Longhorns land junior college linebacker
DeVondre Campbell, a three-star outside linebacker from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, has committed to Texas, according to a news release from the junior college, and will sign with the Longhorns on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-5-inch, 224pound Campbell becomes Texas’ 14th pledge for 2013 and the second from the junior college ranks, joining tight end Geoff Swaim of Butte (Calif.) Community College. Junior college players can sign on Wednesday.
Campbell, a native of Fort Myers, Fla., originally committed to Tennessee but reopened his recruitment after the Volunteers fired coach Derek Dooley. He visited Texas on Dec. 9 and also visited Minnesota. Campbell’s 88 tackles this season were second on the team. He recorded 8.5 tackles behind the line, 3.5 quarterback sacks, four hurries, three pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble.
Riley won’t name starter: The Longhorns named David Ash the starter for the Alamo Bowl on Monday, but don’t expect a similar decision from Oregon State’s Mike Riley soon.
Quarterbacks Sean Mannion and Cody Vaz are still very much in the thick of the race to start for the Beavers, but Riley said he doesn’t feel any pressure to announce a starter just yet.
“We are closer, but we haven’t said anything to the players,” Riley told The Oregonian. “With both of these guys, we’re pretty confident whoever we pick to start will go out there and play well.”
Mannion has appreciated the extra prep time, even if he’s still not sure if it will pay off come Dec. 29.
“To have so much time is kind of a new thing for me,” Mannion said. “You can focus on details that you might not be able to think about during a short week.”
Tickets update: About 500 tickets remain for general public sale to the Alamo Bowl. Seats are $65 and can be ordered online at TexasBoxOffice.com or by calling (512) 471-3333.
The game will be televised by ESPN.
Injury updates: Texas will be without starting left guard Trey Hopkins, who will have surgery next month on a lower-leg stress fracture and miss both the bowl game and spring football. Oregon State receiver Brandin Cooks (bruised knee) returned to practice.