40 Acres Sports

Name: [tag]Curtis Brown[/tag]
Position: Defensive Back
Ranking:

Hometown: Gilmer, TX
School: Gilmer
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 174 lbs

Background

Curtis Brown is one of the top defensive backs in the nation, ranked 3rd in his position by Scout.com and number 2 by Rivals. The 6-footer from Gilmer was dynamic with the football in his hands as a high school wide receiver but he will at least start his career at Texas as a cornerback.

At Gilmer Brown was a three-year starter who received district and regional accolades as sophomore and junior and national honors as a senior. Named first team all-state by The Associated Press and the Texas Sports Writers Association his senior season.

Immediate Impact

As a spring enrollee, Curtis is already on campus and is wearing Nathan Vasher’s number 3 jersey. The depth chart at corner is wide open after the departures of Aaron Ross and Tarell Brown and Brown’s early start should allow him a shot to crack at least the two-deep. Could at least make an immediate impact as a kick returner if the coaching staff trusts him back there.

Future

He is Texas’ highest rated defensive back in a long time (since Edorian McCullough who was great on my Xbox but not so much in the classroom) and will be expected to be a three-year starter in the defensive backfield. Great frame and has the athleticism to be shut down corner for the Horns.

Just because Kevin Durant can play every position doesn’t mean NBA teams should expect him too.

Did Nebraska’s Marlon Lucky overdose? Thankfully the kid is okay.

Pretty impressive video on Takkle.com of new LB commit Emmanuel Acho.

Well, since [tag]Cat Osterman[/tag]’s career is over at the University of Texas, I guess it is time for her to start promoting her professional career. Cat has launched her own website at CatOsterman.com, which includes all of her stats and records, as well as upcoming events she will be attending.

Overall the site is pretty cool and it seems like she has a lot of stuff going on in her post UT career. Here is my favorite clip from her Bio:

A left-hander, Cat stands 6-2, with hands so large she can grip a softball entirely with her fingers rather than having to cradle it in her palm.

It almost sounds like she is the Shaq of women’s softball, though her large hands don’t affect her pitching like Shaq’s hands affect his free-throws.

(via)

Just like last year the 2008 recruiting season is just a few weeks old and the Longhorns have already bagged nine of the top recruits in the state.

The headliners of the group are possible 5-star wide receiver Dan Buckner out of Allen and offensive lineman David Snow from Gilmer. Buckner is big (6-foot-5) and fast (4.5 forty), he could be the next number 4 out at wide receiver for the Horns. Some have Buckner rated as the top receiver in the country.

I’m also excited about Justin Tucker, a kicker out of Austin Westlake. Tucker is the nation’s top rated kicker and the Horns didn’t let this one get out of their own backyard (see Mason Crosby). Tucker will be a redshirt freshman when Hunter Lawrence is a senior, meaning we’re actually stacking the roster and won’t have to rely on a true freshman walk-on kicker for once.

2008 Commits

• LB [tag]Emmanuel Acho[/tag] – Dallas
• OL [tag]Mark Buchanan[/tag] – Austin
• WR [tag]Dan Buckner[/tag] – Allen
• ATH [tag]Brock Fitzhenry[/tag] – Giddings
• RB [tag]Jeremy Hills[/tag] – Alief
• DB [tag]DJ Monroe[/tag] – Angleton
• RB [tag]Ryan Roberson [/tag]- Brenham
• OL [tag]David Snow[/tag] – Gilmer
• K [tag]Justin Tucker[/tag] – Austin
• DB [tag]Aaron Williams[/tag] – Round Rock

Update: Added Emmanuel Acho to the list as his commitment became official this morning. The 6-foot-2 linebacker out of Dallas St. Mark’s is of course 2007 signee Sam Acho‘s little brother. Check out some great video highlights of Emmanuel.

The Touchdown Club of Columbus honored [tag]Colt McCoy[/tag] last night as their National Freshman of the Year. Past winners of the award include Adrian Peterson and Chris Leak.

The Touchdown Club of Columbus has been honoring the nation’s top athletes for the last 52 years. Last year Vince Young was awarded the Archie Griffin Award after all bowl games as the nation’s most valuable player.

(via)

Name: [tag]Russell Carter[/tag]
Position: Defensive end
Ranking:

Hometown: Houston, TX
School: Westbury
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 230 lbs

Background

Russell Carter was the coaching staff’s top target at the defensive end position. The young man out of Houston is one of the state’s top defensive linemen. Carter possesses the strength to be a force against the run and the speed and quickness needed to rush the passer. Needs work on his pass rushing technique but is already improving.

Carter’s story got a lot more interesting in the final weeks. He committed to the Longhorns way back last March and seemed very solid the entire time, but rumors started swirling right before signing day that he was looking around. There were rumors from good sources of visits to Arizona and Texas Tech, but Russell and his father denied that they took any final visits. No matter what went down, he’s a Longhorn now.

Immediate Impact

Even with Tim Crowder and Brian Robison off to the NFL defensive end is a position stacked at talent. The two-deep on both the strongside and weakside has talent and youth that Carter will have a tough time finding too much playing time this season. Carter is a player that will hopefully redshirt in 2007 to separate him from the guys in the 2006 class and give him extra time

Future

A year to get stronger, faster, and better is going to be a big help to Carter. Some time on the practice field with defensive ends coach Oscar Giles should is going to help even more. Carter has big time upside. Should be a fantastic run-stopping end and pair nicely with Sam Acho on the other side.

Texas A&M’s statistics crew is padding Aggies’ and opponents’ assists totals. Horns remove 8 of their own assists.

Texas barely gets into the NCAA Tourney in ESPN’s mock bracket.