Longhorns back to it after COVID pause
Battles at LB, OL among issues on spring to-do list
AUSTIN — Texas resumed spring practice Thursday after a weeklong pause because of COVID-19 protocols.
And while coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t have a full roster available, he was just happy to be back on the field for the Longhorns’ second of 15 scheduled practices.
“It was great to get back with the guys,” Sarkisian said. “I think there was good intent coming out to work. Clearly, we had a little bit of rustiness. We’ve got to make sure we’ve got as close to a full allotment of players as we can, so that was the decision to kind of push back (practice).”
Sarkisian is still getting a feel for this team about three months after Texas plucked the former offensive coordinator from Alabama. He’s also dealing with the recent fallout of losing senior linebacker Juwan Mitchell, who entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.
Mitchell had a mercurial tenure at Texas since transferring from Butler Community College in June 2019. He was in and out of the starting lineup as a sophomore, logging 39 tackles, 3½ tackles for loss and three sacks.
But last season Mitchell found more stable footing and started eight of 10 games, recording a teamhigh 62 tackles, 4½ tackles for loss and one fumble recovery.
If Mitchell does transfer, Texas’ depth at linebacker will take a significant hit. Aside from senior DeMarvion Overshown, who broke out last season after transitioning from safety, there’s not a wealth of experienced talent at the position.
“He’s in the portal and I think that, for us, we coach the guys we have,” Sarkisian said. “We’ve got some good young players at that position. New scheme, so we’re still working our way through a little bit of the growing pains of things being new. You focus on what you have, not necessarily what you don’t have.
“I don’t really have concern for the position right now. But that’s a position you find out more about when you get pads on. For the first two days we’ve just been in helmets, so we’ll find out more as we move forward.”
Sarkisian and his staff still have plenty to figure out on offense, too. The depth chart at several positions, including quarterback, isn’t likely to be set in stone until August.
And while the QB1 battle between junior Casey Thompson and redshirt freshman Hudson Card will be the most compelling and impactful, Sarkisian and offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Kyle Flood still have to decide how all the pieces fit in the trenches.
Redshirt freshman Jake Majors started Texas’ final two games at center last season and anchored a line that helped tailback Bijan Robinson rush for 172 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries in the Alamo Bowl. He has the inside track to starting there again, with senior Derek Kerstetter (who suffered an ankle injury late last season) likely to shift to tackle.
But Sarkisian noted junior Rafiti Ghirmai also was competing with Majors at center.
“The center position is a relatively integral part,” Sarkisian said. “Clearly, he makes a lot of our calls at the line of scrimmage and needs to do it in a timely fashion. I think Jake Majors is off to a pretty good start. I think Rafiti is off to a pretty good start at the center spot. Both competitive. Both high football IQ guys who are super athletic.
“Nothing is really set in stone on the offensive line. Coach Flood is really rotating those guys quite a bit right now, even a couple guys at different positions, just to kind of see how they gel together.”
The biggest questions on offense revolve around the wide receiver depth chart.
After spending the past few seasons coaching the likes of DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle, Sarkisian inherits a roster without a bona fide No. 1 wideout. Junior Joshua Moore flashed at times last season and led Texas in receptions (30), receiving yards (472) and receiving touchdowns (nine). He also recorded two or fewer receptions in half of his outings.
Junior Jake Smith has the look of an electric slot receiver, but he averaged only 3.2 catches and 42 yards per game in 2020. Smith also broke his foot on the first day of spring practice and will miss the rest of the sessions to rehab.
Behind those two, Texas has to hope dynamic sophomore Jordan Whittington can stay healthy and redshirt freshman Kelvontay Dixon can become a reliable deep threat.
“I think you get a sense of the guys that have maybe played a little bit more football,” Sarkisian said. “Josh Moore’s played more football. J-Whitt’s played more football. But whether it’s Kelvontay or Marcus Washington, Jaden Alexis, a lot of these guys now are starting to get a little more comfortable. But we’ve got a long way to go.”