1 hr. ago
Steve Sarkisian gave a number of interesting nuggets during his media availability on Monday. The one that stood out to me centered around Emmett Mosley V and Graceson Littleton. He dubbed both the "hardest-playing" players on the team, a sentiment Arch Manning echoed for Emmett Mosley. To me, those two specific players being given that specific compliment is important.
First, these two Longhorns going against each other consistently in practice must be fun to watch. Beyond that, there's something about the slot WR and the nickelback being dubbed "hardest-playing" that could be key for Texas this season.
Let's start with Emmett Mosley V. He's often been the forgotten WR among the star-studded trio for Texas. He's earned consistent praise throughout this season and him earning this distinction is unsurprising. The importance, in my eyes, comes in because of what that position requires in a Steve Sarkisian offense.
A successful Sarkisian offense starts with his screen game. Much of that game relies on the slot WR being a willing and able blocker(see: Jordan Whittington). Every elite Sarkisian offense has a slot WR that not only can be a threat as a WR, but be "nasty" as a blocker. It's rare you hear a player dubbed the "hardest-playing" if blocking is not a strength of theirs. Mosley being one of the "hardest-playing" Longhorns makes him as important to the offense as any other playmaker, and not only as a pass-catcher.
Let's flip sides of the ball to his defensive counterpart, Graceson Littleton. After a stellar freshman campaign, Littleton had a quiet offseason until fall camp. He's been one of, if not the best defensive player for Texas in the past month, including two straight scrimmages with an INT.
#littleton
First, these two Longhorns going against each other consistently in practice must be fun to watch. Beyond that, there's something about the slot WR and the nickelback being dubbed "hardest-playing" that could be key for Texas this season.
Let's start with Emmett Mosley V. He's often been the forgotten WR among the star-studded trio for Texas. He's earned consistent praise throughout this season and him earning this distinction is unsurprising. The importance, in my eyes, comes in because of what that position requires in a Steve Sarkisian offense.
A successful Sarkisian offense starts with his screen game. Much of that game relies on the slot WR being a willing and able blocker(see: Jordan Whittington). Every elite Sarkisian offense has a slot WR that not only can be a threat as a WR, but be "nasty" as a blocker. It's rare you hear a player dubbed the "hardest-playing" if blocking is not a strength of theirs. Mosley being one of the "hardest-playing" Longhorns makes him as important to the offense as any other playmaker, and not only as a pass-catcher.
Let's flip sides of the ball to his defensive counterpart, Graceson Littleton. After a stellar freshman campaign, Littleton had a quiet offseason until fall camp. He's been one of, if not the best defensive player for Texas in the past month, including two straight scrimmages with an INT.
#littleton
12 days ago
On Saturday, the Texas Longhorns held the first scrimmage of preseason camp at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, an important milestone with the season three weeks away as Steve Sarkisian's team participated in a game-like environment, although there was not a game plan, the Longhorns head coach said during a media availability afterwards.
Given the level of contact in scrimmages, the biggest priority is always getting through it without any significant injuries, and while Sarkisian said that there were some "bumps and bruises," he did not provide any indication that any Texas players sustained notable injuries.
There were a number of players who missed the scrimmage due to the flu, which has impacted the team this week — wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon, defensive lineman Justus Terry, edge/linebacker Brad Spence, linebacker Rasheem Biles, linebacker Ty'Anthony Smith, who also missed some practice time this week, and cornerback John Meredith.
As is often the case during the first scrimmage, the defense was slightly ahead of the offense thanks to some highlight plays that included an interception by safety Jonah Williams in the end zone and a 75-yard return by cornerback Graceson Littleton after an interception in the red zone.
But the offense did also come up with some explosive plays, including touchdown passes by each quarterback. Wide receivers Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman both had long touchdown catches, running back Raleek Brown caught a touchdown from KJ Lacey, and Dia Bell connected with wide receiver Kohan Brown for a score.
#linebacker #team
Given the level of contact in scrimmages, the biggest priority is always getting through it without any significant injuries, and while Sarkisian said that there were some "bumps and bruises," he did not provide any indication that any Texas players sustained notable injuries.
There were a number of players who missed the scrimmage due to the flu, which has impacted the team this week — wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon, defensive lineman Justus Terry, edge/linebacker Brad Spence, linebacker Rasheem Biles, linebacker Ty'Anthony Smith, who also missed some practice time this week, and cornerback John Meredith.
As is often the case during the first scrimmage, the defense was slightly ahead of the offense thanks to some highlight plays that included an interception by safety Jonah Williams in the end zone and a 75-yard return by cornerback Graceson Littleton after an interception in the red zone.
But the offense did also come up with some explosive plays, including touchdown passes by each quarterback. Wide receivers Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman both had long touchdown catches, running back Raleek Brown caught a touchdown from KJ Lacey, and Dia Bell connected with wide receiver Kohan Brown for a score.
#linebacker #team
1 month ago
A major Texas Longhorns recruit is suiting up to play for them a year early. Five-star cornerback John Meredith is reclassifying from 2027 to 2026, head coach Steve Sarkisian said at SEC Media Days. That means he will be playing for next season's Longhorns.
"I'm more than ready. Looking forward to getting to campus and am ready to compete," Meredith said to Hayes Fawcett of On3. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound corner is ranked as the No. 2 corner and No. 12 prospect in the nation.
Part of this comes from his high school status. He tried transferring from Euless Trinity to North Crowley, but the District 11-6A executive committee ruled him ineligible to play his senior season. The ruling allows him to play a season early.
The Longhorns are expected to start a relatively young secondary after corner Jahdae Barron was drafted in the first round. Sophomores Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips are expected to take big roles in the secondary, and Brad Spencer and Jelani McDonald are the only seniors in the secondary.
It makes all the sense for Meredith, who could have NFL potential, and he gets to train with a Texas staff that just developed Barron. "He provides great length, great speed, tremendous man-to-man ability," Sarkisian said at SEC Media Days. "Very confident, very aggressive. All the attributes you want in a defensive back… It's not a secret why he was a top two or three player in the country in the 2027 class. We'll see how far we can take him."
#corner #secondary #days
"I'm more than ready. Looking forward to getting to campus and am ready to compete," Meredith said to Hayes Fawcett of On3. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound corner is ranked as the No. 2 corner and No. 12 prospect in the nation.
Part of this comes from his high school status. He tried transferring from Euless Trinity to North Crowley, but the District 11-6A executive committee ruled him ineligible to play his senior season. The ruling allows him to play a season early.
The Longhorns are expected to start a relatively young secondary after corner Jahdae Barron was drafted in the first round. Sophomores Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips are expected to take big roles in the secondary, and Brad Spencer and Jelani McDonald are the only seniors in the secondary.
It makes all the sense for Meredith, who could have NFL potential, and he gets to train with a Texas staff that just developed Barron. "He provides great length, great speed, tremendous man-to-man ability," Sarkisian said at SEC Media Days. "Very confident, very aggressive. All the attributes you want in a defensive back… It's not a secret why he was a top two or three player in the country in the 2027 class. We'll see how far we can take him."
#corner #secondary #days
1 month ago
This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter.
Nonprofit health systems AdventHealth and Intermountain Health have taken the first step toward inking a partnership to unite their services in the Denver area.
The proposed joint venture would bring together AdventHealth's five hospitals, urgent care centers, medical practices and off-site emergency clinics around Denver with Intermountain's three hospitals and related practices in the area, the systems announced Tuesday.
AdventHealth and Intermountain have signed a letter of intent and anticipate signing a definitive agreement in the next few weeks. The transaction is expected to close early next year if it clears regulatory hurdles, the systems said.
The joint venture would bring together AdventHealth hospitals Avista, Castle Rock, Littleton, Parker and Porter with Intermountain hospitals Good Samaritan, Lutheran and Platte Valley, along with related clinics.
#healthcare #denver #Health
Nonprofit health systems AdventHealth and Intermountain Health have taken the first step toward inking a partnership to unite their services in the Denver area.
The proposed joint venture would bring together AdventHealth's five hospitals, urgent care centers, medical practices and off-site emergency clinics around Denver with Intermountain's three hospitals and related practices in the area, the systems announced Tuesday.
AdventHealth and Intermountain have signed a letter of intent and anticipate signing a definitive agreement in the next few weeks. The transaction is expected to close early next year if it clears regulatory hurdles, the systems said.
The joint venture would bring together AdventHealth hospitals Avista, Castle Rock, Littleton, Parker and Porter with Intermountain hospitals Good Samaritan, Lutheran and Platte Valley, along with related clinics.
#healthcare #denver #Health
2 months ago
We are Tommy ******* is days away from Texas football being back and it’s another Hot Take Tuesday. Today, I want to focus on the defense and the chaos they could create this season. Will Muschamp has been added as the “head coach of the defense” and the philosophy of his defense is clear: wreck havoc. They are going to play an aggressive style that will thrive on takeaways, sacks and TFLs. I expect it to lead to multiple defensive scores in 2026.
Texas is going to play a downhill, aggressive style of defense. They have the guys to do it, led by Colin Simmons. He’s forced his fair share of forced fumbles, including one against Arkansas that led to Texas’ lone defensive TD last year. This year, I expect his counterpart Lance Jackson to make his fair share of game changing plays on the QB. The pass rush will play its role but the difference in this take is in the LB core to me.
Rasheem Biles was the crown jewel of the defensive portal class and he comes in with big-play ability. He’s coming off a year where he racked up 4.5 sacks, 2 FFs, 2 INTs, 4 PDs and two defensive TDs by himself. I expect him to take at least one interception or fumble back to the house this season. Add in Ty’Anthony Smith, who had two INTs against Michigan and you have a duo that’ll absolutely have chances to get in the endzone this season.
Finally, this secondary is going to be a man-coverage, ball skills based unit. The cornerback trio of Bo Mascoe, Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips all bring strong ball skills to the table. Jelani McDonald and Derek Williams Jr. both have shown big-play ability in the past. This unit will absolutely take the ball away and I could see a pick-six or two this season.
This Texas defense does have some minor questions. One of those, to me, is not: Will they create turnovers? That feels like a given for this team heading into this season, especially considering the approach. Simmons and Jackson are going to be encouraged to attack the passer. Biles and Smith are going to be ready to make big plays in coverage at LB. The secondary will be given the green light to attack and I believe it’ll benefit every player.
Texas is going to play a downhill, aggressive style of defense. They have the guys to do it, led by Colin Simmons. He’s forced his fair share of forced fumbles, including one against Arkansas that led to Texas’ lone defensive TD last year. This year, I expect his counterpart Lance Jackson to make his fair share of game changing plays on the QB. The pass rush will play its role but the difference in this take is in the LB core to me.
Rasheem Biles was the crown jewel of the defensive portal class and he comes in with big-play ability. He’s coming off a year where he racked up 4.5 sacks, 2 FFs, 2 INTs, 4 PDs and two defensive TDs by himself. I expect him to take at least one interception or fumble back to the house this season. Add in Ty’Anthony Smith, who had two INTs against Michigan and you have a duo that’ll absolutely have chances to get in the endzone this season.
Finally, this secondary is going to be a man-coverage, ball skills based unit. The cornerback trio of Bo Mascoe, Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips all bring strong ball skills to the table. Jelani McDonald and Derek Williams Jr. both have shown big-play ability in the past. This unit will absolutely take the ball away and I could see a pick-six or two this season.
This Texas defense does have some minor questions. One of those, to me, is not: Will they create turnovers? That feels like a given for this team heading into this season, especially considering the approach. Simmons and Jackson are going to be encouraged to attack the passer. Biles and Smith are going to be ready to make big plays in coverage at LB. The secondary will be given the green light to attack and I believe it’ll benefit every player.
