Texas
Longhorns

Texas Team Report

Updated: February 03, 2012 02:03 EST

Mack Brown and the Texas Longhorns rebounded from a losing record in 2010 to reach the Holiday Bowl in 2011. But let's be honest -- there's nobody wearing burnt orange that has that as the goal.

At Texas, it's all about winning titles. And Brown hopes the returning core of players, combined with a 28-man incoming class that's among the top-rated in the country, puts the Longhorns in position to do so.

Eighteen of last year's 22 signees saw the field in 2011, and it wouldn't be a shock if that many were factors again in 2012. It's a confident group that looks ready to come in and compete.

"This year, I am excited about the kids. There wasn't much drama with them," Brown said. "They pretty much wanted to come. I like classes that don't worry about who is there. I have always felt like if someone is asking about the depth chart all the time, they are probably very insecure. If you are worried about whether you can play, I'm not sure that is what I am looking for."

Insecure players wouldn't seem to be a great fit anyway at a school like Texas, where it's BCS or bust. The Longhorns staff determined that the talent base needed a serious jolt after that disastrous 2010, and this class is another reason for optimism that this rejuvenation is taking place as spring practice looms. It's the second-best class in the country according to Rivals, a salve for the fans who were questioning whether this is a group good enough to contend for the national championship.

And don't expect most of these guys to stay on the sidelines.

"I would not be surprised if 18 of these guys probably play," Brown said. "We might be the youngest team again next year with some of these guys playing."

TOP OF THE CLASS

RB Johnathan Gray (Aledo HS, Aledo, Texas.) -- One of the top running backs in the country, Gray was a Parade, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and ESPNHS All-American and on virtually every all-state team in Texas. Even with all the depth at running back at Texas, the national record holder for touchdowns who led his team to three state titles will be hard to keep off the field.

DT Malcom Brown (Brenham HS, Brenham, Texas) -- This five-star recruit (Rivals) was an All-State selection as a senior and ranked as one of the top defensive linemen in the country. He's quick off the ball, gets low quickly and has the strength to overpower opposing offensive linemen.

OT Donald Hawkins (Northwest Mississippi Community College, Tunica, Miss.) -- Hawkins was a Junior College All-American in 2011 and started both of his years at the school. He wasn't signed to sit on the bench; odds are good that he'll contend for a starting job in 2012, especially since he has already enrolled and will participate in spring practice.

-- DT Calvin Howell reportedly was an outgoing transfer following the season. He played in all 13 games in 2011 and would have entered the spring as a candidate to replace Kheeston Randall as the starter.

--Texas got good news on Signing Day when Toshiro Davis faxed in his letter of intent. The No. 2 prospect in Louisiana, Davis was thought to be staying home and heading to LSU, but instead the defensive lineman immediately becomes a candidate to see a lot of playing time in 2012.

--Six members of the incoming class have enrolled early and will participate in spring practice. Junior-college offensive lineman Donald Hawkins and defensive tackle Brandon Moore, and freshman quarterback Connor Brewer, offensive lineman Camrhon Hughes, offensive tackle Donald Hawkins and defensive tackle Brandon Moore began classes in January.

SPRING SNAPSHOT:

Practice begins/ends: Feb. 23/April 1

Practice priorities: The big competition will be at quarterback, where David Ash and Case McCoy will be joined by early enrollee Connor Brewer in an open competition for the starting job this fall. But there are a number of positional battles to watch, and one of the under-the-radar fights will be at tight end, where the team is thin enough that Mack Brown is talking about raiding the defense for bodies. "(Defensive coordinator) Manny (Diaz) asked me, 'Are we going to play 12 tight ends? Every time you all mention something, every player on defense now is going to be a tight end.'"

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Everybody has a good recruiting class. It never changes. The truth is: What will it look like in four years? What will it look like in five years? If you go back and study, that's our job. That's the young man's job. This is a starting point. This isn't the finishing. We need to make sure that we do a great job of bringing these guys along, making them productive players and hoping that their experience is good at the University of Texas and that they can win a lot of football games." -- coach Mack Brown.

KEY LOSSES: Fozzy Whittaker is a big loss because he was one of the team leaders, he was a standout kick returner and capable runner, and he quarterbacked the team's Wildcat formation. Don't be surprised to see freshmen take on those roles in 2012. The defense loses Holiday Bowl MVP Keenan Robinson and fellow linebacker Emmanuel Acho, as well as defensive lineman Kheeston Randall and safety Blake Gideon, who had his limitations but was a four-year fixture in the secondary. Don't overlook kicker Justin Tucker, as the Longhorns are going to have to find a replacement for the hero of the victory over Texas A&M.

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2012:

QB David Ash -- It's safe to say the passing game will have to improve for the Longhorns to contend for the Big 12 title. Ash split time with Case McCoy in his freshman season, and played well at times, but also showed a propensity for turnovers. He'll have to make better decisions with the ball in 2012, but if he can, that, along with the Longhorns' potent rushing attack, will make this a hard team to stop.

CB Quandre Diggs -- Diggs was a Freshman All-American pick after picking off four passes, forcing a pair of fumbles and making 49 tackles. Though he's short at 5-9, he's got the speed and the hands to be a difference-maker, and the ups and downs of his freshman season should leave him in position to take more of a leadership role as a sophomore.

DL Jackson Jeffcoat -- Jeffcoat will miss the spring after undergoing surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle suffered in the victory over Texas A&M. He's an all-Big 12 candidate if he can stay healthy, but that's been a struggle for him in his first two years with the program.

RB Malcolm Brown -- As a freshman, Brown seized the starting tailback job from Fozzy Whittaker and was on pace to become the first Longhorn to rush for more than 1,000 yards since Jamaal Charles when he got hurt. Now he faces competition to keep the starting job, from fellow rising sophomore Joe Bergeron and freshman Johnathan Gray.

PLAYER NOTES

--S Kenny Vaccaro didn't waste much time exploring his NFL options, announcing after the Holiday Bowl that he'd return for his senior season. He'll be a Thorpe Award candidate as a senior and will get to play with younger brother Kevin, an incoming freshman.

--DE Jackson Jeffcoat will miss spring practice to rest his shoulder following offseason surgery. He should be ready to return by summer.

--TE Luke Poehlmann had his knee scoped after the Holiday Bowl, but the senior should be ready to go by spring practice.

--DB Adrian Phillips underwent shoulder surgery in January and is expected to be sidelined 4-6 months.

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