clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Swoopes, youngsters impress at first Texas Longhorns spring practice

And there's already a rotation developing at the quarterback position.

By Wescott Eberts
Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

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:

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:

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.

However, Johnson wasn't the only young receiver to make a positive impression:

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:

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

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:

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.

More From Burnt Orange Nation