Double Coverage 2014-09-12 by The Daily Texan

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COVERAGE Friday, September 12, 2014

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Friday, September 12, 2014

FEATURES

After four years as a reserve, fifth-year senior John Harris is making the most of his opportunity. PAGE 10 Having lost the majority of its starters to suspension or injury, the Texas offense is reeling. PAGE 11

Photo courtesy of UCLA Bruins

QUICK HITS By The Numbers PAGE 3 Matchups PAGE 4

UCLA sophomore Myles Jack does it all, on both sides of the ball, for the Bruins. PAGE 13

EDITOR’S NOTE The Longhorns were absolutely humiliated at home against BYU last weekend. Things won’t get any easier for Texas as they head to AT&T Stadium in Arlington to take on the No. 12 UCLA team. Bruin quarterback Brett Hundley is a Heisman candidate and presents an immense challenge for the Longhorn defense. Offensively, the Longhorns will have to be much better if they hope to hang with Jim Mora’s squad. Can they bounce back?

Keys to the Game PAGE 5 Stock Up, Stock Down PAGE 7 Players to Watch PAGE 12 Heisman Watch PAGE 14

DOUBLE presents

COVERAGE Vol. 9, Issue 3

Friday, September 12, 2014

Writers: Evan Berkowitz Garrett Callahan Nick Castillo Daniel Clay Jori Epstein Sebastian Herrera Drew Lieberman Jacob Martella Peter Sblendorio

Games to Watch PAGE 16

Double Coverage Editor...............................................................................Stefan Scrafield

Power Rankings PAGE 17

Photo Editor..................................................................................................Shelby Tauber

Design Editor................................................................................................Omar Longoria

Copy Editor............................................................................................................Taiki Miki

en t

Friday, September 12, 2014

90-28-3

3-3

Texas’s all-time record in the third game of the season, a win percentage of 74 percent. Texas is 22-6-2 all time in its third game after a 1-1 start, a win percentage of 73 percent. History is against Texas, however, as the last three Longhorn head coaches have started off their tenures 1-2.

The Longhorns and Bruins have split their six meetings evenly. Of Texas’ three losses, two — 1997 and 2010 — came in seasons in which the Longhorns would go on to lose seven games and not gain bowl eligibility.

13-12

The score of the 2009 Big 12 Championship between Texas and Nebraska, the only other time the Longhorns played in AT&T Stadium, previously known as Cowboys Stadium. Texas claimed its third Big 12 title on a 46-yard field goal by Hunter Lawrence as time expired.

Brett Hundley Quarterback

BY THE NUMBERS By Drew Lieberman @DrewLieberman

33-24

1970

The average score of Texas’ games with UCLA, in the Bruins’ favor. The series’ average score actually tilts in Texas’ favor at 28-26 if 1997’s “Rout 66” is excluded.

56%

The percentage of kicks made by placekickers Nick Jordan and Nick Rose over the course of their careers. Rose is Texas’ current kicker and is 1-of-3 for his career with a long of 34 yards. Jordan was Texas’ kicker in 2012, going 9-of-15 with 40 yards being his longest. The duo is 1-of-7 combined from 40+ yards out.

The jersey number of Myles Jack, UCLA sophomore linebacker and running back. Jack was the Pac-12’s offensive and defensive freshman of the year in 2013 and can do it all. He ran for seven touchdowns in 2013 while recording 75 tackles including seven tackles for loss. He also led the team with 11 passes broken up and two interceptions, one of which he ran back for a touchdown.

The last time the Longhorns beat the Bruins in the state of Texas – the Longhorns won 20-17. Since that time, the two schools have faced off in Texas twice — 1997 and 2010 — with UCLA blowing out the Longhorns to the tune of 66-3 and 34-12, respectively.

The jersey number of Brett Hundley, UCLA redshirt junior quarterback. The dual-threat quarterback has struggled to start a season in which he entered with Heisman aspirations. However, an impressive performance in this one could bring him back into discussion.

The number of career starts by the Texas offensive line, one of the least experienced units in college football history, entering its contest against UCLA. Sophomore tackle Kent Perkins and redshirt junior guard Sedrick Flowers lead the unit with three starts apiece. Still, Texas enters with twice the starting experience it had against BYU, when it had five combined starts.

Texas’ 34-point loss last week to BYU was the worst defeat of Charlie Strong’s head-coaching career. Strong’s previous worst defeat was by 19 points in a 45-26 loss at Syracuse in 2012.

MATCHUPS

Friday, September 12, 2014

By Daniel Clay @Dclay567

Redshirt junior Brett Hundley has the kind of athleticism that has ruined the Texas front seven, but his 396-yard and three touchdown passing performance against Memphis last week showed the dual-threat ability that makes him a Heisman candidate. Sophomore Tyrone Swoopes did as well as expected with the vanilla game plan that his coaches drew up last week, but his deep passes were inaccurate, and his athleticism was not a factor until the game was out of hand.

Redshirt sophomore Paul Perkins has put together a solid first two games for the Bruins — averaging 4.6 yards per carry — but he has not yet faced a top-tier defense, and his backups have struggled. Junior Johnathan Gray and senior Malcolm Brown only averaged 2.7 yards per carry against BYU, but a weak offensive line should take some blame for that. So far this season, neither back has been a factor in the passing game.

A strong receiving corps allows Hundley to spread the ball around. Junior Jordan Payton and sophomore Thomas Duarte both had 100-yard games last week, and junior Devin Fuller added nine catches. A head injury may keep senior Jaxon Shipley out against the Bruins. Redshirt senior John Harris led the team in receiving for a second straight week, but junior Marcus Johnson has yet to make any impact on offense.

The Longhorn offensive line will again be without tackles junior Kennedy Estelle and senior Desmond Harrison, both of whom were recently suspended. Texas struggled to run last week, but this unit tops UCLA’s on the basis that the pass protection has been decent through two games. The UCLA offensive line has allowed nine sacks in two games, and Bruin runners are averaging a scant 3.3 yards per carry. Redshirt junior center Jake Brendel returned to the team last week, but he cannot compensate for the lack of experience around him.

Senior Cedric Reed and Co. put constant pressure on BYU junior quarterback Taysom Hill last week, but they need to focus on containing the quarterback. If the ends get up the field too quickly, Hundley will step up and hurt the team with his legs. UCLA’s defensive line, led by sophomore Eddie Vanderdoes, dominated in its first game against Virginia but has recorded only one sack this season.

Sophomore Myles Jack and redshirt senior Eric Kendricks return to what should be one of the best linebacking corps in the Pac-12. It shut down Virginia’s offensive attack but allowed 164 rushing yards to Memphis. The linebackers fell apart against BYU. Ball carriers burst through to the secondary at will, and outside linebackers Jordan Hicks and Peter Jinkens struggled to seal off the perimeter. It is hard to imagine them improving against better competition this week.

The secondary has been the Longhorns’ strongest defensive unit. Senior Quandre Diggs grabbed an interception in the end zone last week, and the team has only allowed 196 passing yards all season. Apart from two interceptions against Virginia, UCLA’s veteran secondary has struggled through the first two games of the season. The Bruins will be further weakened if junior cornerback Randall Goforth misses this weekend’s game due to a shoulder injury.

Placekicker Ka’imi Fairbairn has struggled early on for the Bruins. The junior missed one extra point and his only field goal try. Junior returner Ishmael Adams has been solid in the return game, averaging 11.5 yards per return on punts. Texas’ special teams have been disastrous through two weeks. Junior placekicker Nick Rose is 1-for-3 on field goal attempts, and Marcus Johnson made several poor decisions against BYU.

Advantage: UCLA

Advantage: Texas

Advantage: UCLA

Advantage: Texas

Advantage: UCLA

Friday, September 12, 2014

KEYS TO THE GAME

By Daniel Clay @Dclay567

DISCIPLINE IN THE FRONT SEVEN FIX SPECIAL TEAMS If the Longhorns want to hang with UCLA, their special teams have to improve. Texas’ special teams performance was mediocre against North Texas and wretched against BYU. Junior kicker Nick Rose is 1-of-3 on the season despite all his attempts coming from 43 yards or less. His 43-yard try that would have put the Longhorns ahead early in the first quarter against BYU was not even close to the right post. Rose has to improve if Texas wants to win close games against ranked opponents. The return game has been another huge weakness for the Longhorns. Junior wide receiver Marcus Johnson fumbled once against BYU, and his decision to run laterally, rather than take a touchback, pinned the Longhorns deep in their own territory. Head coach Charlie Strong should have no qualms about replacing Johnson if he cannot perform against UCLA. Kick coverage has been solid, but if the Longhorns let erratic kicking and shoddy returns define their special teams, ranked opponents like the Bruins will pounce on the mistakes and make life miserable for Texas.

No one doubts the talent on the Longhorn defensive line. Senior defensive end Cedric Reed is bound for the NFL, and the interior tandem of senior Desmond Jackson and junior Malcom Brown swallows up anyone who dares run down the middle. The defensive line even got decent pressure against BYU as evidenced by the six sacks recorded by the team. However, against mobile quarterbacks like BYU junior Taysom Hill and Brett Hundley, UCLA’s junior Heisman candidate, undisciplined pressure leads to gaping running lanes. When the Longhorn outside pass rushers got up field too quickly, Hill took off running and turned potential sacks into first downs. Since last year’s contest against BYU, the linebacking corps has failed miserably in containing all three aspects of the read option. Last week, the quick pass, the quarterback keeper and the outside run all seemed to produce first downs with no resistance. A better quarterback in Hundley, and Paul Perkins, a speedy sophomore running back, can make the lack of discipline painfully obvious for a second-straight week. The outside pass rush will be helpful against pass-happy teams like Texas Tech, but against mobile quarterbacks, the Longhorns are best off staying conservative with their blitzes and focusing on containing the quarterback.

TURN SWOOPES LOOSE Strong hoped to ease Swoopes into the starting gig with the help of some conservative west-coast passing, supported by runs from junior Johnathan Gray and senior Malcolm Brown. But, BYU’s defense responded to Texas’ offensive game plan by loading the box and sitting on short routes. UCLA’s defense has struggled against two unranked opponents. Virginia hung around into the fourth quarter, and Memphis picked up 469 yards in a 35-point effort. Another conservative game plan may keep Swoopes from making mistakes, but it also puts less pressure on the Bruins’ weak defense. The Longhorns can cross their fingers and hope the offensive line improves enough to make the conservative approach viable, or they can shoot for a win by taking advantage of Swoopes’ top-flight arm by bringing back the deep passing game. Swoopes has the ability to drive the ball downfield and return Johnson to relevance. More importantly, however, the threat of a deep passing game should push the UCLA safeties further away from the line of scrimmage and prevent them from loading up on short passes and run plays.

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Friday, September 12, 2014

STOCK UP, STOCK DOWN By Evan Berkowitz @Evan_Berkowitz

Stock up: John Harris His big week one was not a fluke. Senior wide receiver John Harris is still getting the majority of looks on offense, as he reeled in eight catches against BYU after catching seven against North Texas. He has also been able to find the end zone in both games, proving to be a red zone threat and one of the only bright spots for the offense so far.

Stock Down: Malcolm Brown Without his 16-yard run, running back Malcolm Brown recorded just 12 yards on 11 carries. That’s not nearly what a fivestar senior should produce. Brown and junior Johnathan Gray were expected to carry the offense against BYU in redshirt junior quarterback David Ash’s absence, but Brown wasn’t up for the task. Fortunately for him, there aren’t any other options at running back on the roster. He’s going to continue getting touches, and if Texas wants to be competitive in the Big 12, he needs to turn it around.

Stock Up: Quandre Diggs Despite Texas loading the box against BYU, the secondary held its own — especially senior cornerback Quandre Diggs. The unit held BYU junior quarterback Taysom Hill to just 18-of-27 passing. Diggs recorded his first interception of the season in the effort, further establishing himself as the best cornerback on the team and the leader of the defense.

Stock Down: Tyrone Swoopes What stood out most in sophomore Tyrone Swoopes’ first career start was the lack of confidence the coaching staff seemed to have in him. Nearly every play call was a short pass as the coaches didn’t seem to trust his arm on deep routes. This resulted in just 176 yards despite 20 completions. In addition, Swoopes was never able to get comfortable on the move. Remember all of the comparisons to Vince Young’s athleticism? Well, he rushed for seven yards on seven carries. That’s not even former quarterback Garrett Gilbert territory. So, if his strong arm and his legs are supposed to be his best assets, head coach Charlie Strong may need to look to true freshman Jerrod Heard.

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Friday, September 12, 2014

Texas play callers must open up playbook for Swoopes and Co. By Garrett Callahan Daily Texan Columnist @CallahanGarrett

Going into the season, many believed Texas’ strong suit would be its running backs. Last year, senior Malcolm Brown and junior Johnathan Gray amassed a combined 1,612 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. And with redshirt junior quarterback David Ash sidelined by the return of his concussion symptoms, the duo was poised to shine for the Longhorns. However, just two games into the season, the running game has struggled. If the Longhorns want renewed success, they will need to

open up the offense and let sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes take control. Against BYU last Saturday, Brown and Gray combined for only 75 yards while Texas totaled just 82 yards on the ground. The Cougars expected the run game to dominate Texas’ offensive game plan, which it did, and BYU was able to stifle the Longhorns’ offensive production as a result. Swoopes, however, started the game by completing his first eight passes, finishing the night with 183 total yards and completing 65 percent of his balls. The first-year starter, who played in just six games last season, showed promise, despite his lack of experience.

With a tough stretch of games ahead for Texas, Shawn Watson, quarterbacks coach and play-caller, will need to open up his playbook, allowing Swoopes and his wide receivers to generate big plays for the offense. “[The offense] is going to be expanded. You look at Tyrone [Swoopes] and what we asked him to do — the thing he did was he executed the offense, and he managed it very well,” said head coach Charlie Strong. “We thought we could run the ball better. We weren’t able to run the ball and knock people off the ball. But just each and every week, it’ll be something added for [Swoopes] because now, he’s shown that we all were just wondering how it

Ethan Oblak | Daily Texan Staff

Sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes was solid in his first career start against BYU, but wasn’t given many opportunities to air it out. He’ll need to be more involved against UCLA.

was going to go, and I think it ended up going very well.” For Swoopes to break out, his supporting cast will need to step up. In front

of him, the sophomore has an inexperienced offensive line, which caused issues for Texas’ running game last Saturday. He’ll also have a

patchwork receiving corps Saturday as junior Daje Johnson is still suspended,

SWOOPES page 14

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Friday, September 12, 2014

SCENARIOS

Staff

orps Daje ded,

Offensive line, backs must improve

By Nick Castillo @Nick_Castillo74

Texas’ inexperienced offensive line struggled mightily against BYU. They’ll need to be much better for the Longhorns to beat UCLA Saturday.

Ethan Oblak Daily Texan Staff

Texas Wins... —If the running game is more effective and is able to spark an otherwise inexperienced offense. The running backs, senior Malcolm Brown and junior Johnathan Gray, will need to rush for more than a combined 75 yards if the Longhorns want to pull off the upset. —If the offensive line improves over last week’s performance. Brown and Gray won’t be able to run the ball if the offensive line doesn’t improve from last Saturday’s beatdown, a tough task against the Bruins’ stout defensive line. If the offensive line finds a way to open up running lanes for the running backs, Texas has a puncher’s chance. —If Shawn Watson, play-caller and quarterbacks coach, opens up the playbook for sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes. The offense will need to be opened up and Swoopes will have to be throw the deep ball. Texas will need an offensive spark to shock the Bruins, which could come off of a Swoopes deep pass. —If the defense can sustain its first-half performance against BYU for the entire contest. Defensively, Texas needs to come out with the same fervor it had during the first 30 minutes. The defense has the ability to keep the Longhorns in a game as long as it is fresh. —If the offense can sustain drives and give the defense a chance to rest on the sidelines.

Texas loses.... —If the offensive line continues to struggle, which can lead to a poor running attack. The Longhorns rely on a good running game and without one Saturday, they don’t stand a chance. —If Texas can’t hold onto the ball. If the Longhorns continue to struggle with ball security and turn the ball over, UCLA will win.

By Nick Castillo @Nick_Castillo74

Offensive Line The Texas offensive line doubled its starts in one game. The Longhorns enter this weekend’s game with the same line that had started just five games before facing BYU, so the issue will continue to be their youth and inexperience. Nobody expected redshirt senior center Dominic Espinosa, a 40-game starter, to go down in the first game of the season. The Longhorns also lost tackles junior Kennedy Estelle and senior Desmond Harrison to suspensions. With the loss of Espinosa and the suspensions of Estelle and Harrison, the line is devoid of leadership. The patchwork bunch will have to gel quickly if they’re going to improve. “You’ve got to work with a group of five, and they’ve got to know each other,” said Shawn Watson, quarterbacks coach and play caller. “It’s like a basketball team. They’ve got to know one another and know how the pieces all fit.”

Running Backs Texas planned for its offensive identity to be run-based, but it’s difficult to run the ball when the offensive line is struggling. Texas needs running backs Malcolm Brown and Jonathan Gray to find ways to make plays in the run game despite an inexperienced offensive line. Gray and Brown ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener but only totaled 75 yards against BYU. Gray also had a fumble last weekend, which set up the Cougars with great field position. If the running backs can find ways to make big plays, they may spark this young offense and get things rolling against the Bruins.

Marcus Johnson Junior wide receiver Marcus Johnson has essentially been nonexistent so far. If it wasn’t for a poorly timed fumble on a kickoff return, Johnson’s name may not have been mentioned at all in Texas’ loss to BYU. Johnson, who entered the season as Texas’ top deep threat, has caught just three passes for 26 yards through the first two games. Johnson needs to get more targets down field, especially considering new sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes’ biggest asset is his arm strength. Johnson has the ability to make a big play off of the short pass, too, a spark the lackluster Longhorn offense could use against UCLA. Texas wide receiver Marcus Johnson was expected to be a deep threat for the Longhorns this season, but has struggled in the team’s first two games.

—If the defense isn’t able to stay fresh against the Bruins. UCLA’s offensive attack moves quickly and plays with a lot of tempo, so the Bruins will be able to take over the game, as BYU did, if Texas’ offense can’t sustain drives. Ethan Oblak Daily Texan Staff

Friday, September 12, 2014

Harris finally having success By Drew Lieberman @DrewLieberman

Entering 2014, fifth-year senior receiver John Harris’ collegiate career was best known for a couple highlights. Harris threw Texas’ first touchdown pass in 2011 — a 36-yard strike to senior receiver Jaxon Shipley in the season opener against Rice. Harris scored Texas’ first touchdown in 2013, too, and last season, he caught a 44-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass against Iowa State to help the Longhorns take a 17-13 lead into halftime. But it’s impossible to discuss Harris’ career in Austin without talking about its low points. For one, that catch against Iowa State marked his last reception in 2013, although he played in each of Texas’ eight remaining games. Going further back than that, Harris missed the final 10 games of the 2011 season after sustaining a foot injury, which sent him plummeting down the depth chart. “After I got hurt, I gained a lot of weight, and I struggled in

practices and camp,” Harris said. Harris’ weight ballooned to 230 pounds in 2013, his heaviest playing weight. Harris pondered quitting the game he loved after struggling to secure reps on offense and fully recover from his injury. “There’s been times where I’ve wanted to just give up, but my brother really helped me a lot with that,” Harris said. “He told me, ‘Don’t ever let anybody take anything from you.’ Whether it be the coaches or anything, just don’t quit on something because then you’ll just quit for the rest of your life. It’s easy to quit, but it’s harder to stay and keep fighting.” Following head coach Charlie Strong’s hire in January, Harris felt as if he had been given a new opportunity to change his legacy at Texas. “I think it’s his mind-set. His mind-set has completely changed,” said redshirt senior linebacker Jordan Hicks, who

has roomed with Harris since freshman year. “They ga him an opportunity, and he took full advantage of it in cam this year.” Sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes also sees a chan in the way Harris approaches the game. “John [Harris] worked hard in the off-season,” Swoop said. “He lost a little bit of weight, so he moves a little bit bet than he had been. I can tell that his demeanor has changed Now down to 217 pounds, Harris is Texas’ leading recei and already having the best season of his career. Through t games, he has caught 13 passes, four more than he had in first four seasons in Austin combined. And his 187 receivi yards so far nearly match the 190 he recorded in the previo four seasons.

HARRIS page

Depleted Texas offense struggling to keep up

By Stefan Scrafield

@StefanScrafield

Imagine buying your dream car. It has all the bells and whistles you can imagine, but just two weeks after you drive it off the lot, two of the tires are flat; the air conditioning breaks; the power windows stop working; the navigation screen burns out; and two of the speakers blow out. That’s kind of how new Longhorn head coach Charlie Strong must feel about his offense right now. When Strong took over one of the most prestigious jobs in the country in January, the offense didn’t look too bad. His starting quarterback was returning for his third year at the helm; he had one of the best running back tandems in the country; three of the top four receivers from last season were coming back; and the offensive line looked solid. But, heading into the third week of his first season in Austin, Strong will likely only have five of his 11 projected preseason

OFFENSE page 12

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pes tter d.” iver two his ing ous

Clockwise from left: Ethan Oblak, Ethan Oblak, Lauren Ussery | Daily Texan Staff

1. Longhorn wide receiver John Harris is finally getting some playing time and his production has increased accordingly. The fifth year senior leads the Longhorns with 13 catches and 187 yards. 2. Senior wide receiver Jaxon Shipley is the latest offensive weapon to be injured for Texas. Shipley suffered a “head injury” against BYU and is questionable for Saturday’s game. 3. Sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes (18) and his inexperience offensive line will rely on veterans like running back Johnathan Gray (32) to lead the way against UCLA.

Friday, September 12, 2014

OFFENSE continues from page 11 starters playing against UCLA, and the offense looks hopeless. Redshirt junior quarterback David Ash is out for the foreseeable future because of his concussion symptoms, which returned after the season opener against North Texas. “David [Ash] is indefinitely out until the doctors decide — the doctors are going to make a decision,” Strong said. “Tyrone [Swoopes] is our quarterback, and he’s going to be our quarterback, and we’re just going to go with him.” Fifth-year senior center Dominic Espinosa, who was expected to be the leader of a relatively inexperienced offensive line, is likely out for the season after breaking his ankle. Junior wide receiver Daje Johnson, Texas’ best

big-play threat, senior Kennedy Estelle and junior Desmond Harrison are all still suspended over violation of team rules. “You get frustrated because you look at a talented group of players that you have to suspend that could really be helping this football team,” Strong said. “But who knows if they can be? Because they can’t even do the little things we ask them to do.” And senior Jaxon Shipley, the Longhorns’ most consistent receiver from a year ago, has been listed as questionable for this weekend after suffering a head injury against BYU, according to Texas officials. All in all, that’s six potential Texas starters who will be out against the Bruins on Saturday, and we’re barely into September.

The injuries to Ash and Espinosa appear to be long-term, and it’s unknown how long the suspensions will last, so it’s going to be up to the current group to turn it around for the Longhorns. “We have a good football team, and we have what we need,” Strong said. “We can get it done with it, and we will continue to get it done with it.” Five of those six were out last week, with Shipley being the exception, and the struggle was evident. The patchwork offensive line didn’t establish any chemistry as BYU defenders were in the backfield on what seemed like every other play. The lack of a push stalled the running game, disrupting the Longhorns’ conservative game plan. In his first start, Swoopes

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was solid but wasn’t much of a threat to run and never really had a chance to show off his arm strength. That should change this week as Strong and offensive playcaller Shawn Watson have vowed to open up the playbook for the sophomore gunslinger. “We always keep [Swoopes] growing,” Watson said. “We’re working with a young offensive line and still putting those guys together, but we’ll keep pushing [Swoopes]. We’ll keep pushing the pieces that we have.” Strong and his staff appear confident in their ability to replace each of the broken pieces in their brand new vehicle, but it’ll be difficult to get the same performance from the new parts as they did when they drove it off the lot.

AFTER READING YOUR COPY

PLAYERS TO WATCH By Peter Sblendorio @petersblendorio

QB Brett Hundley Now in his third year as a starter, Hundley has been frequently mentioned as a Heisman candidate and a potential first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Hundley lived up to the hype for the most part in his first two games, passing for 638 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 148.7 passer rating. What should scare the Longhorns most, however, is his ability to run. Hundley has rushed for 1,168 yards and 21 touchdowns in his career, and after watching BYU junior quarterback Taysom Hill torch the Texas defense last week, he has to be excited about the opportunity to improve on those numbers.

RB Paul Perkins Coming off an impressive freshman campaign when he rushed for 573 yards and six touchdowns, Perkins should receive the majority of the carries this season for UCLA. He’s off to a fast start this year, rushing for 189 yards and two touchdowns in his first two games. Aside from Hundley, Perkins appears to be the one constant for the Bruins’ offense. He’s not much of a big-play guy, but he is extremely steady. After averaging 4.3 yards per carry last season, he’s boosted that average to 4.6 yards per attempt this season.

LB Eric Kendricks Kendricks is off to a torrid start in 2014, racking up 26 tackles through the first two games. He’s also forced a fumble, recorded a tackle for loss and returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Kendricks possesses the ideal size for a linebacker, and he’s built a reputation as a player able to make an impact against the run and the pass. Kendricks led the Bruins with 106 tackles last season, a total he could shatter this year if he continues to play the way he has so far.

Ishmael Adams Adams is one of the most versatile players on the Bruins’ roster as he plays a major role on both defense and special teams. The junior established himself as a playmaker in the secondary in the Bruins’ first two games as he’s already returned an interception for a touchdown, broken up a pass and recorded 11 tackles. He’s even more dangerous, however, as a returner, averaging 20.7 yards on kickoff returns and 11.5 yards on punts in 2014. Adams is only 5-foot-8 and 185 pounds, but, despite his small stature, he’s been one of the Bruins’ biggest impact players in 2014.

Friday, September 12, 2014

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UCLA sophomore Myles Jack (30) plays running back and linebacker for the Bruins. An elite athlete, Jack earned the defensive freshman of the year and offensive freshman of the year awards in the Pac-12 last season.

JACK OF ALL TRADES

By Jori Epstein @JoriEpstein

For Texas, experience on the field is becoming a rarity. As suspensions continue to mount, the Longhorns have been forced to field a team that hardly resembles its projected preseason starting lineup. Last week, for example, Texas’ offensive line entered the contest with a combined five total starts Myles Jack, UCLA’s sophomore linebacker and running back, bests that number on his own, on both sides of the ball. As a freshman in 2013, Jack played in 13 games and started in 12 as linebacker. Not only does he boast more starting experience than Texas’ entire offensive line, his experience ranges more broadly than any player on Texas’ entire team.

“He’s a great defensive player for us,” said Brett Hundley, UCLA’s redshirt junior quarterback, Monday. “But when he’s in the backfield, just to be able to give him the ball and let him do what he does, and that’s get touchdowns — it’s nice as a quarterback not to have any reason not to just hand him the ball.” While Texas head coach Charlie Strong harps on the need to improve all three phases of the Longhorns’ game, Jack will show Texas what it’s like to have personally mastered the trio. Jack’s accomplishments were recognized last year when he earned both the Pac-12 defensive and offensive freshman of the year awards. “[Offense and defense are] really the same,” Jack said. “When I have the ball in my

hand, I don’t want to seem nervous, but I’m antsy — I want to get out there. Defensive guys like me are trying to hurt you.” Though Jack’s reputation may brand him as an intimidating foe, Jack doesn’t, however, want to hurt everyone. Instead, he seeks to help his teammates as best as he can — a selflessness and sense of accountability his teammates admire. “He’s a freaking agent. We just tell him to go left or right, and he’ll follow,” Hundley said. “It changes the pace to have Myles [Jack] in there with his power, running and speed. He’s a good back force for us, and when he gets in the game, he does special things.” Yet Jack isn’t focused on accomplishing “special things” on his own.

“I’m up for whatever the team needs,” Jack said. “It’s not for me or personal accolades. I’m not asking for extra plays, but when they need me, I’m ready.” Jack, who turned 19 this month, has been ready for years now. His mother, La Sonjia, told CBS Sports that Jack would wake up at 6 a.m. on Saturday mornings to run drills and invite neighborhood guys over for practice. He analyzed film as early as age seven. His longtime commitment prepared him well to understand the game and used his analytical skills to look back on UCLA’s most recent game against Memphis. After securing three defensive touchdowns against Virginia in week one, the Bruins’ defense was under

UCLA page 14

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HEISMAN WATCH By Sebastian Herrera @SebasAHerrera

1. Oregon QB Marcus Mariota Last week (W, 46-27, vs. Michigan State): 17-for-28, 318 yards, 3 TDs 2014: 585 yards, 6 TDs, 1 rushing TD When trying to win a Heisman, there are few things that can boost the résumé quite like a comeback victory against a top-10 opponent. Two weeks into the season, and Mariota can already check that off his list. Oregon was down 27-18 early in the third quarter against Michigan State when Mariota engineered a video game-style comeback. He threw two of his three touchdowns, including a 37-yard strike, within three minutes of each other, giving Oregon a lead it would not surrender in the fourth. Mariota has not faltered so far and appears to already be in mid-season form.

2. Georgia RB Todd Gurley Last week: BYE 2014: 15 attempts, 198 yards, 3 TDs Gurley’s Bulldogs had a bye week, but the junior running back remains at the top of the Heisman race based on what he did in week one. Gurley’s manhandling of Clemson in Georgia’s season debut is still fresh enough to remember, and if last season is any indication, Gurley should continue to roll against South Carolina this week. In 2013, Gurley had 132 rushing yards and one touchdown against the Gamecocks. He’ll look to post similar numbers this time despite the added challenge of playing on the road.

3. Texas A&M QB Kenny Hill Last week (W, 73-3, vs. Lamar): 17-for-26, 283 yards, 4 TDs 2014: 794 yards, 7 TDs The Aggies thrashed Lamar so badly last week that Hill didn’t even have to play in the fourth quarter. And even against an FCS opponent, Hill’s four touchdowns gave him another good-looking box score, reason enough for him to keep his spot in the Heisman race. Hill’s looked even more comfortable in Texas A&M’s offense than Johnny Manziel was early in his first season, and although it’s early, his confidence seems to be soaring. This week’s game against Rice should give Hill another chance to fill the stat sheet.

4. Florida State QB Jameis Winston

Last week (W, 37-12, vs. Citadel): 22-for-27, 256 yards, 2 TDs 2014: 626 yards, 3 TDs, 1 rushing TD

Winston finally found the rhythm he’d been lacking in week one during the Seminoles’ week two victory over The Citadel. The redshirt sophomore looked much more consistent Saturday, as he only missed on five of his throws. And while he wasn’t tested much, it was the kind of game Winston needed to get himself back on track. A big week three outing against Clemson could send Winston shooting up this list.

5. Notre Dame QB Everett Golson Last week (W, 31-0, vs. Michigan): 23-for-34, 226 yards, 3 TDs 2014: 37-for-56, 521 yards, 5 TDs, 3 rushing TDs Remember when Golson was suspended by Notre Dame and missed the entire 2013 season? That’s been easy to forget after the senior’s phenomenal start to 2014. The Fighting Irish didn’t just beat their nemesis on Saturday, they shut Michigan out in what was the last scheduled matchup between the two teams. It was Golson who shined brightest in the game, proving he might just be better than when he left.

Friday, September 12, 2014

SWOOPES

continues from page 8 and senior Jaxon Shipley is questionable. “We always keep [Swoopes] growing,” Watson said. “He is [ready] — we’ve just got to get the other people around him ready. We’re working with a young offensive line and still putting

HARRIS

continues from page 10 “I’m proud of what he’s done,” Hicks said. “I think everybody knew he had it in him. Nobody is surprised at the numbers he’s putting up and his ability because we’ve seen it for four years now.” Ultimately, Harris points to his struggles to get playing time as the key to his growth as a player.

UCLA

continues from page 13 fire last week for allowing Memphis to score 35 points. The Bruins still pulled out a win, but Jack, naturally hard on himself, felt his defense had failed. “We hurt ourselves,” Jack said. “Coach put us in the best position possible to succeed, but we were making errors — little thing that will be corrected.” Jack remains realistic,

those guys together, but we’ll keep pushing Ty. We’ll keep pushing the pieces that we have.” In order for the Longhorns to salvage the season, they will need to be firing on all cylinders against UCLA this weekend. And, for that to happen, Swoopes and the passing attack will have to be the focal point of the offense. “Having some of those freshmen come in and be in front of me kind of helped me out a lot, “ Harris said. “You know, it taught me to grow up and see when I did get the opportunity to get a second chance that this is my opportunity to play, as a senior, and to leave out of here the right way.” Harris’ maturity is evident and should help guide a Texas offense that is in desperate need of a senior leader. knowing that the three scores his defense had against Virginia aren’t going to happen each week. Defensive touchdowns aren’t his main goal, however. Instead, Jack prides himself on the defense’s ability to respond to adversity. “Teams are going to score, [and] teams are going to make plays, but we need to answer as a defense,” Jack said. “That’s one of the traits our defense has: we can answer.”

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GAMES TO WATCH

Friday, September 12, 2014

By Jacob Martella @ViewFromTheBox

No. 6 Georgia at No. 24 South Carolina

Tennessee at No. 4 Oklahoma

This is far and away the game to watch Saturday. Yes, South Carolina got embarrassed on its home turf by Texas A&M to begin the season, and the defense is still learning how to play without star defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney, but the Gamecocks were ranked so highly for a reason. Meanwhile, Georgia is easily the favorite to win the SEC East and contend for a berth in the College Football Playoff. Junior running back Todd Gurley had a monster week one, with 198 rushing yards and three touchdowns on only 15 carries. The Bulldogs appear to have the upper hand but with the Gamecocks looking to defend their turf, this one should be good.

Tennessee has really struggled the past seven seasons in the SEC East. Since the departure of longtime head coach Phillip Fulmer, the Volunteers have had four coaches in the past six years, but they look to be headed for a turnaround under head coach Butch Jones. Tennessee is a young team but will rely on the play of senior linebacker A.J. Johnson and freshman running back Jalen Hurd. Going into Norman, Oklahoma, will be very tough for the inexperienced Vols — Oklahoma is a favorite for the Big 12 title and for a spot in the playoffs. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Trevor Knight has the Sooners rolling on offense, where they struggled some last year. However, an off-game could quickly put Stoops and Co. on upset alert Saturday night.

Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday, 2:30 PM TV: CBS

Memorial Stadium Saturday, 7:00 PM TV: ABC

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No. 21 Louisville at Virginia Scott Stadium Saturday, 11:30 AM TV: N/A

On paper, it seems this isn’t really much of a matchup. Louisville has done quite well since Charlie Strong left, and Virginia hasn’t done much of anything in recent memory. But it is being played in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the Cavaliers have some fight in them. The Cardinals have steamrolled each of their first two opponents this season by a combined score of 97-34, and new head coach Bobby Petrino’s offense has averaged 470 yards per game. But the Cavaliers did give UCLA a fit in the first game of the season. It will be up to the Virginia defense to keep the Cavaliers in this game.

Louisiana-Lafayette at No. 14 Ole Miss Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Saturday, 3:00 PM TV: SEC Network It’s a tell-tale sign of how bad a week of the season it is when this matchup is a game to watch. Despite however bad this showdown might seem, it could turn out to be an old-fashioned battle in the Deep South. Louisiana-Lafayette is coming off three-straight bowl wins for the first time in school history. This year will likely be tougher for the Ragin’ Cajuns, especially after last week’s 48-20 loss to Louisiana Tech. Ole Miss, on the other hand, has aspirations of playing a part in deciding who comes out of the SEC West and has an outside chance at making the College Football Playoff. If nothing else, this sets up as a stereotypical trap game for the Rebels.

Friday, September 12, 2014

BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS By Evan Berkowitz @Evan_Berkowitz

Oklahoma

TCU

Baylor

Texas Tech

Kansas State

West Virginia

Oklahoma State

Iowa State

Texas

The Sooners will split time at this spot with Baylor all season until their matchup on Nov. 8. What has stood out for the Sooners, however, is how dominant they have been without spectacular play from their skill positions. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Trevor Knight has been good but not great. When he starts playing up to his full potential, the Sooners may be impossible to beat as he will complement the Big 12’s best defense very nicely.

For the second straight week, the Bears were dominant on both sides of the ball, but it hasn’t been against strong competition. North Texas’s dominating performance against a very weak SMU offense last week reaffirmed the doubts many have about whether this Baylor defense is as good as its numbers indicate. But the offense, even without redshirt senior Bryce Petty at the helm, is good enough to beat anyone.

This past week really showed how big of a gap there is between the top two teams and the rest of the Big 12. The Wildcats barely avoided an upset loss at the hands of Iowa State, coming back from a 15-point second-half deficit, yet they still moved up a spot in the rankings.

Uncertainty at the quarterback position will haunt them, but they aren’t taking as big of a step back this year as people thought. They were respectable against No. 1 Florida State and handled an inferior Missouri State. There are still plenty of questions to be answered, but so far, so good.

After getting manhandled yet again by BYU, Texas takes a step back and proves it isn’t going to compete for a Big 12 crown this year. Without redshirt junior quarterback David Ash, the Longhorn offense is miserable.

They have showed life early on this year, and this week’s matchup against Minnesota will tell us more. They are lacking the kind of playmakers they have had in recent years, however.

Sophomore quarterback Davis Webb was not at his best as the Red Raiders escaped UTEP, which had its way by running over the Red Raiders’ defense for 277 yards. Their offense can keep them in games now, but when they start facing Big 12 offenses, it will be a tough challenge.

Redshirt senior quarterback Clint Trickett was great, completing 35-of-40 passes for 348 yards as the Mountaineers took care of lowly Towson. If he can sustain his hot start to the year, he may be able to propel the Mountaineers into the top half of the Big 12 standings.

The Cyclones had a chance to make a statement against Kansas State but blew a 15-point, second-half lead. Their offense isn’t dynamic enough to challenge the better teams, and their defense won’t be good enough down the stretch.

Kansas

They won. They gave up 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to Southeast Missouri State and barely escaped with a seven-point victory. But they won. Small victories.

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Friday, September 12, 2014

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Last Weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Record

5-5

7-3

6-4

7-3

6-4

4-6

Overall Record

14-6

12-8

15-5

12-8

14-6

17-3

15-5

16-4

14-6

11-9

UCLA vs. Texas

UCLA 44-10

UCLA 21-10

UCLA 34-10

UCLA 24-14

UCLA 35-20

UCLA 27-17

UCLA 24-14

UCLA 35-21

UCLA 31-17

UCLA 24-17

Georgia vs. South Carolina

Georgia

South Carolina

Georgia

South Carolina

Georgia

Tennessee vs. Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Arkansas vs. Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Arkansas

Texas Tech

Arkansas

Texas Tech

Arkansas

West Virginia vs. Maryland

Maryland

West Virginia

Maryland

West Virginia

Maryland

West Virginia

Minnesota vs. TCU

Minnesota

TCU

Iowa State vs. Iowa

Iowa

Iowa State

Iowa

Iowa State

Iowa

Iowa State

Louisville vs. Virginia

Louisville

Virginia

Louisville

Illinois vs. Washington

Washington

Penn State

Rutgers

Penn State vs. Rutgers

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