QB Vince Young

2003 Statistics

Coach: Mack Brown
59-18, 6 years
2003 Record: 10-3
NEW MEXICO STATE WON 66-7
ARKANSAS LOST 28-38
at Rice WON 48-7
TULANE WON 63-18
KANSAS STATE WON 24-20
Oklahoma LOST 13-65
at Iowa State WON 40-19
at Baylor WON 56-0
NEBRASKA WON 31-7
at Oklahoma State WON 55-16
TEXAS TECH WON 43-40
at Texas A&M WON 46-15
HOLIDAY BOWL
Washington State LOST 20-28


2003 Final Rankings
AP-12, Coaches-11, BCS-6

2004 Outlook

Head coach Mack Brown in the only football coach in America to have won at least nine games a year in the past eight seasons, at both North Carolina and Texas. However, the natives are restless in Austin. With a lack of proven receivers in their stable, the Longhorns will have to rely heavily on star TB Cedric Benson. Benson is off to one of the best starts in UT history and will have to follow through with posting the same kind of numbers he has in the past if Texas is to compete for any championships.

A productive pass rush that has recorded nearly as many sacks as anyone in the nation over the past four seasons is complemented by a defense that is very stingy and aggressive overall, forcing turnovers at a good clip. The air defense unit has been especially good, ranking in the Top 10 nationally for four years straight, and the ground defense has been shored up tremendously since Brown arrived six years ago, having ranked near the bottom when he got to Austin.

Texas has finished in the Top 25 six years in a row for the first time since the Darrell Royal days, 1968-75. They have won at least 10 games a year for the last three campaigns, and are the fourth winningest program nationally during that span.

Whether or not UT can keep up its offensive production (and achieve each season's goal, to beat Oklahoma) will be the keys to success. With loyal fan support, finishing in the Top 12 nationally for the fifth straight year may not be enough to satisfy them in Brown's seventh season at the helm. Nothing less than a Big 12 championship will please the Longhorn faithful. Why does this team always look so competitive against any opponent except the Sooners? Once the results/efforts in losses are worthy, it is then and only then that this team's character can take the corner, so to speak. Until then, they will be the proverbial Boston Red Sox to the Sooner's Yankees role, and will coulda-woulda-shoulda themselves into believing they are on Oklahoma's par.


Projected 2004 record: 9-2
TEXAS
*POWER RATINGS
Offense
Defense
QB - 4.5 DL - 3.5
RB - 4 LB - 4.5
WR - 3 DB - 4
OL - 4.5 ..
RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Vince Young, 143-84-7, 1155 yds., 6 TD

Rushing: Cedric Benson, 258 att., 1360 yds., 21 TD

Receiving: David Thomas, 14 rec., 219 yds., 3 TD

Scoring: Cedric Benson, 22 TD, 2 pt., 134 pts.

Punting: Richmond McGee, 46 punts, 40.9 avg.

Kicking: Dusty Mangum, 7-9 FG, 50-51 PAT, 45 long

Tackles: Derrick Johnson, 125 tot., 78 solo, 20 TFL

Sacks: Rodrique Wright, 7.5 sacks

Interceptions: Derrick Johnson, 4 ints.

Kickoff Returns: Selvin Young, 18 ret., 24.4 avg., 1 TD

Punt Returns: Selvin Young, 1 ret., 39 yds., 1 TD

 

LB Derrick Johnson
TEXAS
OFFENSE - 7
----RETURNING STARTERS----
DEFENSE - 7
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: B.J. Johnson-WR, Roy Williams-WR, Sloan Thomas-WR, Tillman Holloway-OG, Brett Robin-TB
DEFENSE: Kalen Thornton-DE, Marcus Tubbs-DT, Reed Boyd-SLB, Nathan Vasher-CB, Dakarai Pearson-FS
2004 OFFENSE

Quarterback
The Longhorns have three quarterbacks with playing time. Sophomore Vince Young is the presumed starter, although you never can tell what head coach Mack Brown will do at the QB position from past experience. Young was Big 12 Freshman of the Year and became the first freshman in UT history to throw for over 1,000 yards while rushing for nearly 1,000 more. Teaming with Young is senior Chance Mock, whose eight-to-one TD to INT ratio was the best in the nation in 2003. Mock doesn't run like Young, but the differences in their dimensional strengths makes it hard for defenses to adjust quickly. Both of them were winners as starters. Junior Matt Nordgren has seen action in several games and is thus an experienced backup.

Running Back
Texas Longhorn fans have two reasons to rejoice. Not only did star running back Cedric Benson pass up the NFL draft, he has also decided to give up his promising baseball career and concentrate on becoming possibly one of the best RBs in UT history. Will the fact that Benson returns for his senior year be enough to push Mack Brown's team past the Oklahoma Sooners in the tough South Division of the Big 12 Conference? The Los Angeles Dodgers, who drafted Benson in 2001, were paying for his college education. Now he has been put on football scholarship. He is only the third running back in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. His 3,706 career yards already rank him just behind two UT Heisman Trophy winners and all-time school leaders Ricky Williams and Earl Campbell, and he is second all-time in touchdowns to Williams with 45 career rushing TDs. Junior Selvin Young, an explosive kick returner, will again join Benson in the UT backfield. Both of the Texas fullbacks also return. Senior Will Matthews is a physical blocker and will be the starter at FB.

Wide Receiver
The receiving corps will be completely revamped for the boys in Burnt Orange. Three of the school's Top 10 all-time pass catchers completed their eligibility last season, and virtually none of their replacements have any game experience to speak of, although there is a lot of raw talent in the group. Senior Tony Jeffery, a former high school QB, is a W.I.T. (whatever it takes) award recipient, so expect him to step up when needed. Junior Bryan Carter has a real head on his shoulders (1350 SAT score), and, too, will find a way to contribute. Eric Enard is a sophomore walk-on who, like the other two, has found a way to contribute, and will again. It may take a bit for the unit to jell, but it will, and good things will come from them, by mid-season at the latest.

Tight End
Texas returns a tandem duo of the best TEs in the conference, senior Bo Scaife, granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA due to missing two full seasons with a knee injury, and junior David Thomas. They have combined to play in 58 career games, and caught passes for nearly 1,000 yards combined in their careers in Austin. Scaife and Thomas should more than adequately fill Edwards' shoes with solid blocking skills and big-play capabilities.

Offensive Line
Four starters and five other veterans who have significant playing experience return for the Longhorns. However, they have a huge gap to fill from the departure of All-American OG Tillman Holloway. Texas set a school record for points with 533 last year and for total offense with 5,709 yards, thanks in no small part to senior center Jason Glynn, junior RG Will Allen, and junior LT Jonathan Scott, as well as sophomore RT Justin Blalock. That group has combined for 70 career starts among them. All five of the top backups return as well. A unit that averaged over five yards per run all season will have no problem achieving such again.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Head coach Mack Brown is happy to have seven returning starters on offense from a unit that was very productive. They rushed for more yards than any UT team since 1977. The loss of WR Roy Williams, however, as well as most of the rest of the receivers, means that Texas will need time for the newbies to shed their green. Offensive coordinator Greg Davis has produced five of the top six passing seasons in UT history, six of the top eight years in total yardage in school history, and the top five scoring years of all time. The unit has racked up 23 separate school records, and scored over 50 points on 16 different occasions. Brown and Davis have coached 17 of the 40 games in the 110-year school history in which the offense has produced over 500 yards, utilizing a balanced attack. The upgrade in the Longhorn offense has been nothing short of remarkable, and it should continue unabated once they can find that receiving talent.

 

TB Cedric Benson

 

TEXAS 2004 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Vince Young-So (6-5, 225) Chance Mock-Sr (6-2, 225)
TB Cedric Benson-Sr (6-0, 215) Selvin Young-Jr (6-0, 205)
FB Will Matthews-Sr (6-3, 250) Albert Hardy-So (5-11, 235)
WR Tony Jeffery-Sr (6-1, 175) Brian Carter-Jr (5-11, 185)
WR Eric Enard-So (6-3, 200) Limas Sweed-Fr (6-5, 205)
TE David Thomas-Jr (6-3, 228) Bo Scaife-Sr (6-3, 250)
OT Jonathan Scott-Jr (6-7, 305) Lionel Garr-Sr (6-5, 350)
OG Kasey Studdard-So (6-3, 285) Mike Garcia-Jr (6-3, 310)
C Jason Glynn-Sr (6-2, 275) Lyle Sendlein-So (6-5, 295)
OG Will Allen-Jr (6-6, 305) Terrance Young-Jr (6-6, 350)
OT Justin Blalock-So (6-4, 330) William Winston-Jr (6-7, 350)
K Dusty Mangum-Sr (5-11, 170) David Pino-Jr (5-8, 175)
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
  Bo Scaife....SKAY-ff
Lyle Sendlein....SEND-line

 

2004 DEFENSE

Defensive Line
In order for Texas to have a chance to compete with Oklahoma and their other rivals in the Big 12, they will have to come up with replacements for two key cogs. Leading the returnees is junior DT Rodrique Wright, a two-year starter, who led the '03 Longhorn line with 80 tackles. He is joined by a pair of ends who have started in the past, sophomore Tim Crowder and junior Mike Williams, who has bounced back from a knee injury to again excel from wherever he chooses. Sophomore end Bryan Pickryl, another key returnee from a shoulder injury, will break through with enough playing time. Senior Austin Sendlein has proven he is on the edge of that next level, too, along with Kaelen Jakes, both of whom will work at tackle. The unit ranked 58th in stopping the run, so these changes should be just what the doctor ordered.

Linebacker
Derrick Johnson is a consensus All-American at LB, the first at UT in over 20 years. He was the Horns' first-ever Butkus Award finalist in 2003, posting a whopping 125 tackles, 78 of those were solo. Johnson is a pass-coverage underdog who succeeds here often. UT loses only Reed Boyd from this corps. Junior Aaron Harris is always in backfields as the starting MLB, as well as sophomore Garnett Smith, who was a proven starter prior to his '03 ankle injury. Sophomore Eric Foreman, a former track (discus) and basketball phenom, needs to bulk up to actually appear as big as he plays. The entire unit will again be the backbone of a somewhat imbalanced defense.

Defensive Back
Texas ranked 9th nationally in pass defense. The Longhorns return their other three starters, juniors SS Michael Huff and CB Cedric Griffin, and senior FS Phillip Geiggar. Look for this unit to be tough, but not too deep. Sophomores Matt Melton, Tarell Brown, and slated starter at CB Aaron Ross all got some playing time as freshmen. Huff has the opportunity to break the NCAA record for career interception returns for touchdowns that was set by Tennessee linebacker Jackie Walker way back in 1971 at five, and has remained unbroken ever since. Huff has four. He is an all-seeing presence and will be their safety valve.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Mack Brown is blessed to have seven returning starters from a unit that ranked #9 nationally in pass defense. Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and Arkansas, though, proved there is work to be done. They will need to replace four experienced starters to again finish in the Top 25 nationally in total defense, as they have done for the last five years straight. As safety Michael Huff and linebacker Derrick Johnson continue their knack for intercepting opposing quarterbacks, the Horns will do even better against those tougher passing teams.

 

DT Rodrique Wright

 

TEXAS 2004 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Mike Williams-Jr (6-3, 240) Brian Robison-So (6-3, 245
DT Larry Dibbles-Jr (6-2, 285) Stevie Lee-Jr (6-4, 315)
DT Rodrique Wright-Jr (6-5, 315) Kaelen Jakes-Jr (6-3, 260)
DE Tim Crowder-So (6-4, 235 Eric Hall-Jr (6-2, 245)
SLB Garnet Smith-So (6-3, 230) Stevie Stigall-Sr (6-4, 221)
MLB Aaron Harris-Jr (6-0, 235) Scott Derry-Fr (6-3, 230)
WLB Derrick Johnson-Sr (6-4, 230) Robert Killebrew-Fr (6-2, 210)
CB Cedric Griffin-Jr (6-2, 190) Aaron Ross-So (6-1, 180)
CB Tarell Brown-So (6-0, 180) Erick Jackson-Fr (6-2, 175)
SS Michael Huff-Jr (6-1, 200) Michael Griffin-So (6-0, 180)
FS Phillip Geiggar-Sr (5-11, 200) Matt Melton-So (6-0, 200)
P Richmond McGee-Jr (6-4, 200) Greg Johnson-So (6-1, 190)
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Rodrique Wright....ROD-rick
Phillip Geiggar....GEE-ger
Kaelen Jakes....KAY-len

 

 

2004 SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker
Both placekickers and senior Tony Jeffery, the holder, return from one of the nation's best special teams. Senior PK Dusty Mangum has had the job for three years already. He ranks sixth in Longhorn history in scoring, including a streak of 121 consecutive PATs. Junior PK David Pino has proven worthy, too. But the team (Jeffery) only went 1-for-3 in FGAs outside the 40, so you do the math. If they do not have a three-point option once stuck around their opponent's 40, game strategy is assuredly altered and losses are a direct result.

Punter
Junior punter Richmond McGee, who averaged 41 yards, also handles kickoffs for Texas. He will be pushed for the job, however, by sophomore Greg Johnson, a Vanderbilt transfer who sat out last year. Johnson was a freshman All-American at Vandy in '02.

Return Game
Back as the top kick returner is junior Selvin Young, who became the first Longhorn ever to return both a kickoff and a punt for a TD in the same game last year. He averaged 21 yards per punt return as Nathan Vasher's backup the past two seasons. Terrell Brown also will be a productive member of this special teams' dimension.

 

OFFENSIVE DEVELOPMENTS
Cedric Benson and the run game got better this spring, and Brown is pleased with how much more physical the team's approach to (running the ball) is. The passing game is still in limbo, and the question will unfortunately continue to be addressed into the fall. Vince Young is getting better at making the right reads, but he's still far from where he needs to be in the passing department. The receiving corps will continue to be the major concern heading into the fall. No stars have emerged and they are a little weak against press coverages. Look for passes to the stockpile of TEs early, until playmakers arise on the outside. Kasey Studdard stepped up in Mike Garcia's absence and played so well that he stole the starting job away from him heading into next camp. Aaron Ross had excellent spring as a KR and has given the 'Horns yet another weapon back deep.

DEFENSIVE DEVELOPMENTS
New defensive coaches, Greg Robinson and Dick Tomey have come in and fit like a key into the 'Horns staff. UT has gotten quicker on the defensive line and coaches are pleased with the continued development of personnel this spring. This team was already one of the quickest defenses in the country. Larry Dibbles was the most impressive of the group and will cause problems up front for opposing offenses. DE Chase Pittman has been granted his release and will transfer elsewhere. The focus on defense is within blitz packages and how to disguise them... There has been a lot of hard work on tackling this spring. Robinson and Brown want to be best tackling team in the nation and have worked their players accordingly.

NEWCOMERS TO WATCH FOR
LB Robert Killebrew (rsf)
TE Neal Tweedie (so)
WR Jordan Shipley (fr)