New running backs coach Major Applewhite knows a little something about position battles, having been under the microscope in a quarterback controversy with Chris Simms during his Texas playing days.
Instead of having the pressure of a millstone around his neck, Applewhite has a whistle around his collar this time as he attempts to resolve a multi-way contest to replace Jamaal Charles in the burnt-orange backfield. Sophomore Vondrell McGee, redshirt freshman Fozzy Whittaker and fifth-year senior Chris Ogbonnaya are the top contenders, with early enrollees Jeremy Hills and Tre Newton waiting in the wings.
"We have a lot of backs that can make a lot of explosive plays," Applewhite said. "You don't replace a guy that runs 10.2 in the 100, you just don't do it. You miss that type of speed, but backs are all different. Each back has his strengths."
Charles led the Big 12 with 1,619 rushing yards as a junior in 2007 and left early for the NFL after amassing 3,328 career yards, fourth most in school history.
Because Ogbonnaya has been around Austin so long, most of the reps this spring went to McGee and Whittaker. McGee (5-10, 205) rushed for 297 yards and eight touchdowns last season as the Longhorns' short-yardage specialist, but is eager to prove he can be the feature back.
Whittaker (5-10, 195) was a nice spring surprise and impressed Applewhite and head coach Mack Brown with his ability to change course and dodge tacklers. He was nothing short of prolific at Houston's Pearland High, finishing as the sixth all-time leading rusher in Texas history with 5,717 yards.
The running game looked sharp in the spring game, gaining 219 yards on 40 carries and scoring three touchdowns on the ground. Whittaker carried eight times for 43 yards and a touchdown and McGee added 26 yards and a score on eight attempts.
"I thought Vondrell did some good things and Fozzy has had a great spring and really looked good," Brown said. "Right now, those three guys would still be competing in the fall to see who will step up. What we're trying to do is see attitude, effort and toughness, and see who can make the individual plays."
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Texas and Oklahoma have been the Big 12 Southern Division kingpins in recent
year and they will be up near the top again in 2008, but what about the future?
If the same people who started in the spring or who are returning starters
get the first-team jobs during the football season, Texas will start only four
seniors - OG Derrick Docker
This new rating system is bogus!You cant give anyone a crappy rate,man what happened did too many P*$$Y$ get their feelings hurt.Everything is fair or i love it-------whats next FLOWERS and HEARTS,SPARKLES,GEMS,X&O'S??Freaking SOFT!!
Hey guys,
I'm coming over to Austin in October, and I'll be around for the October 25th home game against okla state, I've got a couple of mates that live in Austin, so I'll be able to get tickets.
Just wondering, what time do the games normally start? And got any advice on when to get there, what else to do once there etc?
Thanks guys.
What will be his down fall in the NFL? I think he will probably be out of work in 3 years. Will his down fall be one like other UT backs Ricky Williams and Cedric Benson or will it be the fact that he can't hold on to the ball which will lead to no time on the field?
This site rocks. You get a free starting balance to bet on any games. If you work it up to $10 or more, you can cash it out and get a check in the mail. There are no catches and NO DEPOSITING is even allowed on the site. If you lose your first bet, you don't even go to zero balance. They give you your starting kitty over and over again. This is a lot of f
With football season still four months away, this is a good time to take a
look at the problems facing the Big 12 Conference teams this year.
Defending champion Oklahoma is a pre-season top 5 national pick, so the
Sooners obviously don't have a lot of problems.
But they lost six defensive starters and two of them were
Longhorns Working Hard in Off-Season,
Need Young Players to Come Through
The Longhorns are working hard this off-season, but they are going to need
some breaks to live up to their pre-season top 10 ranking.
The Texas offense should be in better shape than the defense because it has
seven starters back, while the defense returns only four regulars.
The Longhorn assistant coaches are on the road =ooking in on kids who have
already committed and also evaluating next year's top =ids.
They have been spotted at Temple (super RB-Ath Lache =eastrunk), Aldine
Eisenhower (committed WR Greg Timmons and fine DT Jay =uy), Plano West (super DE
Jackson Jeffcoat), and lots of other places.
It is going to be tough
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