Christian Jones reveals Top Gun callsign nicknames for each starting Texas lineman

The Texas offensive line is a close-knit bunch, and it’s evident they’re fans of the Top Gun movie franchise.

According to offensive tackle Christian Jones, the group has callsigns, like Tom Cruise’s character Maverick and Val Kilmer’s Iceman. After a victory in Week 3 over UTSA, Joe Cook of Inside Texas relayed the information to the world.

Texas offensive lineman Top Gun callsigns, per Jones:

• Kelvin Banks — Bankroll
• Hayden Conner — Cornbread
• Jake Majors — Shortstack
• Cole Hutson — Sprinkles
• Christian Jones — Hitman

Those are some pretty awesome callsigns for the hulking offensive line of the Longhorns. The only thing that could make it better is if the entire team had them, because if Quinn Ewers‘ mullet is any indication, he could come up with something pretty creative.

Nevertheless, good times are rolling in Austin, and the Longhorns will be looking for them to continue in Week 4. Texas takes on Texas Tech in their first Big 12 showdown of the season on Saturday.

Enjoy it, there won’t be many showdowns between the Longhorns and Red Raiders in the future, so Week 4’s matchup will have some extra juice to it.

Steve Sarkisian provides updates on Quinn Ewers, Maalik Murphy, availabilty for Texas Tech game

Moreover, Quinn Ewers will travel to Lubbock and suit up for Texas when the Longhorns play Texas Tech this weekend, head coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday, according to Inside Texas’ Joe Cook. Sarkisian did not specify if the sophomore transfer quarterback will play for the first time since injuring his shoulder against Alabama in Week 2.

Fellow quarterbacks — both of whom were or are banged up to varying degrees — Hudson Card and Maalik Murphy will also travel, Sarkisian said. A fourth quarterback, presumably Charles Wright, will also make the trip. 

With Ewers sidelined last week against UTSA, Texas turned to Card for the start. The junior, who had taken the reins in the heat of the moment against Alabama a week prior and almost led a win on a bad leg, himself, didn’t need to do much for Texas to topple the Roadrunners.

Card went 15-for-23 for 161 yards and touchdown as the Longhorns rolled behind 202 total yards and three touchdowns from running back Bijan Robinson. 

The improved health of the quarterback room is keeping with the recent trend for Texas, as Sarkisian noted earlier in the week that all the quarterbacks practiced.

Teams are only allowed to dress 70 players for road games so the inclusion of Ewers and the other quarterbacks is a good sign they’re on the right track, even if they don’t play on Saturday.