The Texas Longhorns are now one game into the conference season and another true freshman saw playing time against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater — a special teams appearance from linebacker Erick Fowler
Freshmen who’ve played through four games (16)
(If they have recorded stats, I’ve listed those next to their names as well)
- QB Shane Buechele — 78 of 119 (65.5%), 959 yards, 8 TD’s, 3 INT (plus 1 rushing TD)
- RB Kyle Porter — 15 carries for 64 yards (4.1 YPC), 2 KR for 29 yards
- WR Collin Johnson — 3 receptions for 22 yards
- WR Devin Duvernay — 2 receptions for 16 yards, 13 KR, 273 yards (21 yards per return)
- WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey — 2 receptions for 15 yards
- C Zach Shackelford — starting center
- OL Jean Delance - reserve offensive lineman
- OL Denzel Okafor — reserve offensive lineman
- DE Malcolm Roach — 10 TT, 2 TFL, 2 sacks
- DT D’Andre Christmas — 1 TT
- DT Gerald Wilbon — reserve DT (no stats recorded)
- DL Jordan Elliott — 2 TT, 1 TFL
- LB Jeffery McCulloch — 9 TT, 1 TFL
- S Brandon Jones — 4 TT, 2 blocked punts (got a piece of another), 1 safety, 2 PR for 33 yards
- DB Donovan Duvernay — no stats recorded
- DE/OLB Erick Fowler — no stats recorded (listed on the participation report)
— Former Rivals five-star defensive end Erick Fowler got onto the field for the first time as a freshman. He didn’t show up in the stats, but I imagine he’ll keep getting worked into the defense. I don’t see why he’d get put on the field otherwise.
— When talking about these freshmen, it’s tough to get too greedy when wanting more from them. At the end of the day, they are still true freshmen. With that said, I thought Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay would have much bigger impacts on offense by now. At one point during the offseason, it sounded like Johnson was the best receiver on the team if not at least one of the top three.
— Malcolm Roach is the best freshmen defender Texas has right now, and one of the best overall. He needs to keep playing. And that shouldn’t be news to anyone.
— Jeffery McCulloch flashed a bit against Oklahoma State by recording three more tackles, including one for a loss. I’ll be curious to see what position he plays the majority of his time as a Longhorn. He’s moved around some in just his first four games.
— At least Jones is starting on defense. But I’ll be curious to see if he plays well enough to man one of the two safety spots sooner than later. Texas needs help back there.
— With Chris Warren out indefinitely, Kyle Porter will take over as the back up to D’Onta Foreman.
— You could say Shane Buechele has cooled off some, and maybe he has. I’d say it’s really more of opposing coaching staffs now having more film on him. Add that to the fact that this offense is still operating somewhat conservatively when it drops back to pass and that leaves Texas in a situation where Gilbert is facing the decision of what more his young quarterback can handle right now. You can only throw so many hitch routes and deep bombs on the sidelines continuously...
Freshmen still on track to redshirt (12)
- WR Davion Curtis
- WR Reggie Hemphill-Mapps
- TE Peyton Aucoin
- OL Tope Imade
- OL J.P. Uriquidez
- OL Patrick Hudson
- DL Marcel Southall
- DL Chris Daniels
- DE Andrew Fitzgerald
- LB Demarco Boyd
- DB Chris Brown
- DB Eric Cuffee
The list of freshmen who are still eligible for redshirts has now shrunk from 13 to 12 members.
We’ll check back in after the game against Oklahoma to see where this list stands. However, unless injuries pop up, I doubt this list gets any smaller.