, Port Arthur Jefferson (A&M, OU, TT, UT) Offensive Line (13) Jonathan Scott, 6-7, 290, 4.9, Dallas Carter (UT Commitment) Jami Hightower, 6-4, 305, 5.2, Jacksonville (Neb, UT, A&M) Ben Wilkerson, 6-4, 265, 4.9, Hemphill (A&M, Mich, ND, Neb, Ark, LSU, OU) Abe Robinson, 6-6, 270, 4.9, Jersey Village (UT Commitment) William Winston, 6-6, 330, 5.3, Houston Madison (A&M, UT, UCLA, LSU, Mia) Mike Garcia, 6-5, 280, 5.2, Galena Park (UT Commitment) * * * * Will Allen, 6-5, 300, 5.2, Cypress Falls (UT Commitment) Terrance Young, 6-6, 330, 5.5, Longview (UT Commitment) Bryan Kegans, 6-6, 305, 5.2, Stephenville (Texas Tech Commitment Shane Simms, 6-2, 300, 4.9, Tomball (TCU Commitment) Roman Reeves, 6-6, 295, 5.2, Livingston (UT Commitment) E. J. Whitley, 6-5, 290, 5.3, Texas City (Kentucky Commitment) Clint O'Neal, 6-6, 290, 5.2, Weatherford (Colorado Commitment) Defensive End (8) Kevin Everett, 6-5, 235, 4.6, Port Arthur Jefferson (UT, ND, Colo, Pur, Mia= ) Simeon Jones, 6-3, 240, 4.7, Houston Jones (A&M, UH, Colo, UT, Bay) Lawrence Hooper, 6-4, 255, 4.7, Aldine (A&M, PSU, LSU, Colo, Fla, OSU, UCLA= ) * * * * Jamie Jackson, 6-3, 225, 4.7 Andrews (TT, OU, A&M, UT) McKenzie Tilmon, 6-3, 235, 4.7, Irving MacArthur (KSU, UT, A&M, Tenn) Colin Allred, 6-3, 225, 4.7, Dallas Hillcrest (UT, Neb, TT, TCU, Mich) Bret Rayl, 6-7, 265, 4.9, Lewisville (A&M, FSU, OU, PSU, TCU) Quintene Newhouse, 6-2, 250, 4.7, Emory Rains (A&M, Ky, Mich, UT, Bay, TCU) Defensive Tackle (7) Tommie Harris, 6-3, 280, 4.8, Killeen Ellison (UT, FSU, A&M, Mia, Neb, LSU) Thomas Derricks, 6-0, 275, 4.9, Dallas Jesuit (PSU, ND, Neb, A&M, TCU) Fred Thwreat, 6-2, 300, 4.9, Midland Lee (A&M, UT, TT, Az) * * * * Clayton Harmon, 6-6, 260, 5.1, Stephenville (Texas Tech Commitment) Sharod McGowan, 6-2, 250, 4.7, Waco (A&M, UT, TT, NC, OU, NC) Brandon Goodlett, 6-2, 280, 5.1, Conroe (Ky, OU, Neb, UT) Jeremy Calahan, 6-3, 260, 5.0, Pflugerville (UT, ND, A&M, OSU, Stan, TCU, V= an) Outside Linebacker (6) Derrick Johnson, 6-3, 205, 4.5, Waco (UT, FSU, A&M, Ark, OU) Jonathon Jackson, 6-3, 225, 4.56, GP North Shore (UT, A&M, Mia, Colo, PSU) Lance McFarland, 6-1, 225, 4.6, Jefferson (UT Commitment) * * * * Lee Foliaki, 6-2, 200, 4.5, Euless Trinity (A&M, UT, FSU, Neb, KSU, TCU) Shawn Willis 6-2, 215, 4.6, Flatonia (A&M, FSU, Bay, TT) Inside Linebacker (2) Yamil Lebron, 6-2, 240, 4.7, Killeen Ellison (UT Commitment) * * * * Jeff Billings, 6-2, 232, 4.7, Pasadena Rayburn (A&M, Ky, Az, ASU, NW) Cornerback (6) Byron Jones, 5-10, 180, 4.4, Bay City (LSU, UCLA, A&M, NW, Ark, Ky) Cedric Griffin, 6-1, 180, 4.4, San Antonio Holmes (UT Commitment) Danielle Manning, 5-11, 187, 4.4, Corsicana (A&M, UT, TCU, La Tech) Aaron Ross, 6-1, 180, 4.42, Tyler John Tyler (UT Commitment) * * * * Moses Harris, 6-1, 170, 4.4, Dallas Carter (FSU, OU, Mia, TCU, Gramb) Courtney Sterling, 5-7, 170, 4.4, Dallas Carter (Arizona State Commitment) Safety (5) Dewayne Brandon, 6-3, 198, 4.46, Temple (UT, Neb, FSU, Colo, Ky) Rufus Harris, 6-0, 180, 4.4, LaPorte (A&M, LSU, Az, Mia, UT) Kendall Briles, 5-10, 175, 4.5, Wolfforth Frenship (UT Commitment) * * * * Jarvis Mayes, 6-2, 180, 4.45, Dallas Kimball (A&M Commitment) Jaxson Appel, 6-0, 190, 4.5, Friendswood (A&M Commitment) Athlete (6) Joseph Addai, 6-1, 195, 4.5, Hstn Sharpstown (UT, Neb, Kan, Mich, A&M) Quan Cosby, 5-10, 180, 4.4, Mart (UT, A&M, UCLA, FSU, Bay) Gainus Scott, 5-9, 170, 4.4, La Porte (FSU, Az, Tenn, Mia, ASU, Ky) * * * * Ryan Gilbert, 5-11, 180, 4.4, Dallas Hillcrest (Mich, Neb, Mia, Tenn, FSU) Braden Johnson, 6-2, 200, 4.5, Euless Trinity (UT Commitment) Brian Carter, 5-11, 180, 4.5, The Woodlands (UT Commitment * * * * The 25 "Difference Makers" These are Texas' top 25 players, in my opinion, and I have seen all of them play, either on tape or in person: 1. DT Tommie Harris, Killeen Ellison 2. OL Jonathan Scott, Dallas Carter (Texas) 3. OL Jami Hightower, Jacksonville 4. LB Derrick Johnson, Waco 5. RB Cedric Benson, Midland Lee (Texas) 6. S Dewayne Brandon, Temple 7. RB David Underwood, Madisonville (Michigan) 8. C Ben Wilkerson, Hemphill 9. QB Matt Nordgren, Dallas Bishop Lynch 10. OL Abe Robinson, Jersey Village (Texas) 11. OL William Winston, Houston Madison 12. Ath Joseph Addai, Houston Sharpstown 13. DE Kevin Everett, Port Arthur Jefferson 14. WR Armon Dorrough, Lancaster 15. LB Jonathon Jackson, Galena Park North Shore 16. WR Brandon Jones, Texarkana Liberty Eylau 17. Ath Quan Cosby, Mart 18. WR Bennie Brazell, Houston Westbury 19. RB Anthony Johnson, Jefferson (Texas) 20. DE Simeon Jones, Houston Jones 21. CB Byron Jones, Bay City 22. DT Thomas Derricks, Dallas Jesuit 23. LB Lance McFarland, Jefferson (Texas) 24. CB Cedric Griffin, San Antonio Holmes (Texas) 25. RB Donta Hickson, McKinney UT Commitments (16) OFFENSE (9) Running Back (2) Cedric Benson, 5-11, 200, 4.5, Midland Lee Anthony Johnson, 5-11, 195, 4.4, Jefferson Line (7) Jonathan Scott, 6-7, 290, 4.9, Dallas Carter Abe Robinson, 6-6, 270, 4.9, Jersey Village Alfio Randall, 6-6, 300, 5.1, Blinn JC Mike Garcia, 6-5, 280, 5.2, Galena Park Will Allen, 6-5, 300, 5.2, Cypress Falls Roman Reeves, 6-6, 295, 5.2, Livingston Terrance Young, 6-6, 340, 5.5, Longview DEFENSE (7) Linebacker (2) Yamil LeBron, 6-2, 240, 4.7, Killeen Ellison Lance McFarland, 6-1, 225, 4.6, Jefferson Defensive Back (5) Cedric Griffin, 6-1, 180, 4.4, San Antonio Holmes Aaron Ross, 6-1, 182, 4.42, Tyler Kendal Briles, 5-10, 175, 4.5, Wolfforth Frenship Braden Johnson, 6-2, 200, 4.5, Euless Trinity Brian Carter, 5-11, 180, 4.5, The Woodlands Recruiting Roundup Brent Rawls, 6-5, 200, 4.7, of Shreveport Evangel, the top QB prospect in Louisiana, took his official visit to Texas last weekend. I saw him going into the Texas dressing room after the game and he looks to be about as big as advertised. He also appeared to be having a really good time. His parents came to Austin with him, which always is a good sign on an official visit. Look for Matt Nordgren of Dallas Bishop Lynch or Rawls to commit to the Longhorns within the next week to 10 days. Nordgren is the most likely futu= re Longhorn, but it could be Rawls. Actually, it's a great situation for the Longhorns because Nordgren is the top QB recruit in Texas and Rawls is the best one in Louisiana, so either o= ne would be a big catch. * * * * The Longhorns are still at 16 commitments. They will sign between 22 and 25 players, so there are six to nine spots left to fill. I think most of those spots will be filled from a group of 14 players consisting of Nordgren or Rawls; FB James Buchanan of Sarasota, Fla.; OLs Jami Hightower of Jacksonville and William Winston of Houston Madison; DLs Tommie Harris of Killeen Ellison and Kaelen Jakes of Placentia, Cal.; DEs Kevin Everett of Port Arthur Jefferson and Eric Hall of Clarksville, Tenn.; LB Derrick Johnson of Waco; S Dewayne Brandon of Temple; Ath Joseph Addai o= f Houston Sharpstown and the Galena Park North Shore duo of TE James Moses an= d DE/LB Jonathon Jackson. I think the Horns have at least 50-50 shots at Nordgren, Jakes, Everett, Hall, Johnson, Brandon and Addai. I'll be surprised if they don't sign four or five players from that group. Buchanan, Hightower, Winston, Harris, Jackson and Moses are all strongly considering Texas, but they also are looking at a lot of other schools. Texas really needs to sign Harris because he is a great defensive line=20 prospect who really would be a great fit in defensive coordinator Carl Reese's attacking style. This is a year when great offensive line prospects are plentiful, but great defensive linemen are scarce, and that is why Harris is such an important part of the Longhorn recruitizing puzzle. There is a chance some other big-time recruit will enter the picture, but most of the remaining scholarships will go to players in one of the two groups above. * * * * While big defensive line prospects are in short supply this year, I've already seen three juniors who will be big-time recruits next year. I've written about them before, but DTs Marco Martin, 6-4, 290, 4.8, of Mesquite, and Rodrique Wright, 6-4, 290, 5.0, of Alief Hastings are the rea= l deal and so is DE Travis Leitko, 6-5, 255, 4.7, of The Woodlands. Leitko ca= me to the Texas camp this summer. I have seen Wright and Leitko play twice each, and have seen Martin once an= d also watched a lot of tape of him playing running back and in the defensive line. Any college would take all three in a heartbeat if they were seniors. The program at Hastings lists Wright as weighing close to 350 pounds, but h= e looked more like a 270-to-290 pounder when I saw him play early this year against Galena Park North Shore. He was a lot heavier last year, but he has lost some weight and really is a great prospect. While I haven't seen them play, I also have heard good things about some other big defensive line juniors, including Damon Brown, 6-5, 265, 4.8, of Houston Washington; Tully Jontzen, 6-4, 270, 4.8, of Keller, and Jarre Rhodes, 6-6, 260, 4.8, of Dallas Lincoln, who also is a tight end. While we're on the subject of juniors, there is a great linebacker at Longview named Marvin Byrdsong. He is 6-3, weighs about 235 and runs in the 4.5 range. Other super juniors include QBs Reggie McNeal, 6-3, 190, 4.4, of Lufkin and Vincent Young, 6-5, 195, 4.5, of Houston Madison; RB Selvin Young, 5-11, 19= 5, 4.4, of Jersey Village; TE-OL Eric Winston, 6-6, 270, 5.0, Midland Lee, and DB Broderick Thomas, 6-1, 180, 4.4, of Longview. A True Orange Subscription Is The Gift You Can Get Every Year for Your Longhorn Friends A subscription to True Orange is the perfect gift for any occasion for a Longhorn who has everything else. It's only $45 ($35 by e-mail) and I'll send an attractive card announcing your thoughtful gift. The only thing better is a gift of True Orange and the True Orange Fax = =01) and you can give both for just $130 a year ($99 if they take both by e-mail= ). o I am enclosing $45 for a gift subscription ($35 e-mail) o I am enclosing $130 for a gift subscription to the newsletter and the fa= x ($99 e-mail) Name of Recipient Address (& fax no., if applicable) City, State, Zip Your Name Any Message You Want on Card Next Issue October 9 The next issue will be e-mailed on October 2 and will report on the big shootout with Oklahoma and preview the trip into the Rocky Mountains to tak= e on dangerous Colorado. I'll also have a lot of recruiting news, reports on men's and women's basketball and lots of other stories on the Longhorns' teams in the various sports. Tell Your Friends About True Orange If you like True Orange, be sure and tell your Longhorn friends about it. I can always use more subscribers. The more subscribers I have, the more resources I have to call recruits and coaches and do all the other things that give you an inside view of Longhorn sports. SUBSCRIPTION FORM I want to subscribe. I am enclosing $45 for the next year, which will inclu= de 26 issues. A two-year subscription is $85. For a one-year subscription via E-Mail, send $35. Name Street Address or Box Number or E-Mail Address City, State and Zip Code Remit to True Orange, P O Box 26530, Austin, TX 78755 Foreign Rates Available on Request. Phone 512-795-8536 E-Mail Address: truorange@aol.com GIFT SUBSCRIPTION FORM I want to give a gift subscription to True Orange. I am enclosing $45. Please send an appropriate gift card. For a gift subscription via E-Mail, send $35. Name of Person Receiving Gift Street Address or Box Number or E-Mail Address City, State and Zip Code Your Name