College Confidential

Texas adds six FB signees for spring semester, including QB Brewer and two JC linemen

Six members of Texas’ football recruiting class have signed scholarship agreements and enrolled for the spring semester, school officials announced today. The list includes four high school signees _ quarterback Connor Brewer, linebacker Alex De La Torre, offensive lineman Camrhon Hughes and defensive back Orlando Thomas _ and two junior-college transfers: offensive lineman Donald Hawkins and defensive tackle Brandon Moore. All six players will take part in spring football drills, which begin Feb. 23.

_ Jimmy Burch

Baylor men's BKB team climbs to No. 3 in AP poll, earns first No. 1 vote in program history

Baylor earned a pair of milestones in today’s updated men’s college basketball rankings. The Bears climbed to No. 3 in The Associated Press poll, the loftiest perch in school history. Baylor also earned the first No. 1 vote in the history of the men’s program, provided by AP voter Jason Franchuk of the Provo (Utah) Daily Herald. Baylor (17-0, 4-0 in Big 12) puts its new ranking on the line at 8:30 p.m. tonight against No. 7 Kansas (14-3, 4-0) in Lawrence, Kan.

_ Jimmy Burch

Baylor players earn weekly Big 12 basketball honors

Baylor players Perry Jones III and Pierre Jackson received weekly player honors today from Big 12 officials.

Jones, a forward, shared player of the week with Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor. Jones averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds in two victories for No. 4 Baylor. Taylor averaged 15 points and five assists in two victories by No. 10 Kansas.

Jackson, a junior-college transfer, was selected as the league’s rookie of the week after averaging 14 points and 8.5 assists in two games for Baylor.

_ Jimmy Burch

College football all-star game has area players

North Texas running back Lance Dunbar, from Haltom High School, and Baylor offensive lineman Robert T. Griffin, from Euless Trinity, are on the rosters for the Casino Del Sol College All-Star Game at 7 p.m. Monday in Tucson, Ariz. (Fox Sports Southwest Plus). North Texas defensive end Brandon Akpunku is also on one of the rosters.

Griffin, a 330-pounder who started two years at Baylor and protected quarterback Robert Griffin III in his Heisman Trophy-winning season, was referred to as "RG-not-3" in an Arizona newspaper headline.

 

Mansfield QB down to two, other local recruiting notes

Mansfield quarterback Jerod Evans has narrowed his choices down to two schools, Mansfield coach Jeff Hulme said on Thursday.

"It's probably a two-horse race between North Texas and Air Force right now," Hulme said.

The 6-foot-4, 210 pound Evans visited Air Force and will visit North Texas on Jan. 20th.

Evans threw for 1,871 yards and 25 TDs and rushed for 717 yards and 6 TDs in leading the Tigers to the Class 5A Div. II regionals this year.

Hulme said Mansfield receiver Gary Davis (6-3, 180), who caught 23 passes for 498 yards and 8 TDs this year, could end up at Air Force as well.

Bell QB looking at four

Hurst L.D. Bell quarterback Kyle Romano is focused on four schools with just a few weeks remaining before signing day and is very high on Eastern Kentucky, Bell coach Mark Smith said.

Romano is also considering Air Force, Sam Houston State and Abilene Christian.

He will visit Eastern Kentucky this weekend and Smith said Romano as developed a good repore with the Colonels' coaching staff.

Romano was a true dual-threat for the Blue Raiders this season, acting as the team's leading passer and rusher.

He threw for 1,851 yards and 14 TDs and rushed for 913 yards (6 yards per carry) and 17 TDs while leading Bell to a bi-district berth.

- Matthew Reagan

 

 

Texas A&M FB coach Sumlin announces majority of first-year staffers

Texas A&M football coach Kevin Sumlin announced the majority of his staff today, including offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Mark Snyder.

Kingsbury, a former Texas Tech quarterback, is one of three offensive assistants who were part of Sumlin’s staff last season at Houston. The others are offensive line coach B.J. Anderson and running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Clarence McKinney. The Cougars finished 13-1 last season and led the nation in total offense (599.1 yards per game), passing offense (450.1 avg.) and scoring (49.3 avg.).

Snyder, a former head football coach at Marshall (2005-09), spent last season as the defensive coordinator at South Florida. The lone holdover from predecessor Mike Sherman’s staff will be defensive line coach Terrell Williams, who oversaw a unit that helped A&M lead the nation in sacks last season (51).

Other members of Sumlin’s staff announced Friday include wide receivers coach David Beaty, special teams/tight ends coach Brian Polian, strength and conditioning coach Larry Jackson and Justin Moore, the associate athletic director for football.

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas OL Snow to compete in East-West Shrine Game

Texas offensive lineman has accepted an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine Game, Jan. 21 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Snow will join two former Texas teammates, safety Blake Gideon and running back Cody Johnson, on the West team.

_ Jimmy Burch

TCU third baseman Jantzen Witte out 8-10 weeks

TCU third baseman Jantzen Witte will miss the first 16 to 20 games of the season while recovering from surgery Friday to repair a minor torn hip labrum.
Witte sustained the injury late last fall, according sources close to the team. He batted .331 last year and led the Horned Frogs with 84 hits, including a team-high 21 doubles. His 45 runs batted in was second on the team.
Witte, a junior who attended Arlington Martin High School, missed the first 10 games of the 2010 season with a broken wrist. Junior Davy Wright, from Fort Worth Country Day High School, and freshman Keaton Jones are possible candidates to fill in at third.
TCU's season begins Feb. 17 with a three-game series against Ole Miss at Lupton Stadium. If Witte's recovery stays on schedule he could be back for the Frogs' final 30 regular season games.

Stefan Stevenson
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
@FollowtheFrogs

Three Texas FB players, including DE Jackson Jeffcoat, to miss spring drills

Three Texas football players will miss spring football drills because of post-season surgeries, school officials announced today.

Defensive back Adrian Phillips (right shoulder) and defensive tackle Greg Daniels (right shoulder) underwent surgery Wednesday. Defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat (ruptured pectoral muscle), an All-Big 12 performer, will undergo surgery Monday. All three players are expected back for the start of fall drills in August.

In addition, offensive guard/tight end Luke Poehlmann recently had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee but is expected to take part in spring drills. Texas begins spring football practice on Feb. 23.

Texas also learned Thursday that running back/kick returner Fozzy Whittaker was selected to receive the College Football Performance Awards 2011 Kickoff Returner Trophy. Whittaker, a senior, returned two kickoffs for touchdowns last season and led the NCAA in kickoff return average (42.4) before suffering a season-ending knee injury Nov. 12 against Missouri.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Texas Tech player Petteway to serve one-game suspension against A&M

Texas Tech basketball player Terran Petteway, a freshman from Galveston, will serve a one-game suspension Saturday against Texas A&M, coach Billy Gillispie announced today. Petteway was ejected from Wednesday’s game against Kansas after throwing a punch at an opposing player.

Gillispie said Petteway was “immediately apologetic” after the incident but Tech coaches “do not and will never condone an emotional outburst of the physical nature like what happened” in the Kansas game.

_ Jimmy Burch