As spring practice has wrapped up across the state, we take a look at the major programs in Texas and some of the questions left unanswered after 15 practices and a showcase spring game.
Baylor: The Bears might have a QB competition on their hands, as graduate transfer Anu Solomon made a positive impression in the Spring Game this past weekend. Though incumbent starter Zach Smith (Grandview) who became the starter due to injury attrition a season ago, was the first man behind center, Solomon looks to have the edge coming out of spring ball. Heralded recruit Charlie Brewer (Lake Travis) missed a couple of open throws, and probably starts the fall as third string – ergo, redshirting. Solomon is a pleasant surprise coming over from Arizona; after he burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman, injuries derailed a once promising career. But he has a chance to revive his NFL dream in Waco, and while there will be competition, if he can win the job, he could shine in Matt Rhule’s new look offense.
Houston: Major Applewhite seems in control as a first-year head coach, but will have a lot of work to do to reach the heights that Tom Herman scaled in his two years with the Cougars. Houston replaces a ton of talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball, where the quarterback and wide receiver groups looked shaky this spring. Kyle Allen has the inside track on the starting job after transferring from Texas A&M, but threw a pair of interceptions early in the Red and White game. With both presumed starting wideouts sitting due to injury, the backups were given a chance to prove themselves, but only senior Derek McLemore (Southlake) seemed to truly take advantage of the opportunity, displaying a speed and shiftiness that could pay dividends for the rebuilding offense. While the Houston D will remain stout on the strength of Ed Oliver (Westfield), Applewhite – an offensive guy – will have plenty to prove when it comes to the Cougars getting in the end zone.
SMU: It’s a really good time to be Chad Morris. After passing on an opportunity to take the Baylor job, Morris has doubled down in Highland Park and is well on his way to building a winner in Dallas. After the somewhat surprising news that Matt Davis (Klein Forest) would be leaving for the NFL after his junior year, it appeared the starting job would be handed to sophomore Ben Hicks (Midway) with little competition – since Charlie Brewer flipped to the Bears. But transfer QB Rafe Peavey was the star of spring ball, putting a candle on the three weeks with a 16-18, 173 yard, and two score afternoon. Whoever ultimately wins the job will have Courtland Sutton (Brenham) to throw to, immediately making them better. And in year three of the Morris era, the Pony Raid should be absolutely lethal for opponents. If Morris and his staff can get the defense on track, not only will the Ponies be a bowl team, they could legitimately challenge for an AAC title.
TCU: The Frogs are still figuring some things out on offense, as evidenced by the question marks at quarterback, receiver, and along the offensive line. But the biggest thing we learned this spring is that Gary Patterson has a vintage GP Defense to work with this fall. Two years of giving young players the bulk of the snaps – mostly due to injury – should finally pay off in 2017, as the Frogs will put their most experienced unit on the field since the 12-1, Big 12 Championship season in 2014. Led by lockdown corner Ranthony Texada (Centennial), linebackers Ty Summers (Reagan) and Travin Howard (Longview), and a defensive line which features a trio of exciting redshirt freshmen in Ross Blacklock (Elkins), Brandon Bowen (Byron Nelson), and Isaiah Chambers (Aldine MacArthur), Patterson should be able to deploy the kind of variable, aggressive, and risk-taking defense that made him famous come the fall. And with the question marks on offense, it might be up to that side of the ball to win games.
Texas: Tom Herman is doing more for the Longhorns than just taking a sledgehammer to things and putting in big TVs – he has brought the swagger back. After years of mediocrity and failure to meet expectations, Herman isn’t hiding from the TEXAS BACK moniker – he’s furthering it. It’s obvious Herman believes being Texas is enough to not just get him in the door, but to close the deal with recruits, and he is not only working hard to put a fence around the state when it comes to keeping top talent home, he’s actively pursuing his biggest rivals brightest gems and flipping them to the burnt orange. How does that swagger translate to the field? Well, for one, they are going to throw the ball all over the field, and have two really capable QBs – in sophomore Shane Buechele (Arlington Martin) and true freshman Sam Ehlinger (Westlake) – to do so. Herman’s high-flying Houston offense looks translatable in the early reviews; in a defense optional spring game they put up 51 and 52 points respectively, with the game coming down to a staged two-point conversion attempt in front of a large crowd. Texas might not be BACK quite yet, but they’re closer than they’ve been in a decade, and Herman’s swag might be enough to win a game or two on it’s own.
Texas A&M: Speaking of swag, the Texas school that once claimed to run the state will be looking to regain some of it this fall. After a slough of defections, whether to transfers, graduation, or the NFL, the Aggies need to find some magic on the field and in their locker room to get back in the SEC West hunt. The Aggies sport a trio of quarterback options: the veteran Jake Hubenak (Georgetown) is solid if unspectacular, redshirt freshman Nick Starkel (Argyle Liberty Christian) is untested on the big stage, and highly-touted Kellen Mond (IMG Academy by way of San Antonio Reagan) is a big name, but looked the part of true freshman in his spring game action, throwing a pair of picks. Who they’ll be throwing to is also a question, as outside of breakout candidate Christian Kirk (Saguaro), they are relatively unknown and certainly untested. If Kirk Merritt is able to deal with his pending legal issues, he could help shore up the young unit, but his status for the season remains in doubt. Additionally, the Aggies are replacing the likely #1 draft pick in pass-rusher Myles Garrett, and nothing coming out of spring camp says that they’ve found their next QB hunter. As has often been the case during the Kevin Sumlin era, A&M will have some big names and put up lots of points, but whether the defense can shut down opponents consistently remains to be seen.
Texas Tech: Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Texas Tech has some quarterback concerns coming out of spring ball. Patrick Mahomes isn’t walking through that door, and as such, the burden of QB1 appears to fall on Nic Shimonek’s (Mildred) experienced shoulders. After starting his career at Iowa, Shimonek came home, and was solid in limited snaps last year when Mahomes went down with injury. A fifth year senior, Nic has been around, and should know the system well. While his is a far cry athletically from his predecessor, he moves better than one would guess at first glance, and is a decent fit for the Air Raid offense. Who is backup will be is the biggest question – Mansfield Lake Ridge QB Jett Duffy was expected to compete for the starting job this spring, but legal issues have kept him off the field and suspended from the University until fall. More important than the backup QB situation might be the continued penalty problems – the Red Raiders have been one of the most penalized teams in the country and were called for a reported nine in their final spring game. On a positive note, the much maligned Tech defense created several turnovers, intercepting four passes and shutting down the run game. If the Red Raiders can consistently stop people, they could be a surprise team in 2017.
