Position Rating: C+
Starters: Rashad Bobino, Roddrick Muckelroy, Sergio Kindle
Reserves: Jared Norton, Keenan Robinson, Emmanuel Acho
Linebacker has been a position of much consternation for the Longhorns since Derrick Johnson left the 40 Acres. A good way to ruin a perfectly good time last season was to bring up linebacker play around a bunch of Texas fans. This year might be different as there are guys all over the depth chart that have fans excited.
Probably the player the Texas fanbase is most excited about is starting strongside linebacker Sergio Kindle. Fans have been awaiting his arrival since the moment he committed to the Horns back in 2005. Injuries have slowed down his career so far but now as a junior he may be ready to explode on the scene. Backing him up is Keenan Robinson, a redshirt freshman who coaches are incredibly high on.
At middle linebacker Rashad Bobino is entering his fourth year starting for the Horns. Bobino isn’t the biggest or most athletic guy but he’s smart and plays well in space. Despite Bobino’s experience he’s being pushed hard by his backup, sophomore Jared Norton. Officially listed as a co-starter, Norton is the prototypical middle linebacker who had to lighten up to be able to run with the many spread offenses in the Big 12. Norton will knock your block off and may play more than Bobino against certain teams and in certain situations.
Starting on the weakside is Roddrick Muckelroy. Muckelroy was a starter back in his redshirt freshman season and has finally earned his spot back late last season in the Holiday Bowl. He moves well but also isn’t afraid to knock your lights out. His athletic potential had Texas fans screaming that he should be in there all last season. Behind Muckelroy is true freshman Emmanuel Acho. Some questioned his recruitment but Sam’s little bro definitely is making the jump from TAPPS to the big leagues look easy.
If I was grading purely on potential this group would be much higher. Bobino is the only player we truly know what he’s capable of, but the talent is most definitely there and if Muck and Kindle come on like they should this unit could actually be a team strength by midseason. This has been a position of weakness for years and a big improvement here would solidify the Horns against both the run and the pass.
Related Links
Posted August 26th, 2008 by Brian
Filed under: Depth Chart, Football
Football season is so close you can smell it. Less than a week from now the Longhorns will finally take the field for the 2008 season against FAU and today Mack Brown and Co. released the first official depth chart of the year. We wouldn’t be true Texas fans if the first thing we did wasn’t overanalyze and complain about it, so of course we’ve done that below:
General Thoughts
- Lots of OR’s all over the place like every year. Harder to complain this year because there’s a ton of youngsters on at least one side of the conjunctions.
- Looks like there will also be a lot of situational players as well. There are several places where players (e.g., Aaron Lewis) are listed as co-starters with very different complementary players.
- Lots of youth in general, including several true freshmen. There may be some games this year where you’re yelling at the television set because of the mistakes but 2008 and 2009 should be exciting.
Offense
- No Malcolm Williams anywhere at wide receiver. Not in the top 3 at either flanker or split end. True freshman Dan Buckner right behind Quan Cosby is encouraging but overall no Williams seems like bigger story. Let’s hope the light comes on.
- Former tackle Greg Smith has been back at the position for less than two weeks but he’s already listed ahead of Peter Ullman as the blocking tight end.
- Michael Huey vs. Cedric Dockery vs. Charlie Tanner at guard. Everyone has been raving about Huey throughout fall camp but most believed he’d be cutting into Tanner’s reps not Dockery’s. The general opinion (and we all know that’s never wrong) is that Dockery is the better of the returning guards but Huey is listed behind him. Is there a strategic reason the coaches believe Huey should stay at right guard?
- The 12 names and 5 OR’s confuse me at running back. What exactly is going on there?
Posted February 7th, 2008 by Brian
Filed under: Football, Recruiting
The big one got away today (under suspicious circumstances) but the 2008 Texas recruiting class is still a good one. Mack Brown and the Horns signed 20 young athletes to letters of intent, nine of which are already on campus for the spring semester.
The class is headlined by defensive backs Aaron Williams and DJ Monroe, who along with safety Nolan Brewster, should anchor the Texas defensive backfield for the next four or five years. On the offensive side WR/RB DeSean Hales is electric with the football in his hands and wide receiver Dan Buckner is huge and will catch anything thrown in his general direction.
Here’s the full list of signees:
| Name | Position | Rating | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmanuel Acho | LB |  |
Dallas |
| Nolan Brewster | DB | |
Denver, CO |
| Mark Buchanan | OL | |
Austin |
| Dan Buckner | WR | |
Allen |
| Brock Fitzhenry | RB | |
Giddings |
| Blake Gideon | DB | |
Leander |
| DJ Grant | WR | |
Austin |
| DeSean Hales | RB | |
Klein |
| Antoine Hicks | ATH | |
Mansfield |
| Jeremy Hills | RB | |
Alief |
| Jarvis Humphrey | DT | |
Cedar Hill |
| Dravannti Johnson | LB | |
Nederland |
| DJ Monroe | DB | |
Angleton |
| Tre Newton | RB | |
Southlake |
| Luke Poehlmann | OL | |
Brenham |
| Kheeston Randall | DT | |
Beaumont |
| Ryan Roberson | RB | |
Brenham |
| David Snow | OL | |
Gilmer |
| Justin Tucker | K | |
Austin |
| Aaron Williams | DB | |
Round Rock |
Congratulations to the newest Texas Longhorns!
Posted February 12th, 2007 by Brian
Filed under: Football, Recruiting
Just like last year the 2008 recruiting season is just a few weeks old and the Longhorns have already bagged nine of the top recruits in the state.
The headliners of the group are possible 5-star wide receiver Dan Buckner out of Allen and offensive lineman David Snow from Gilmer. Buckner is big (6-foot-5) and fast (4.5 forty), he could be the next number 4 out at wide receiver for the Horns. Some have Buckner rated as the top receiver in the country.
I’m also excited about Justin Tucker, a kicker out of Austin Westlake. Tucker is the nation’s top rated kicker and the Horns didn’t let this one get out of their own backyard (see Mason Crosby). Tucker will be a redshirt freshman when Hunter Lawrence is a senior, meaning we’re actually stacking the roster and won’t have to rely on a true freshman walk-on kicker for once.
2008 Commits
- LB Emmanuel Acho - Dallas
- OL Mark Buchanan - Austin
- WR Dan Buckner - Allen
- ATH Brock Fitzhenry - Giddings
- RB Jeremy Hills - Alief
- DB DJ Monroe - Angleton
- RB Ryan Roberson - Brenham
- OL David Snow - Gilmer
- K Justin Tucker - Austin
- DB Aaron Williams - Round Rock
Update: Added Emmanuel Acho to the list as his commitment became official this morning. The 6-foot-2 linebacker out of Dallas St. Mark’s is of course 2007 signee Sam Acho’s little brother. Check out some great video highlights of Emmanuel.
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