Bevo’s Daily Roundup: Texas’ Tom Herman says program in longterm is ‘headed in the right direction’

Last week, Texas Longhorns head coach Tom Herman sat down with the Dallas Morning News for a somewhat sprawling talk on what the future has in store for the Longhorns.

A few parts of the conversation stood out, as we noted last week. In particular for this week, though, we think it’s important to note how Herman said the program in the longterm is “headed in the right direction.” From the Morning News interview: “How do we get to where we all believe that we’re headed? Don’t get me wrong ... the trajectory is right where we thought it would be when we came in. 2018 probably, our kids played well above expectations, but we’ve now got a four-year starter at quarterback, a potential first rounder at left tackle from a signing class that was ranked 31st in the country or something like that.”

“ So we’ve done a good job developing those guys and then having the class of ’18 and class of ’19 — two classes that were top five classes now be mature guys that have been in the system, that have been with Coach McKnight and have gotten bigger, faster, stronger,” Herman continued. “We might have hit a bit of a dip [in 2019] — it’s pretty easy to see the trajectory, the long term trajectory, is headed in the right direction.”

Indeed. But 2020 will tell.

WHAT THE WISE MEN ARE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS

Austin American-Statesman: Swindell recalls Texas, MLB career – and the day he signed his scholarship on the hood of a pickup truck

Austin American-Statesman: More than 3,500 miles from Austin, Texas’ Kamaka Hepa getting along in Alaska

Austin American-Statesman: Golden: Before she pitches in the Olympics in 2021, a new league in 2020 for Cat Osterman

Austin American-Statesman: The Dotted Line: Flurry of commitments shake up Big 12 recruiting rankings

Dallas Morning News: Texas roster rankings, Nos. 15-11: Which Longhorn defenders are due for a breakout season?

Sports Illustrated: New commit Casey Cain is a good for for the Texas offense

Sports Illustrated: Texas head coach cautiously optimistic about football season

Sports Illustrated: Already-stacked Texas RB room just got deeper

247Sports: The Stampede: Where does Texas go moving forward?

247Sports: Texas Morning Brew: Could Ehlinger be like Burrow in 2020?

247Sports: Tom Herman prepared to use advice from Dabo Swinney

247Sports: Can Texas reach the College Football Playoff in 2020?

ICYMI IN BURNT ORANGE NATION

How Texas has filled late needs under Tom Herman

WATCH: Footage of the Texas south end zone construction

Bevo’s Daily Roundup: Tom Herman thinks football will kickoff, says ‘the country needs it’

WHAT WE’RE READING

SBNation: Should the NBA use group testing for the coronavirus?

SBNation: There’s so much wrong with the NFL’s proposed changes to the Rooney Rule

SBNation: As the NFL begins opening team facilities, future of 2020 regular season remains murky

The Ringer: The NFL’s search for the next Taysom Hill is fundamentally flawed

ESPN: Michael Phelps: ‘This is the most overwhelmed I’ve ever felt’

NEWS ACROSS THE LONGHORN REPUBLIC AND COLLEGE SPORTS

• Texas football coaches are returning to the program’s facility today, Sports Illustrated reports. From SI: It marks the first time the coaches have been together in person as a full staff since the NCAA suspended all sports activities in mid-March. According to a report from Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.com last week the staff will be in the office on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Safety is still a top concern and masks and social distancing will both be used. While getting coaches back in the office is a big step, don’t expect players to return until the NCAA lifts the ban for official in-person team activities.”

• Sporting News released their latest preseason ranking. Texas is No. 13. From Sporting News: “The defense will be improved around linebacker Joseph Ossai, who had 13.5 tackles for loss in 2019. It comes down to winning those close games: The Longhorns have six losses of seven points or fewer the last two seasons. The Sept. 12 trip to LSU will come with the same hype as it did in 2019. Will Texas live up to it?” And here’s 247Sports’ take: “The Longhorns will be a dangerous threat nationally throughout fall as long as Sam Ehlinger stays healthy at quarterback and replicates the same success he’s had throughout his career. He’ll have a new offensive coordinator dialing up the plays, but the two already seem to have a stellar relationship. Texas should be on the shortlist to contend for a league title and then some.”

• The most recent class of Longhorn NFL rookies just got their jersey numbers for 2020. That means former Texas safety Brandon Jones will wear No. 45 for the Miami Dolphins, receiver Devin Duvernay will wear No. 13 for the Baltimore Ravens, and receiver Collin Johnson will wear No. 19 for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now they have to earn some respect on the field.