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In a continued trend from past years, the first spring practice for the Texas Longhorns was open to the media, providing an opportunity for the beat writers to pass along some compelling information to readers from Monday's session.
Three QBs are already elevated above the rest
Senior Tyrone Swoopes opened with the first team on Monday after finishing the season as the starter against Baylor due to Jerrod Heard's head injury sustained against Texas Tech. Behind Swoopes was Heard -- no real surprise there -- but it was early enrollee Shane Buechele . Redshirt freshmen Kai Locksley and Matthew Merrick did not receive any repetitions during the team portion of practice, so there's already a hierarchy taking shape.
But that doesn't really answer the question of which quarterback was the most impressive on Monday. According to one beat writer, Swoopes earned that distinction:
Yeah, first day. But Swoopes looked better against the first-team defense than Heard did against the backups.
— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) March 8, 2016
The difference was that Swoopes was decisive with his reads, while Heard still struggled with holding onto the ball too long, an issue that has apparently carried over from last year.
From a purely physical standpoint, it's clear that Heard has been working in the weight room to improve his upper body strength, which could in turn help him impart more velocity onto the football as a passer:
New Texas OC Sterlin Gilbert coaching up Jerrod Heard and Kai Locksley pic.twitter.com/1rG6ctSv34
— Max Olson (@max_olson) March 8, 2016
Still, improved arm strength won't matter if he can't process his reads quickly and get the football out of his hand on time.
Collin Johnson impressed with the first team
The California product and Texas legacy missed most of his senior season due to a shoulder injury, but that didn't keep him from making plays during his first practice in burnt orange. In working with the first team, Johnson drew praise from observers and served notice to older players that he will not only be in the mix for playing time, he could end up starting against Notre Dame.
Collin Johnson might be the best WR on the roster. He's a man child at 6-6. Working with first team.
— Ryan Autullo (@AutulloAAS) March 8, 2016
This guy, freshman receiver Collin Johnson, is an impressive physical specimen. pic.twitter.com/rpKBlRHBkw
— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) March 8, 2016
Texas WR Collin Johnson vs. DB Antwuan Davis pic.twitter.com/ByH9PThpDf
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) March 8, 2016
However, Johnson wasn't the only young receiver to make a positive impression:
First Texas football practice over. QBs looked ok. Like WR Collin Johnson, WR Ryan Newsome.
— Kirk Bohls (@kbohls) March 8, 2016
The RBs look the part
Junior D'Onta Foreman carries 238 pounds on his 6'0 frame, according to the school. Sophomore Chris Warren goes 6'2, 255. It's hard not to notice:
Texas RB Foreman, Warren look huge, powerful
— Kirk Bohls (@kbohls) March 8, 2016
The good news, according to head coach Charlie Strong, is that Warren isn't carrying any bad weight after gaining more than 20 pounds since Texas released the fall roster.
"You look at him and he's just so big and wide," Strong said. "It's no fat there, he can carry it, but we're going to see now. And with what we're doing, he may shed a pound or two, but he's just gotten so much stronger. And you're talking about someone who's never lifted weights before, and this is probably the first offseason he's been through."
Warren says that his clothes no longer fit him and Strong isn't surprised, but he does want to see Warren and Foreman run hard to ensure that the physical advantage they possess over opposing defensive backs -- and a lot of linebackers -- won't go to waste. Based on how both ran last season, that shouldn't be a huge concern.
Sights and randomness
New season, new faces.
— Longhorn Network (@LonghornNetwork) March 8, 2016
First day of spring ball is in the books. pic.twitter.com/Aan7sMdAQf
Freshman QB Shane Buechele at his first Texas practice pic.twitter.com/DbLJKu5Kd1
— Max Olson (@max_olson) March 8, 2016
In addition to Johnson, there was also another young face working with the first team -- fellow early enrollee Zach Shackelford, who didn't even pick up his offer from the Longhorns until late in the process.
And some other random thoughts:
Texas practice over. Guys I noticed: WR Ryan Newsome, WR Lorenzo Joe. S Dylan Haines terrific 1-handed INT. Offense 7-8 seconds per play.
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) March 8, 2016
For a guy who receives a lot of deserved criticism and almost certainly won't test well at the Texas Pro Day next March, Haines sure puts himself in a position to make some plays, doesn't he?
Additionally, junior college transfer Brandon Hodges was working at left guard, while sophomore PJ Locke occupied the nickel position.