40 Acres Sports

Chris Ogbonayya runs against Colorado

Starting this year the coaches have started to keep a “big board” of the top 11 players on the offense and defense each week. With the start of conference play, we’ve decided to make one of our own. Here’s the list after the [tag]Colorado[/tag] game:

1. [tag]Chris Ogbonnaya[/tag] – Texas may have found their running back. Chris “O” made the game’s first big play on a 65 yard touchdown catch from Colt McCoy that set the tone. He also added 75 yards on the ground and showed some big play ability.
2. [tag]Roy Miller[/tag] – The big guy was everywhere on Saturday night. Miller had eight tackles, a fumble recovery, three quarterback hits, and two pass breakups. He may be the conferences best in the middle.
3. [tag]Colt McCoy[/tag] – It says a lot about McCoy’s play thus far this year that the game versus Colorado is a step back. Colt had been playing out of this world so far, and came back to earth a bit against a Colorado team that decided to blitz all night. He finished 23 of 30 for 262 yards including two touchdowns and interceptions. McCoy didn’t lead the team in rushing finally, rushing for a solid 59 yards.
4. [tag]Roddrick Muckelroy[/tag] – Muckelroy was all over the field in this game. He led the team in tackling again, accounting for 10 tackles and a pass break up. The speed and violence he is bringing to this line backing core has the unit playing better than any group in Mack Brown’s tenure.
5. [tag]Brian Orakpo[/tag] – “B-Rak” is making himself a lot of money this year. Texas fans were hoping he’d put it all together on the field and he hasn’t disappointed. When teams decided to block him with just one guy he seems to get at least a hit on the quarterback every time. He finished with only two tackles, but had five hits on the quarterback and made the pocket a place CU’s quarterback Cody Hawkins a place he didn’t want to be.
6. [tag]Earl Thomas[/tag] – As Earl Thomas goes, so goes this young secondary. The red shirt freshman appears to be the emotional leader of the group in the back. Earl’s name wasn’t mentioned all that much last night, and that is a good sign. He had two pass breakups and provided good support in the run game.
7. [tag]Cody Johnson[/tag] – Johnson began the game as the starting running back for the first time in his young career at Texas. With Ogbonnaya having such a big game and the score becoming lopsided, Cody was limited to a short yardage back. He capitalized however, and two touchdowns will get you on the big board every week.
8. [tag]Jordan Shipley[/tag] – Shipley caught the other McCoy pass on the night. It wasn’t a huge day for the ex Burnet star, but he got in the end zone and moved the chains on a few receptions. He has definitely become the guy McCoy looks to on hot reads and around the goal line. Their chemistry is amazing.
9. [tag]Quan Cosby[/tag] – Cosby had the most catches on the team and appeared to be the most explosive on the night. The old guy on the team finished with nine catches for 71 yards. His long was just 15 however, as all the wide outs failed to make a big play.
10. [tag]Sergio Kindle[/tag] – Sergio is just a physical freak. He causes havoc wherever he is on the field. When he lines up opposite Orakpo in the “buck” package an offense has no chance. Kindle looked better playing in space as he gets more and more comfortable on his surgically prepared knee. The light has finally come on in his third year on campus, and the sky appears to be the limit for this guy.
11. [tag]Chykie Brown[/tag] – Chykie Brown played his best game as a Longhorn Saturday night against Colorado. It started early, as the starting corner knocked down a long pass attempt by Cody Hawkins. If that pass is completed the game may have been completely different. The whole secondary played with a swagger it never had last year. The Tony Yayo hand dance needs to go, but the play of this group is here to stay.

1. reply to  #1

   

   Hook'em Horns

   October 7th, 2008 at 6:00 pm

   Is there any way that ya’ll could put the top stats in the nation for every position on here so we can get a look at who is doing the best and who’s not? Because I really want to know the stats of our O-line and I can’t really find them anywhere. Like how many sacks we have given up compared to the rest of the nation or at least top 25 or just Big 12.

2. reply to  #2

   

   Hook'em Horns

   October 7th, 2008 at 6:01 pm

   Oh, and this pertains to collge basketball, but are they seriously ranking O who? number 1 in the Big 12? I am stunned with that. I am really looking forward to making an upset happen this weekend for O who? BEAT OU!!!

3. reply to  #3

   

   Mike

   October 7th, 2008 at 6:44 pm

   I can try to do a “Stacking Up Against the Nation” next week with UT’s stats compared to the national average or top 25 or Big 12 or something. I’ll look into it because that is a good idea.