Texas is getting the most out of few remaining '18 and '19 signees
Between the 2018 and 2019 classes Texas signed 53 players. Today, just 11 remain with the team. Surprisingly, 7 of those players are from the 2018 class, meaning only four remain from 2019. That’s a whole other post, but 2019 was heavily influenced by out of state recruiting and that will factor in departures when things aren’t going well.
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Not every player has been a bust, of course. From the 2018 class, Caden Sterns and Joseph Ossai are in the NFL and Cameron Rising is starring at Utah. From 2019, former five-star Bru McCoy successfully transferred twice more and is now playing a key role at resurgent Tennessee. That’s about it from that class.
Steve Sarkisian’s major offseason job was to revamp the roster as quickly as possible. To do that he needed minimal dead weight in order to bring in as many new players as allowable who fit his schemes and culture.
The list below highlights Sark’s stellar roster management and also his staff’s ability to develop. Just as it’s supposed to be, each of these players are playing the best football of their career as seniors.
2018
LB DeMarvion Overshown: Second on the team in tackles (44, 4 tfl, 1.5 sacks), first on the team in drawing erroneous flags that removed big plays. Still not the most natural at “linebacking things” but he is improved on the basics. He’s great in space and a good leader. Between position changes and injuries throughout his career, he’s playing well.
DB Anthony Cook: Lack of long speed would be a killer for many corners but because Cook has so many compensatory traits he was able to move to Star last year and field safety this season. He has been incredibly consistent, a great leader, and a sound tackler. Cook has proven tough, smart, and dependable. Along with Jerrin Thompson, he has turned a severe program weakness into a strength.
DT Keondre Coburn: “Snacks” has been feasting up front and not just as a run stopper. Getting in better shape has added quickness and helped his ability to get in the back field. Play-strength might even be improved. Sure, he’s aided by a deep bench keeping him fresh, but he’s a big part of that too. Coburn’s draft stock is way up.
OL Junior Angilau: Judging by the amount of development by everyone else in the class we can assume Angilau’s season ending injury in August was a big loss. Hopefully he returns to compete in the interior. If so, I bet he finishes his career strong like every other remaining member of his recruiting class.
CB D’Shawn Jamison: Jamison has always had electric athleticism and playmaking ability. The question has always been, can he do the little things that yield consistency? That answer this season has been YES. Tempering his innate aggressiveness to stick with his route on Saturday kept OU from making a big play on the would-be Drake Stoops pass. It also encapsulated Jamison’s growth.
DL Moro Ojomo: Ojomo was pretty good last year and suffered some guilt by association with the overall defense, but he has improved this season. He was surely missed against Texas Tech. He’s great with his hands and using his body mechanics to defeat defenders. I’ve always likened him to Ta’Quon Graham, and Graham is becoming quite the player for the Atlanta Falcons.
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OT Christian Jones: In my eyes he’s easily the most improved player in the program and this year that is saying something. Jones always possessed the raw tools, and has been a solid run blocker in his career, but this season he’s put it all together and is on pace to earn All-Conference and a nice draft grade.
2019
WR Jordan Whittington: J-Whit leads the team in receptions but he’s so much more than that. His physical, selfless play is on par with Roschon Johnson’s. He’s also pretty clutch and has played an integral role in Sark’s early play calling scripts. Whether against Alabama, West Virginia, or OU, Whittington has done a lot of work to soften up defenses and extend drives. When not making big catches over the middle and down the sideline, he’s beating up would-be tacklers.
LB David Gbenda: After the staff added Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey in the offseason Gbenda is having a quiet year but I believe he has good football ahead of him as the roster thins this offseason. Certainly the staff is developing the position as evidenced by Overshown and Jaylan Ford.
RB Roschon Johnson: He’s up for the Paul Hornung award which you can vote for if you like. He would vote for you. He’s the leader of the team with a play-style similar to Whittington’s. They do the little things and they do the big things and they do them with their hair on fire.
DT T’Vondre Sweat: A problem with interior linemen is they don’t always get the credit they deserve. Many of their great plays are obscured by mass humanity and don’t even show up in the boxscore. That’s been Sweat this year and you can bet NFL scouts will notice. Here is one play we all saw on Saturday.
Closing
The proof is in the pudding, this staff can develop, even players who were further along and seemingly have less ’new tricks’ to learn. There are no finished products in this program. Sark also understands roster management because the upperclassmen at Texas are all contributing if not outright balling.
