Frosh DT Leaves Team ($)
Freshman defensive tackle Derek Johnson has reportedly left the team to return home to Hoxie, Arkansas. The team expects Johnson to return by August 8, when fall practice starts. After reports of Johnson feeling homesick, the expected contributor returned home for personal reasons that are not currently being disclosed. Johnson had reportedly impressed teammates with his physical strength.
Update: Chip Brown is now reporting ($) that Michael Wilcoxon is leaving the team as well, though it looks like his absence will be permanent and based on a perceived lack of playing time. Muschamp must be ready to throw Howell and Johnson (if he does end up returning) into the fire as freshmen.
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Raw
He is an extremely raw talent that and as I recall is relatively new to DT… I believe that his Arky HS coach had him playing DE as a 300 pounder.
Doesn’t seem like too big a deal, guy needs to go home for a few weeks and get it together. He’ll be fine, and in all likelihood is not / was never expected to hit the field this year.
Probably should have said
that either he or Howell will probably need to contribute some depth this year.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jul 13, 2009 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Wow, of all the positions...
He was one of my favorites of the incoming class. Nothing but bad news these last few weeks.
So hes going home for three weeks?
And is returning in time for practice? Does that really constitute leaving the team, or hurt his chances of contributing this year?
by BoddickerIsClutch on Jul 13, 2009 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Also a non-insider here,
but I would think that it certainly doesn’t help his chances of contributing as a true frosh. Always worrisome when out-of-state kids are homesick to this degree this early in the process. Hopefully GoBR can give some more details.
So when was the last time we had some good off-season football news again?
As much as we like to think Austin’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, homesickness is no joke, and hopefully Johnson can relax a little bit at home and continue his college career at UT shortly. We can ill-afford more attrition at the DT position. I imagine he was likely to redshirt anyway; that seems all but certain, now.
Is he missing practice?
I thought spring ball was done, and hes supposed to be back in time for Fall Practice?
Or did I miss something here? Granted, Im not an in$ider…
by BoddickerIsClutch on Jul 13, 2009 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions
My understanding
is that the defensive linemen do drills while the rest of the team participates in 7-on-7. I imagine there is also conditioning and weight lifting.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jul 13, 2009 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Maybe we can make him feel a little more home on his return
Anyone have a banjo or know someone who can squeal like a pig?
I keed, I keed.
"From the waist down, Earl Campbell has the biggest legs I have ever seen on a running back." -John Madden
Nah
He was probably really freaked out to learn that most people still have the majority of their teeth
sigh
a. This group of comments started as a joke, all of us were joking
b. Why would any recruit make their decision based on a message board
c. Lighten up
"From the waist down, Earl Campbell has the biggest legs I have ever seen on a running back." -John Madden
by run Bevo run on Jul 14, 2009 6:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Not worried at all
The family atmosphere that Coach Brown has created within the football team will be enough for the kid once he gets back from visiting home. I bet he just misses mom’s home cooking.
DJ seems like a good kid. As others have said, he seemed to be a bit of a project, turning from a stand-up defensive end into a down tackle, so it’s entirely possible he would have redshirted either way. It’s hard to say whether or not missing unofficial practices for a couple weeks will hurt his chances of contributing, although he’s definitely the type of kid who could stand to benefit from being in the heat and getting extra conditioning before two-a-days start. That’s not to say that he’s flabby or anything, but he’s a hefty kid who was so talented that he almost certainly never had to push himself to the degree he’ll be pushed come August 8th.
by burntorangehorn on Jul 13, 2009 6:32 PM CDT reply actions
Yeah, I know. Apparently his coach had him as an end in a two-point stance most of the time.
by burntorangehorn on Jul 14, 2009 8:22 AM CDT up reply actions
Rare is the out of stater who redshirts
It seems to me Mack makes certain to get his few out-of-staters on the field at the earliest opportunity. I’ve guessed this is to get those players “into the family” more rapidly than a redshirt can.
In recent seasons, Houston, Brewster, Alexander, Lewis, the other Houston (2005), Irby played as true freshmen. Several of them seemed like redshirt candidates. Couple of the stud offensive linemen (Sendlein, Studdard) did redshirt in 2002, but ALL offensive linemen at that time redshirted, and both were legacies as well.
I would expect Derek Johnson to play this season, assuming he returns in three weeks.
I thought Irby was a redshirt frosh last season. No?
by burntorangehorn on Jul 13, 2009 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions
No, Irby played as a true freshman in 11 games in 2007.
by TexasGarcia37 on Jul 13, 2009 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Good point. It’s easier to get lost in the “system” when you’re redshirting because you have fewer responsibilities/commitments and you don’t travel with the team.
I thought there was a report that DJ had a better game at the US Army game than Howell. What DJ lacked in experience and technique, he made up with incredible strength and a constant motor. Being thin at DT, I thought he’d get some playing time.
The pride and winning tradition of The University of Texas will not be entrusted to the weak or the timid.
Hook'em
Johnson did not play in that game.
Howell actually performed a little bit better than McFarland. Technique is definitely a problem with Johnson, though I think his incredible strength would probably be enough to make it into the rotation.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jul 13, 2009 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions
orangebloods
said two DT’s are leaving and one isn’t coming back? Who is the 2nd DT leaving?
The post is updated now.
Apparently Wilcoxon is leaving due to lack of playing time.
No that was about rumors circulating that Eddie Jones was having more problems.
Supposedly they ended up being false and Jones is fine, thankfully.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jul 13, 2009 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Seriously
A DT leaves the team for perceived lack of playing time? Is Colt going to have to start playing both ways now?
WTF
I never do this...
… but if the kid left our program in its current state as a DT because he wasn’t going to get to play, then there are two explanations:
1.) Coaches made it clear to him somehow that he didn’t have the chops and/or wasn’t working hard enough for them to put him on the field.
2.) This is bullcrap and he has bad grades like some of our “playing time” transfers.
Not really technically a lie
because if you don’t make the grades you wont be getting any playing time
Homesick
Don’t any of you remember having friends or knowing someone that had a hard time adjusting at school? I remember most of these guys were from smaller schools and had less relationships already established. I came from a big Houston area school, so I knew tons of people in Austin already. But I remember my freshman year and how much trouble some other guys were having making the adjustments. This isn’t just a football player phenomenon for kids for a kid to be a bit overwhelmed initially.
It also has to be pretty intimidating to be a freshman football player at Texas. I just hope that he is able to make the adjustment and return to a succesful career.
My step brother went to play football at a small school out in west texas. Unfortunately, he was just too far away from home (Beuamont area) and couldnt take it. He left to go back home with is mom out of no where.
Going from deep East Texas to West Texas is tough by itself.
It takes a month or so just to adjust to the lack of humidity.
Yeah, the change in humidity is drastic. That was one of the first things I noticed when I moved to Austin in the middle of the summer. It felt so much better to me. I could walk outside at night and it didn’t feel like I had to swim to get to my car!
Of course, now I live in Houston… :(
Really? I’ve always thought of Austin as fairly humid.
by burntorangehorn on Jul 15, 2009 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions
I have indeed. Quite a bit, in fact. I think Houston and KC are each a lot more humid than Austin, but if you think Austin’s humid, clearly you’ve never lived in Sierra Vista, AZ.
by burntorangehorn on Jul 16, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions
*that’s supposed to read, “…if you think Austin’s dry, clearly you’ve never lived in Sierra Vista, AZ.”
by burntorangehorn on Jul 16, 2009 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions
I was homesick as hell the summer after
I graduated from HS and started at UT. Not yet 18. No car. Lived a long way off campus. Knew nobody. (Shudder.) It got better once the fall term started. Well, socially. Academically . . .
I don't get it.
But, I went away from home when I was 15 to attend prep school. These guys are adults, 18+, yes? Jeez…
And, yes, FWIW, I do own and play a banjo in case my services are needed…
It's even worse than that
Keep in mind the size of Hoxie, Arkansas (2,817 population according to wikipedia) relative to Austin. There’s not a city in Arkansas that can approximate the size of Austin, Texas in either population or geography.
That can be a lot for a kid from a small town to acclimate to quickly, and a reason why some kids are just more comfortable in places like College Station and Fayetteville.
proud to swim home
by learned hand on Jul 14, 2009 1:34 AM CDT up reply actions
Come on
Fayetteville is not anywhere near as bad as College Station. The fans can be similar, but the towns are not.
Yep. I arrived on campus, and two-a-days were insane. We had people dropping from dehydration almost daily, and athletes for the fall sports were almost the only people in the dorms. The only thing to do was to party with the upperclassmen, and that could get a little old after a week or so. I and several other guys ended up driving home basically the second and third weekends of the pre-season training time.
by burntorangehorn on Jul 14, 2009 8:26 AM CDT up reply actions
I know it's different for everyone
I grew up in a very small town in East Texas. I moved to Austin to start at UT and didn’t know anyone on campus (or in Austin, for that matter). My parents made me leave my car at home my first year because they had convinced themselves that my actually being able to leave campus was a bad idea until I had been at school long enough to get acclimated. I was homesick for a week, and then I got over it.
My freshman roommate, on the other hand, was from Houston, knew a ton of people at UT, and still went home every single weekend. He ended up transferring somewhere closer to home the next year.
Derek Johnson had been on campus for over a month. If homesickness was really the reason he went home, I have my doubts about his ability to stay at UT. For someone who has classes and workouts to keep him busy and is surrounded by other guys his age all the time, it just doesn’t add up that he still misses home so much that he’s actually quitting school and football for the summer to go back. Maybe once the fall semester starts and football season gets underway, things will get better for him.
Perhaps it’s time for some tough love from his parents. I remember reading a story about former linebacker Lee Jackson and how homesick he got early in his career at UT. But his mother wouldn’t let him come home, so he eventually had to adjust. He said if not for that, he probably would have quit football.
I agree.
I worry that this is a bad omen. To be that homesick? To leave summer workouts, new friends, new freedom? Hard to imagine.
I moved halfway across the country for college. I was homesick for about 30 seconds. Too many people to meet, places to go, beers to drink, classes to attend, not to mention homework and a work-study job.
My freshman roommate was also really homesick. She ended up dropping out before the end of that first year.
by crocodile235 on Jul 15, 2009 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions
seeya Wilcoxin
Given our scholarship situation attrition needed to occur and it’s a bit unfortunate that we lose a player at a position that is such an area of need but I also wasn’t really hinging my hopes for the 2009 Longhorns on the performance of Michael Wilcoxin. I just hope that Houston, Randall and Alexander stay healthy this year…
sorry wilcoxin
but we’re not even 2-deep at DT and you cant get any PT, thats just WEAK. I hope this is just his “story”. Good luck at southern wichita state or wherever you go…
At least Johnson has all of the support of the team
and the coaches….he will make it work. Sometimes you just a break home to regroup.
OK Here is What I See
Muschamp goes to a base 3-4 with Houston being spelled by Ben “I Only Eat Space” Alexander. He uses Eddie Jones and either Acho or Okafor as the other DE. He uses Kindle to move up to DE to make a 4-3 front or he can drop back for a true 3-4. Muck moves to the middle to make room for Keenan Robinson. Will have a bunch of fast pash rushing dudes out there.
Very astute, Realmccoy
I anticipate something like that as well, though my thinking was more like Acho or Jones playing DT in passing situations, with the other joining Sergio (or Okafor) at DE. I’ve never worried a lot about DT when it came to opponents that either can’t run the ball, or choose not to. My concern is with those that WANT to run it, and I’d put Oklahoma and OSU in that camp and maybe A&M. It’s there that the quality and depth issues at DT may be exposed.
If this team were to transition to a 3-4, it would only increase the impact of what currently appears to be the team’s biggest weakness: a big nose. Houston is in no way cut out for that role, and would play end in such a defense. Alexander would probably be the best bet, although the strength that he and DJ have make it possible that the position could be solid in that scenario.
by burntorangehorn on Jul 14, 2009 8:30 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
We don’t have the personnel for a 3-4. Not only is Houston not suited for a 3-4, our ends aren’t 3-4 ends either; we’d be wasting the depth and talent we have at DE if we change, I think. Some could easily transition to OLB, like Kindle, but there’s no guarantee that all of them would.
by TheElusiveShadow on Jul 14, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions
Jones, if healthy, and Houston would be great as 3-4 ends, I’d think, particularly at the college level. Jones might be a little smaller than ideal, as it’d be better to have him at 265lbs. or so, but that’s not as critical a difference when we’re talking about the college game. Acho, Kriegel, Houston, and Randall would probably be the guys to work into that defense. That said, Muschamp does not coach the three-man front AFAIK, so unless Longhorns fans want Muschamp to leave the DC position, there’s no way on the planet that this happens.
by burntorangehorn on Jul 14, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions
He also ran some with the Dolphins under Saban IIRC
proud to swim home
by learned hand on Jul 14, 2009 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Bringing up the Dolphins D is just Cold, LH
After all Boom did admit that the Dolphins D “couldn’t cover a bucket of water.”
"Stats are for losers, I like winning games"
". . .switzer is a cracked out bitch . . ."-osu poster
No they couldn't even though the pass rush was ferocious.
Saban did a pretty good job of running my favorite NFL team into the ground and Muschamp offered a bit of a bright spot.
proud to swim home
by learned hand on Jul 14, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions
I didn’t think they ran even a bit of 3-4 at that point. Are you sure?
by burntorangehorn on Jul 15, 2009 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Positive, they ran Jason Taylor as a Jack linebacker hybrid
It might be a prelude to see what Muschamp does with Kindle this year, since Taylor was often used as a stand up LB to overload the rush or spin down to a DE.
proud to swim home
by learned hand on Jul 15, 2009 7:32 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree with you that Houston last year couldn't play nose,
and I’m far from convinced that he could this year, but he is up to around 300 pounds, which I believe is about 20 more than last season, when he was also hurt, so it is possible that he could play a little bit in the middle of a three-man line, but probably not for very many snaps.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jul 14, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Not So Sure Bout Houston
I remember in the early days of 3-4 in the NFL the quickness of NT was much more effective than size. Now you have freaks like Casey Hampton and Shaun Rogers that are huge, agile, mobile, and hostile. Probably coach Boom has the answer already, as he sure wasn’t counting on either Wilcoxon or Johnson – but I can’t see sufficient depth for a standard 3-4.
by realmccoy on Jul 14, 2009 12:30 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Jay Ratliff
Played very well for the Cowboys last year at the nose and he weighs right at or a little under 300 pounds.
by aaronlybrand on Jul 14, 2009 10:58 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
GoBR, is this just a case of us getting too much info?
Or is there something else going on here? On the one hand I see this as being nothing more than a homesick kid who once school starts and the formal practice routine begins won’t have time to think much of home, but being in a less structured summer environment just isn’t ready to move on. Are we only hearing about it because the internet now leads to us following all the minutia of these kids’ lives and this therefore constitutes ‘news’? On the other hand how uncommon is this and is it being reported because there is some talk that he might not return at all?
Homesickness probably is playing a factor,
but there is also a personal reason here that hasn’t been disclosed, so it’s really impossible to speculate about what it might be except that it’s expected to be resolved in less than a month. I think it’s being reported because the simple fact that he’s going back suggests that he might not return.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jul 14, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Thanks...
Since I don’t have a subscription, I didn’t realize there were additional personal reasons beyond the homesickness. So it certainly sounds like he isn’t a shoe-in to come back. Let’s hope all is well and he is back in town in August.
Kreigel
Is he likely get some PT now? I dont think he will be big or strong enough to be a DT yet but based on numbers he might have to get in the rotation. Are there any other options?
Kriegel is up to about 260 now,
right around where Sam Acho and Eddie Jones are, so it’s possible that he could get a look as a five-technique DT or as a defensive end in the 3-4, though I would say that Calvin Howell and Tevin Mims are probably both more likely to get a shot before Kriegel, who has been viewed as something of a project. He’s more athletic than Wilcoxon, but there are probably similar in that neither one is/was expected to contribute early. Kriegel has a better chance because of the depth issues, but I don’t see him playing much this year.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jul 14, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Thanks
Is Tevin Mims going to play DT for sure? Or is this just based on depth issues right now?
by shaqui chan on Jul 14, 2009 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Speculation is that he'd be like Houston and Lewis
and start out at DE and grow into the DT position. Same with Kriegal.
by Horncasting on Jul 14, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Isn't Kriegal coming off a shoulder injury?
Also, I fairly certain that the writeup either on this site or BC said he needed to get alot stronger in the upper body before he saw the field. Those 2 are not a great combination for coming in and playing as a true freshman, especially at DT.
by Horncasting on Jul 14, 2009 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions
ah
I was gonna say, that’s really far down the line for a DT.
Did Hoxie run a 33 Stack or 3-5-3 on defense? I could see a coach using a 300 lb DE in that scheme.
Kriegel Recruit Ranking = "Wllcoxon-ish"
Not sure if that counts for much.
by realmccoy on Jul 14, 2009 12:34 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
No reason to get overly worried for now
My freshman year my dad got laid off and I almost had to go home to help out. He could be homesick or a milion other things. Let’s just hope that he does come back in August and has fun at Texas getting to OU’s qb in the near future.
There was a comment over on BC
saying that Wilcoxon might be giving it some more thought prior to leaving school. Hopefully the fact that the numbers at DT are so thin finally dawned on him and he will decide to stick it out.
Vasherized- Chip is now reporting that Wilcoxon might not be gone. Taking some time to sort things out.
ok, found this video of Johnson on youtube
Johnson highlights – Hoxie vs. Corning game
I wanted to see why a 300 pounder was playing DE.
The first two plays, it looks like they have him playing OLB. Other highlights have him playing DE in an even front.
This kid is very, very, very raw. His technique is deplorable, he doesn’t know how to use his hands, he doesn’t get leverage, he doesn’t roll his hops, etc, etc, I could go on and on.
HOWEVER, he is ridiculously athletic for someone of his size, and I’d definitely want him on my team. With proper coaching, this guy can become an animal on the interior line. If he just improves his technique, he can be scary-good. He needs a redshirt year, but he can really be something for y’all.
The o-lineman he's going against is a two star going to Central Arkansas.
Yes, Johnson is, as you say, incredibly raw. I’m not sure if he just didn’t need better technique at all or if he coaches were terrible or if he just didn’t learn or what but it’s hard to see any semblance of coaching there. Yet, he is as strong as an ox and has some quickness for his position. I don’t think he can really contribute this year with his terrible technique but I think he might have to play a little bit just because of the depth at the position.
by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Jul 18, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions
his ability to contribute as a true freshman
depends on his ability to learn quickly
he needs a lot of work, on everything from the simple basics like stance all the way up to hand-placement and moves
if he had stayed through the summer to work with other DL I think he could have been ready to play once the season starts, but I don’t know if two-a-days will be enough time for him to learn and refine technique
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