The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
Football plays Baylor Saturday at home
09.29.2014 | Football
Longhorns-Bears game begins at 2:30 p.m. Central from Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Longhorns Gameweek | Longhorns Gameday (FAQ) | Texas-Baylor Game Notes (PDF) | Tickets
After downing Kansas on the road in its Big 12 Conference opener, Texas returns to Austin to face No. 7/6 Baylor on Saturday (2:30 p.m. Central on ABC) from Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Bears have posted some impressive offensive numbers in rolling to a 4-0 record (1-0 in Big 12). Baylor defeated Iowa State, 49-28, in Ames on Saturday. The Longhorns (2-2, 1-0) snapped a two-game skid with a 23-0 win over the Jayhawks. For tickets to the Baylor game, which is presented by H-E-B, visit TexasSports.com/tickets or call (512) 471-3333.
Defense Leads Horns Past Kansas: The defense forced four turnovers and the offense provided enough firepower for Texas to claim a 23-0 road win over Kansas Saturday in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams. Tyrone Swoopes completed 19 of 34 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receivers John Harris (six catches for 89 yards and a TD) and Jaxon Shipley (game-high 122 all-purpose yards) turned in their typical steady performances. Duke Thomas led the defensive charge with a career-high two interceptions. The Longhorns notched their first shutout since 2012 vs. New Mexico (45-0). It was the first shutout vs. a Big 12 foe since 2011 (43-0 vs. Kansas) and first blanking on the road since 2005 (62-0 at Baylor).
Baylor Series Trends: Texas leads the all-time series with Baylor 74-25-2 and has won 17 of the last 21 meetings, including 13 of the past 16. Last season, Baylor knocked off Texas, 30-10, to claim the Big 12 title in the final game at Floyd Casey Stadium. The Horns have won 10 of the last 11 meetings in Austin, including a 56-50 shootout in 2012. That contest produced the most combined points (106) in a Texas game. Prior to a 30-22 victory in 2010, which snapped a 12-game Texas series winning streak, the Bears had not won in Austin since 1991.
Long-Time Opponents: Saturday's game will mark the 104th meeting between Texas and Baylor in a series that dates back to 1901. The 103 previous meetings rank as the third-longest series (by number of games) in school history. Texas A&M (118 games) and Oklahoma (108 games) are the only other opponents the Longhorns have played more than the Bears.
First-and-Goal:
• In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Longhorns will wear pink-accented gloves and socks during Saturday's Baylor game.
• Texas improved to 16-3 in Big 12 Conference openers, including wins in 15 of the last 16, with the victory over Kansas. UT is 7-2 all-time in Big 12 openers on the road.
• Baylor is the first top 10 team to visit Austin since No. 8/7 West Virginia on Oct. 6, 2012.
• The Horns rank No. 20 nationally in scoring defense (17.0 points per game), 24th in total defense (319.8 yards per game) and No. 6 in yards allowed per play (4.11). The passing efficiency defense checks in at No. 8 in the FBS with a 87.10 rating. The Horns held Kansas QB Montell Cozart to a rating of just 50.84. Baylor enters the game ranked No. 1 nationally in scoring (56.8 points per game), first in total offense (641.0 ypg) and fourth in passing offense (401.3 ypg).
• The Longhorns have combined for 17 sacks over the first four games and rank tied for fifth in the FBS (4.3 per game). Twelve players have been involved in a sack this season and the defensive tackles are leading the way. Malcom Brown has a team-high 3.5 sacks and Hassan Ridgeway is second (3.0). Brown ranks tied 40th in the FBS (0.88 per game) and Ridgeway is tied for 51st (0.71 pg). Baylor is one of only two teams in the nation (also New Mexico State) yet to surrender a sack this season.
• QB Tyrone Swoopes has directed the offense the last three games, completing 63 of 99 passes for 590 yards. His completion percentage (63.6) ranks tied for 38th in the FBS and he has committed just two turnovers in his three starts. The Longhorns have just one interception this season (by Swoopes) and are one of just six teams in the nation which have attempted 130 or more passes (133) with one or fewer picks. Swoopes has not tossed an interception in his last 68 attempts.
• Jaxon Shipley (26) and John Harris (25) are leading the team in receptions. They rank tied for fourth and sixth, respectively, in the Big 12 in catches. Johnathan Gray (222) and Malcolm Brown (191) are the top rushers and they will be pitted against a Baylor team which ranks No. 6 in the nation in rushing defense (80.0 ypg).
• Leading up to the Kansas game, Texas announced a pair of personnel updates. QB David Ash has decided to retire from football due to his injury history and DT Desmond Jackson will have surgery on his injured foot and is likely out for the season.
Streaks, Trends and Milestones:
• John Harris has one touchdown reception in each of the first four games, becoming just the second player in school history to accomplish that feat. Jordan Shipley had at least one TD catch in the first eight games of 2008.
• Duke Thomas had a career-high two interceptions in the win over Kansas. His first pick, which occurred in the second quarter, set up the second touchdown. He is the first Longhorn with two picks in a game since Quandre Diggs vs. Ole Miss (Sept. 15, 2012).
• Texas has nine interceptions already this season after posting 10 all of 2013. That is the most for the Longhorns in the first four games since 1980 when they also had nine. The Horns rank tied for first nationally in interceptions (2.25 per game), tied for seventh in turnovers gained (2.75 per game/11) and tied for 16th in turnover margin (+1.0 per game). Baylor has turned the ball over just five times on the season (three fumbles/two interceptions) and ranks tied for 52nd nationally in turnover margin (+0.25 pg).
• Thomas, Diggs and Jordan Hicks each have two interceptions, making Texas the only team in the country with three players posting at least two picks. Six teams (Utah State, South Alabama, Oklahoma State, Army, Oregon State, Mississippi State) have two players with at least two interceptions. Hicks is one of two linebackers in the Big 12 with two or more interceptions (Seth Jacobs, Oklahoma State).
• Hicks, who was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his 15-tackle, one interception performance vs. Kansas, has a team-high 55 stops. He has averaged 15.7 tackles over the last three games, including a career-best 18 vs. UCLA. Steve Edmond is second with 46 stops and is averaging 13.7 over the last three contests.
• Safety Jason Hall made his first career start in the Kansas game and was credited with a career-high seven tackles. He became the first true freshman to start a game since Blake Gideon in 2008. Gideon started all 13 games at safety that season.
• Dominic Espinosa, who fractured an ankle in the season opener vs. North Texas, had his team-best 40 consecutive-game starting streak snapped vs. BYU. DE Cedric Reed, who has started 23 straight games, now has the team lead. TE Geoff Swaim has the most consecutive starts on offense with nine.
• For just the 14th time on UT record, the Longhorns held an opponent to under 100 yards of total offense when they limited North Texas to just 94 (79 rushing, 15 passing). The 94 yards yielded rank No. 13 on the UT single-game list and it marked the first time since Oct. 29, 2011 that the Longhorns held an opponent under 100 yards. Texas was one of just three schools in the FBS to allow that few yards in week one (also Pittsburgh, 57, and Louisiana-Monroe, 94). The 15 passing yards surrendered to UNT rank No. 9 on the UT single-game list.
• The Texas defense forced North Texas into four interceptions, the most since the 2009 Oklahoma State game (Oct. 31). Dylan Haines, Jordan Hicks, Adrian Colbert and Demarco Cobbs each recorded his first career interception. Cobbs returned his pick it 28 yards for a touchdown. DT Chris Whaley had UT's last interception return for a score (31 yards) in the 2013 Oklahoma game. The Horns followed that up with four more interceptions vs. Kansas.
Directing the Offense: Sophomore Tyrone Swoopes is now the team's starting quarterback. Swoopes, who played in six games as a reserve in 2013, has capably directed the offense in the first three starts of his career, completing 63 of 99 passes (63.6 percent) for 590 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
• In his starting debut vs. BYU, Swoopes was solid, completing 20-of-31 passes for 176 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He completed his first eight attempts of the game, and although he was unable to lead his first scoring drive as a starter until the third quarter, he showed promise. On the TD drive, Swoopes led a 13-play, 75-yard drive in which he went 6-of-6 for 53 yards, including a 13-yard TD to John Harris.
• In his second start, Swoopes went 24 of 34 for 196 yards and two TDs vs. UCLA. He again got off to a hot start, completing his first 11 passes, and was 11 of 13 for 104 yards and two TDs on Texas two touchdown drives.
• Most recently, Swoopes made the first road start of his career and helped Texas win 23-0 at Kansas. He completed 19 of 34 passes for 218 yards and two TDs, along with a 7-yard rushing TD. Swoopes was 6-for-8 for 75 yards and one touchdown on third downs.
Revamped Offensive Line: With three starters lost from last year, the Longhorns were going to have a somewhat different look to the offensive line this year. Dominic Espinosa entered the season having started the last 39 games at center, but after suffering a fractured ankle vs. North Texas the senior is out indefinitely and the Longhorns are now minus their most experienced lineman. Junior Kennedy Estelle made eight starts a year ago and opened the UNT game at left tackle, but did not play vs. BYU and UCLA due to suspension and was subsequently dismissed from the program. Potential starting tackle Desmond Harrison missed the first four games due to suspension. That left Texas with a group that entered the BYU game with a combined five starts: sophomore right tackle Kent Perkins had two, junior left guard Sedrick Flowers had two and junior left tackle Marcus Hutchins had one. Hutchins moved over from the defensive line during preseason camp. Meanwhile, right guard Taylor Doyle and center Jake Raulerson made their first career starts vs. BYU. That group started again the last two games.
Catching On: With the departure of Mike Davis, who ended his career fourth in UT history in both receptions (200) and receiving yards (2,753), Texas did not have much returning production beyond senior Jaxon Shipley and junior Marcus Johnson. Shipley has posted 185 receptions (fifth on the UT career list) in his career after catching 26 for 225 yards in the four three games. Behind Shipley, Johnson was the leading returning receiver in terms of yardage, having caught 22 passes for 350 yards (15.9 ypc) last year.
• Senior John Harris has been the breakout wide receiver, posting 25 catches for a team-high 336 yards. His 84.0 yards per game rank sixth in the Big 12. Harris had seven catches for a career-best 110 yards and a TD in the opener, and followed it up with a career-high eight catches for 77 yards and a touchdown in week two vs. BYU. After posting TD receptions vs. UCLA and Kansas, he became just the second player in school history with a touchdown reception in each of the first four games (also Jordan Shipley, 2008).
• Beyond Shipley, Harris and Johnson, Jacorey Warrick has seen time, making his first career catches (two for 30 yards) vs. UNT. Junior Daje Johnson figured to be a factor after posting 24 receptions for 178 yards last season. He has big-play ability with five career plays of 45 or more yards, but missed the first four games due to suspension. True freshmen Armanti Foreman, Lorenzo Joe and Dorian Leonard have also seen action.
One-Two Punch in the Backfield: Senior Malcolm Brown and junior Johnathan Gray give Texas a formidable running back duo. Brown and Gray are one of just six twosomes in the nation to return after each rushing for more than 750 yards last season. Brown rushed for 904 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 105.1 rushing yards over the last eight games. Gray is fully recovered from a torn Achilles that caused him to miss the final four games last season. Gray averaged 4.9 yards per carry on 159 attempts, finishing the season with 780 yards on the ground. Both are threats to catch the ball out of the backfield: Brown had 17 catches for 195 yards and Gray had 15 receptions for 61 yards. They have split the work load evenly this year, with Gray rushing 50 times for 222 yards (4.4 ypc) and Brown carrying it 53 times for 191 yards (3.6 ypc). Behind Brown and Gray, the Longhorns are youthful with just two scholarship running backs on the roster: true freshmen Donald Catalon and D'Onta Foreman. Seeing his first collegiate action vs. UNT, Foreman rushed twice for 37 yards including a long of 34.
Looking for an Increased Role: Texas has three tight ends on the roster with extended playing time. Seniors Greg Daniels and Geoff Swaim were the starters last season, including five games together. While Daniels and Swaim were a key in the running game last season, the duo combined for just six catches. M.J. McFarland, the No. 3 tight end, did not have a reception in his 11 games. McFarland has posted four catches so far, including a 2-yard TD catch vs. UCLA and a 1-yard TD reception vs. Kansas, while Swaim has three catches for 32 yards. Looking back at Louisville last year, Charlie Strong's offense had two tight ends - Gerald Christian (28) and Ryan Hubbell (14) - combine for 42 catches. During 2012, Hubbell (14) and Nate Nord (13) combined for 27 receptions. That same season, McFarland (8) and Daniels (5) were more involved in the UT passing game, combining for 13 catches. A knee injury caused Daniels to miss the first three games (he returned vs. Kansas) so freshman Andrew Beck was moved to tight end in the preseason and has played in the first four games.
In the Trenches: Texas is relying on a stout and experienced defensive line. Senior Cedric Reed and junior Shiro Davis are the starting ends while senior Desmond Jackson and junior Malcom Brown have occupied the tackle positions. However, Jackson suffered a foot injury in the UCLA game that is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the season. Against Kansas, DT Hassan Ridgeway moved into the starting lineup and DE Caleb Bluiett made his first start of the season over Davis. DT Alex Norman, DT Paul Boyette Jr. and DE Bryce Cottrell have also added depth, while true freshman DT Poona Ford saw his first action vs. Kansas.
• The line has helped Texas record 17 sacks in the first four games which ranks tied for fifth nationally and is the most by UT in the same span since recording 18 in 2000.
• The group made their presence known from the onset of the opener vs. UNT, setting the tone and helping Texas allow just 40 yards of total offense in the first three quarters.
• After recording four sacks vs. UNT, the Longhorns had six vs. BYU, three vs. UCLA and four vs. Kansas. Against the Cougars, Brown had a career-high 2.5 sacks, matched his career best with 10 tackles and forced a fumble. Davis posted 1.5 sacks, while Reed and Bluiett each assisted on one. Brown and Ridgeway each tallied one sack against the Bruins, while Reed and Davis each had a sack at Kansas.
• A first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2013, Reed is a disruptive force who has started in 23 straight games which leads the team. The senior forced five fumbles and recorded 19 tackles for loss and 10 sacks last year. His 79 tackles were third on the team and are tops among returning players. Davis, a junior, made his first career start vs. UNT. He saw action in all 13 games last season and made 15 tackles, four of them for a loss. Jackson and Brown bring plenty of experience to the middle of the line. Combined, the two have played in 70 games and started in 32. Jackson recorded a career-high 39 tackles last year, along with a pair of sacks and five tackles for loss. Brown, meanwhile, finished the season tied for third in PBUs (5), third in tackles for loss (12) and seventh in tackles (68).
Depth at Linebacker: Texas has depth at linebacker, where five players that started in at least one game last season returned. Senior Steve Edmond, an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection last year, anchors the middle, while senior Jordan Hicks and junior Peter Jinkens start at the outside positions. Dalton Santos (seven starts) and Timothy Cole (one) also bring starting experience from last season, while Demarco Cobbs (six) and Tevin Jackson (two) have starting experience from 2012. Edmond, who has made 23 career starts, recorded 73 tackles last year. Hicks has returned from an Achilles injury that caused him to miss the final 10 games a season ago, but so far has returned to the form that saw him make 41 tackles in the first four contests of 2013. Jinkens started in six games last year, playing his best in the final two when he made a combined 21 tackles. Redshirt freshman Naashon Hughes also seen time as a reserve.
• Hicks has played at a high level, recording 55 tackles, including six for a loss, in the first four games. In the last two games he has 33 tackles (18 vs. UCLA and 15 vs. Kansas) and he also has two interceptions on the year, with one coming vs. North Texas and the other vs. Kansas. Edmond is second on the team with 46 stops, including a career-high 14 vs. BYU and KU. Cobbs returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown vs. North Texas.
Playmakers in the Secondary: With experienced playmakers Quandre Diggs, Duke Thomas and Mykkele Thompson, the Longhorns have a well-equipped secondary and proved that by allowing just 140.5 passing yards per game in the first four contests which ranks 8th nationally (15 vs. UNT, 181 vs. BYU, 226 vs. UCLA, 140 vs. Kansas). The secondary has also helped the Longhorns record nine interceptions which is tied for second in the nation. Diggs and Thomas have two each while Dylan Haines and Adrian Colbert have one each.
• Diggs, a three-year starter, and Thomas, a junior who started 10 games a year ago, man the cornerback positions. With 40 career starts under his belt, Diggs is the most experienced player on defense and tied for most on the team (with Dominic Espinosa). Manning one of the safety positions is Thompson, a senior who has seen action in 42 career games including 22 starts. The last starting spot in the secondary was won by Colbert in the opener vs. UNT, while freshman Jason Hall and sophomore Dylan Haines also saw time. Haines also started the last three games, as the Horns opened the game with three safeties. The Longhorns were without Josh Turner for at the first two games due to suspension though he returned to play special teams the two games. Turner played in 12 games (three starts) last season and posted 37 tackles. Colbert, who had six special teams tackles in 2013, had an interception vs. the Mean Green as did Haines. Diggs made the ninth interception of his career when he picked off Taysom Hill of BYU. Diggs added his 10th pick vs. Kansas. Sophomore Bryson Echols as well as redshirt freshman Antwuan Davis have also seen time at cornerback.
Replacing the Kickers: Texas had to replace its punter and place-kicker this season. Anthony Fera served a dual role last year and turned in one of the best performances in school history. Fera was a finalist for the 2013 Lou Groza Award after connecting on 20 of 22 field goals, including a streak of 15 consecutive that matched Phil Dawson's school record (1996-97). His 90.9 percent field-goal accuracy ranks second on the UT all-time single-season list. He also averaged 40.7 yards on 75 punts. Junior Nick Rose took over as the place-kicker after serving as the kickoff specialist each of the last two years and has connected on 3 of 6 field goals so far (missed from 38, made from 34 vs. UNT; missed from 43 vs. BYU; made from 33 vs. UCLA; blocked from 48 vs. Kansas, made from 42 vs. Kansas). Senior William Russ took over as the No. 1 punter and is averaging 43.6 yards per punt which is tied for 33rd nationally. Against UCLA Russ had his best game, averaging 50.5 yards on six punts including career longs of 58 (twice) and then 62 yards, and putting three inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
Freshmen Contributions: The Longhorns have played eight true freshmen this season. WR Roderick Bernard, DT Poona Ford and WR Dorian Leonard saw their first career action in last week's Kansas game. TE Andrew Beck, WR Armanti Foreman, RB D'Onta Foreman, DB Jason Hall and WR Lorenzo Joe had already played. Hall, who opened the KU game at safety, became the first true freshman to start since Blake Gideon in 2008.
