IT Today: An important summer for Jordan Whittington, UT baseball wins 7-2
Welcome to Inside Texas Today! Every weekday, Inside Texas Today will provide the latest on Texas Longhorns sports from around the Forty Acres. This morning, what Jordan Whittington said about the spring and the weeks upcoming before summer conditioning, plus the Longhorns win a baseball mid-week in the Rio Grande Valley.
Here’s the Wednesday, April 27, 2022 edition.
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“It’s time for you to get better”
According to Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, three injuries changed the course of his first season in Austin. When Denzel Okafor went down at TCU, then Jacoby Jones and Jordan Whittington one week later versus Oklahoma, it cost Texas three players counted on to make major contributions.
No injury may have stung more, at least on offense, than Whittington’s. After three injury plagued seasons, the former Cuero standout looked like the player he was hyped up to be out of high school in 2021’s early stages. But then, he injured his collarbone versus Oklahoma, and didn’t make a return until the end of the season.
The collarbone was a different injury than the lower body problems that had been an issue in the past, but it was a wake-up call to Whittington to make sure he did every single thing possible to ensure he could stay on the field.
He also wanted to make sure when he was on the field, he was a weapon.
“I definitely took my body seriously,” Whittington said following the spring game. “I took my health seriously. I do so much stuff now, it’s crazy, but that would be the main thing. I focus on my diet a lot now, and I try to lead as much as I can.
“Those are the main things for me, and, becoming a receiver. I feel like I was still transitioning from running back to being a complete receiver. That was probably one of the main things I worked on.”
Whittington values his current availability, calling it a blessing after it was taken away from him. He also understands his presence at slot receiver is important for the Longhorn offense.
“At the same time, when you’ve got guys on the outside that can just take the top off, and you’ve got running backs that will break at any second, it kind of makes it easier for me to get mismatches and one-on-one,” Whittington said. “The slot is my specialty now.”
The summer now lies ahead for Whittington, who is one of a group of formidable top-line wide receivers along with Isaiah Neyor and Xavier Worthy.
It’s no time for regression, according to Whittington. Between now and May 31, when the Longhorns’ summer conditioning program starts, is a time for even more improvement.
“I would tell them it’s not a time off,” Whittington said. “It’s time for you to get better. I would say pick up from here, and just keep building. You don’t want to come back at the same spot you were in spring ball. That would be the main thing. I would say take care of your body because a lot of people, especially when you’re doing this with your team every day and you get time off, it’s hard to keep the same intensity when you’re working out by yourself. I would say just workout.”
Texas baseball wins in historic trip to RGV, 7-2
For the first time in decades, No. 10 Texas traveled to Edinburg, Texas, to play the UT-Rio Grande Vaqueros in a midweek matchup. UTRGV Baseball Stadium was completely packed as the Longhorns traveled to the border for a visit to their UT System mates.
The Longhorns left with an easy 7-2 victory. Zane Morehouse earned his first career victory at Texas with a strong, 5.2-inning, two-hit outing. He was charged with one earned run after his departure from the game.
The Vaqueros failed to record a hit until the bottom of the sixth, when Chris Mondesi singled. By that point, Texas had built a 5-0 lead with RBI from Kimble Schuessler, Douglas Hodo, and Ivan Melendez. Austin Todd helped plate a run via a fielder’s choice.
RGV scored a run with Luke Harrison pitching in relief of Morehouse in the sixth, then plated another in the bottom of the ninth. Texas’ two runs in the top of the eighth were more than enough cushion to make sure the late Vaquero run was no issue.
Aaron Nixon, a native of nearby McAllen, recorded the final out in the bottom of the ninth.
Texas viewing for 4/27
No. 6 men’s golf – Big 12 Championship – Whispering Pines Golf Club – Trinity, Texas – 9:30 a.m. – Live Stats
