On Texas Football: Wide receiver coaching search, Micah Hudson, Longhorn hoops
In the latest edition of On Texas Football, Inside Texas’ Bobby Burton and Justin Wells got up early on Sunday to get their followers up to date on a handful of topics.
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Those included the Longhorns’ search for a new wide receivers coach, the Texas basketball squad’s comeback win over Texas Tech on Saturday, and news from the transfer portal and recruiting trail.
Wells said Chris Jackson, the wide receivers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, is at the top of the list for the same position with the Longhorns.
Others on the short list, according to Wells, are Adam Henry, the co-offensive coordinator and WR coach at Indiana, Joel Filani, wide receivers coach at Washington State, and Dallas Baker, the WR coach at Florida.
“I believe that Chris Jackson of the Jaguars is currently the leader for that role,” Wells opined. “The Jaguars won (Saturday) night and so they actually have another round here in the playoffs. So we’ll see how that adjusts the time schedule.
“We had heard that [Texas coach} Steve Sarkisian wanted to make his decision by Wednesday of this week. I doubt he does that. With Jackson, we believe he’s the odds-on favorite for in the job at this point.”
Wells commented on Texas basketball’s 72-70 win over Texas Tech on Saturday, calling the Longhorns a “second-half team.”
“Like I talked about, Big 12 Conference basketball is a roller coaster,” Wells said. “You take it game to game – you don’t look ahead too far. You get through this gauntlet of teams. You’re gonna be as prepared as any for March.”
Wells said super-senior Timmy Allen has been the catalyst for Texas during a stretch in which it’s trailed by at least nine points in three of the past four games. “They did a lot more isolation, a lot more you know work in the paint one on one, and he kind of got hot in the second half,” Wells said of Allen.
Burton said transfer Sir’Jabari Rice been clutch in recent games, most notably with his defense and free throw shooting.
“Rice has been to three NCAA tournaments with New Mexico State and his experience has been a difference, especially late in the game,” Burton said. “He was probably the least heralded of the incoming transfers. Last night he was absolutely nails and really helped Texas keep that lead and remain in a position of strength.”
Wells said there hasn’t been news from the transfer portal because Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff are being judicious with their portal takes.
“Texas is very cautious and pragmatic with their approach,” Wells said. “They’ve identified a handful of kids that will potentially be in the portal and that’ll be who they pursue. They’re just not there yet.
Burton said the Longhorns now have the “luxury of being judicious” with the transfer portal.
Wells traveled to see prospects Micah Hudson (wide receiver) and Seldon Bridges (defensive back) from Lake Belton during their basketball game on Friday and came away impressed with the athleticism of both players.
Class of 2024 wide receiver prospect Parker Livingstone was on campus in Austin for an unofficial, solo visit this weekend and came away impressed with what he saw.
“Parker wanted some solo time to check out things and got some time with Sark that he might not have in a mass official visit situation like Junior Day,” Wells said. “He had his family with him and got the things he wanted out of the visit.”
