Texas team intel 9 days out from the opener against Rice
With just 9 days until Texas takes on the Rice Owls in the season opener we’ll get the latest on position battles, quarterback Quinn Ewers, and the team’s practice schedule.
Return to in-season schedule
In anticipation of game week next week, the program has returned to its normal in-season practice schedule.
Monday is for corrections from the previous week where teaching is a primary focus. The offense will work on looks it wants to improve with the defense trying to foil them, then they’ll change roles.
That’s followed by ‘Bloody Tuesday’. It lives up to its name with physicality on the agenda. The players will be in full pads going pretty much full speed.
Wednesday is a more muted version of that, though it’s still pretty physical.
Thursday is back to being more tame in anticipation of having the players better rested for the upcoming game.
Position Battles
Just when I thought battles were pretty much decided, it sounds like Gavin Holmes is making a spirited push to start opposite Ryan Watts. Holmes has tightened up the race with Terrance Brooks, the expected starter at field cornerback. Holmes is known to be very sticky in coverage, even against UT’s quality receiving corp. To our knowledge, Brooks has done nothing wrong. It’ll be interesting to see whose name is atop the chart, but both will play quite a bit either way. Holmes is peaking.
I’m expecting Malik Muhammad to backup Watts, at least to start the season. He’s physical enough for the position but more smooth in coverage than Watts. It’ll be interesting to see how much the coaches rotate. Muhammad has shown he’s ready to play.
Per our sources it appears set for David Gbenda and Ethan Burke to start at Will/Dime linebacker and Buck outside linebacker respectively. Gbenda is “mostly” assignment sound and Burke has done better against the run of late.
At right guard, we expect DJ Campbell to start, though Cole Hutson will also play.
Quinn Ewers
“Quinn has looked really sharp this week, he’s been connecting deep.” The second-year Texas starter is in the middle of what is probably his best week of practice yet. That stands to reason as he continually improves, but still great to hear. He’s in much better rhythm with his receivers than last year.
Sources believe he’s poised for a big year.
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