In the News Week of April 29 2019
UT pledge Card matures as leader for
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FAS FIVES over, Liberty Hill has secured the district title. Class 6A Lampasas, Salado and I. ..-26-2 Taylorhavequalified for 2. RoundRock23-10 the playoffs. 3. Westr"'" 24-6-1 District 28·4A : Llano 4. Hays24-7 leads the district byone 5. StonyPoint 16-15-1 game over Wimberley, Class SA buttheTexanscanclaim 1. Georgetown z8-2-1 ashareoftbedislricl UUe 2. Rouse 19-8 with a win over Boerne 3. McCallum 23-4-1 on Friday and a Llano 4. Dripping Springs loss to Fredericksburg. 19-9-1 Regardless, Llano has 5. Hutto 18- 11 secured the district's Class 4A And othen Rouse•s Jake Alepa is congratulated by teammate top seed by sweeping 1. Liberty Hill25·J·l Jared Southard after crossing home plate in a win over Wimberley in the regu 2. GatewayPrep20-6 P11ugen1ille last week. The Raiders have secured the larseason. 3. Johnson City21-6 dlstrkt Utle and top play0ff seed in District 17•SA. IJOHN District 25·3A: It's a 4. Blanco23-4 GIJTlERREZIJOR STATESMANJ dogfight at t he lopwith 5. Thrall 17-9 Gateway Prep, Blanco and Cedar Ridge at noon wd POugervme Ued for and Johnson City 4119•2 PLAYER OF Saturday at McNeil High second place. entering Friday's finale. THE WEEK School. District 18·5A: Gateway Prep will visit District 25-6A: Pitcher Georgetown has clinched Johnson City, and Blanco
Clay Vlnldarek1 Junior, limmy Lewis added an the district title, and will travel to Lago Vista. Cedar Creek: With noth exclamation mark on H.utto bas secured a Blanco would claim the ing less than the season i....t 11..-s' district playoff spot. East View top playoff seed with a on the line, u,eoutfielder Lille with a no- hitter In and Elgin can qualify win and a Gateway Prep delivered a two-out, a 10-0 win over Hays with wins over Hutto victory, but a fohnson bases-clearing walk on Tuesday. Wesr.m and Cedar Creek, respec City win would prob off double that lifted Is entrenched in second tlvel y. Jf Cedar Creek ably force o game with the ~gles toa 10-9wio place. Hays is tied for beats Elgin on Friday, the Blanco tor the top playoff over Elgin on Tuesday. third with Bowie, ahalf Eagles will claima post- seed. Jarrell has secured The two teams will meet game ahead of Austin, season spot. fourth. again Friday, and the which ended Its regu District ZS · SA: District 27·3A: Yoakum winner wlll advance lo lar season with a win McCatlum wtll claim the bas won the district title, lhe postseason. over Akins on Tuesday. undisputed district title and Luling finished third. Austin holds the tie with a win over Reagan Poth (No. 2) and Nixon PLAYOFF breaker edge over Hays on Friday, and Dripping Smlley also qualified for SCENARIOS after sweeping the Rebels S1Prings and LBJ have the poslseason. in district play, so Hays locked up playoffspots. District 27-ZA: With District U-6A: Round needs a win over Del Lockhart leads Crockett the regular s eason ltock ha~ clinched the VaUeon 1-'"ridaytosuure by one game entering ove.r, Thrall is the dis district title, and Stony a playoff spot. Austin c.m Friday's regular-season trict champion, and Point is second. McNeil also reach the playoffs if finale; the Lions will face Thorndale is the No. secured the No. J seed 80wle loses to westtit, LBJ whDe Crockett plays 2 seed. Holland and Tuesday with a 3-2 win on friday, which could . 11\e two teams Granger have also quali over Hendrickson, cre force a play-in game split their regular-sea fied for the playoffs, and ating a four- way jam for between Bowle und songames, which could SurUett will represent the final playoff spot. Au..~tin. me.an a play-in ga1ne the district in the Class Hendrickson will play District 17·SA: Rouse, Saturday. IA playoffs. Vista Ridge on Friday which bas nollost a dis District Z6·4A: Bellville lo the first round of trict game, has clinched wd Caldwell ure lied for Please send scores, sta• the play-In, with the the title. Cedar Park, first, and La Grange has ti.stfo.t, infonn.ation and victor advancing to face Pflugerville and Weiss clinched a playoff spot. player ofthe wut nomi the winner of a play have all secured playoff District 27·4A: With nees to ThomasJonu at In game between Leander spots, with Cedar Park tile regular season ljones@sUlte,man.com. WestlaKc sends 4 golf teams to state By Thomas Jones won individ Ljo11es@slalesm:111.com ual honors with a 134, and teammate Nathan Wes e's golf teams Petronzio finished second continued their historic witha 138. postseason rampage at Vandegrift will join this week's Class 6A Wes at the Class 6A Region IV tournamentat state tournament after Republic Golf Course in advancing its top boys SanAntonio. and girls teams at the The Chaps finished first Region II tournament and second in both the at Waco's Cottonwood girls and boys tourna Creek Golf Course. ments, claiming four of The Viper boys won the region's six spots in the tournament, and next month's state golf Vandegrift'sgirlsfinished meet. second behind Plano That double dip marks West. the first time in school WesfC e's Madelyn Jones chips onto the green at the The Class 6A girls history that West will Class 6A Region IV tournament at the Republic Golf Club state tournament will send four teams to state. in San Antonio. Jones helped the Chaps win the regional take place May 13-14 at Earlier this month, title. [CONTRIBUTEI> PHOTO) Legacy Hills Golf Club in West swept the dis- Georgetown. The boys - ·• . . ... That double clip marks West. the first time in school Westl
West•~•s Mason Mangum continued his stellar junior season with three gold medals at the Class 6A Region IV track and field meet Friday and Saturday at Alamo Stadiumin San Antonio. Mangum, anall-district receiverwho iscommitted toArkansas'football team, won the uo-meterhurdles with a time of 14.19 sec onds and the 300hurdles in37.28. He also won the long jump witha mark of 23 feet, 81h inches. Thetoptwo finishers in each regional qualify for the UIL state champion- West ..e's Mason Mangum has qualified for the UIL state track meet in three events. ships May 10-U at Myers IRICARDO B. BRAZ.ZIEU/AMERICAN-STATESMANI Stadiumonthe University of Texas campus, and dominated the distance vault at 14-6, and team a markof 12-0, one spot Mangum willhave plenty events by winning the mateTyler Noles won the ahead of Liberty Hill's of local company next 1,600 in 4:21.75 and the discusat180-4.EricShine BrookeWright(n-6). week. 3,200 in 9:12.09. Round of Cedar Park finished Giddings' Keshana Page Jacob Tracy of • Rock's Ryan O'Keefe fin secondinthe10oin10.n, wonthe 200 in25.46, and won the shot put ished second in the100in andWeiss' Daniel Morales teammate Tranasia Jones with a tossof6o-3l/z and 10.47, and Round Rock's finished secondin the8oo won the 400 in 1:00.32. finished second in the KobeYepe,zplacedsecond in1:56.43. They also helped their discus with a measure in4:22.05. FreshmanKevin Adams team win the 4X200 in ment of183-7 attheClass In girls competition, II of Cedar Park contin 1:43.96. 6A Region IV meet. In Vandegrift's Jordan uedhis impressive debut Ashlyn Royal of addition, Hays freshman Mathis finished second in season bywinningthe shot Wimberleywonthe1,600 Abigail Parra finished the3,200in10:36.53, and put with amarkof55-5. in5:19.58.LaGrange'sgirls second in the 11 600 in teammate Kyla Peeplefin At the Class 4A wonthe4X400in4:03.32. 5:11.21, andHays' Reagan ished second in the high Region IV meet Friday Giddings' Ebony Casey wonthehighjump jumpat5-6. and Saturday at Texas Wolridgefinishedsecond withamarl Fab Fives Class6A 1. L....J;;.....J Z7-3 2. Round Rock 24-10 3. WesL 25-6-1 4. Hays 25-7 5. Stony Point 16-15-1 Class5A l. Georgetown 31-2-1 2. Rouse 19·10 3. McCal lum 24-4-1 4. Dripping Springs 20-10-1 5. Hutto 18-13 Class 4A and others 1. Liberty Hill 25-3-1 2. Blanco 24-4 3. Gateway Prep 21-6 4. Johnson City 21-7 5. Thrall 17-10 No. 1 Georgetown rolling into playoffs Eagles baseball team which bead coach Adam bis players "honoring the G," enjoying best season Poster and bis staff make which means that they attack In school history a priority. If any baseball each class, each practice and player doesn't carry at least each game witha high level of By Thomas Jones an85 grade-point average, he selflessnessanddedicationto [email protected] must attend tutorial sessions. theprogram. Butthere aren't many Eagles Don't meet those expec The white "G" that adorns making such mandatory trips; tations? Then that G comes Georgetown's blue baseball all but one player ontheteam off. Just ask tbe 2018 team, caps, warm-up hoodies and willearn academic all-district a tough-minded bunch that just about every otherEagles' honors this year. rallied from a 2 -4-1 start to gear stands for many things. Most of all, the G sym reachthe fourth ronndofthe The G means grit, and the bolizes both Georgetown's playoffs. Eagles have showed plenty baseball program and the "It was an awfully rocky while rolling to a 31-2-1 school. Foster, a Georgetown start last year," Foster said. record, the District 18-5A graduate in bis 16thyear on "At our home tournament title and a No. Hankinginthe the coaching staff, bas main (when the Eagles lost three latest Class 5A poll conducted tained a culture that goes games), I had to buy some Georgetown senior Cole Posey gets ready for pra.ctice Tuesday at by the Texas High School beyond the 182 wins he bas blue trucker bats with no Gs. Georgetown High School. The Eagles, ranked No. 1in the state in Baseball Coaches Association. compiledinhis seven seasons Class SA, open the playoffs this week against Wei.ss. [RICAROO a. The G stands for grades, as head coach. He insists on See BASEBALL, C2 BRAZZJaUAMERICAN·STATESMANJ Georgetown senior Grant Wood, one of the aces on the Eagles' pitching staff, gets some work in the batting cage Tuesday at Georgetown High School. The Eagles open the playoffs this week against Weiss. [PHOTOS BY RICARDO e. BRAZZIEU/AMERICAN-STATESMAN) HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYOFFS: FIRST-ROUND SCHEDULE ClASSliA Gnll!l:7p.,n.~,a.larP.lrltHS SIDnJ Plilll15...... ~ Game 2:7 p.m.nusday. IU!o HS Gaml! l:7p..m. lhlntty.lt&'aidlstadun. Gin¥! l:7 p.m.Rid.ly,Ctdli'lwkHS e,yan ustVIM15. Plugfflllr - 2:7 p..m. Rid;q, NUlJabollSladum.ayan Game I.:7 p.m.nusday. - WW HS Gmll! l:5 Jl.111. 5almly, Nutraboll Sladium, Game 2:7 p.m.Riay,~HS Bryan GD!l: I p..m.san.day, E.lsl'ltowHS Mdldl '15. HauslDa cn,,es WIDods ~ws.Wms Glmc 1.:7 p..m.,..IUdordHS 7p.m.Ridly, 'llt6S HS G1m1! 2: 7p..m. Rid.ly, Mllllfotd HS -,s.~Q'Cd( Gaml!l:I p..m. SalUl'dl,y,I.UnfordHS lilml!l.:7~p.,n.Tlfflday,Clmratd.HS ~15.HalstDaCJ'lftSSltadl Ganle2:7~p.m.Aiday.-HS ClASSlA Gmll! I.: 7Jl.111. YA! I had the guys wear their sweatshirtsturnedinside out so no one could see theG. And I hadeveryone asking them why those shirts were inside out." The reason, Foster says, was that the players "were not represent ing the G." That doesn't mean losing games, he insists; rather, it means playing without commit ment to the team. "But from that moment on, they pulled together," Foster said. And has this year's team, which opens the playoffs in a one-game series against Weiss on Friday, ever lost that ... •• ....,. ....J' .., • ..,. -~~-~-==='"------whiteletter? "Not even close," definitely gives us an Foster said. "I have not advantage." even had to think about Wood, one of the few it. These guys, they're Eagles who didn't grow a close-knit group, and up in Georgetown, came they do everything the to the school prior to right way." his junior season from There'splentyofquan the basebaJl hotbed of titativeevidence. Now in Conroe, a suburb north their 100th yearofbase of Houston. He says ball, the Eagles rolledto the team's chemistry their best regular-season was evident the first mark in school history. time he met bis future They outscored District teammates. 18-5A foes 96-11 with "Here, it's just differ out dropping a game. In ent,'' said Wood, who its 19-game nondistrict Georgetown's baseball team warms up at the start of delivered one of this schedule, Georgetown practice Tuesday at Georgetown High School. The Eagles, season's highlights with faced 17 playoff teams ranked No. 1in the state in Class SA, open the playoffs a perfect game in a 12-0 and seven squads that this week against Weiss. win over Cedar Creek on eventually won a dis April 12. "It's all about trict title, including impressive consider goes beyond statistics. thecultureandabout the six - highlighted by ing Georgetown has It's about cultivating a team. It's playing self state-ranked , ·. ! s, produced major league culture ofaccountability less baseball. Theseguys whom Georgetown beat arms such as T aylor reflective of the town's were like a brotherhood, 7-5 - that won a Class Jungmann, Corey Knebel close-knit baseball and they welcomed me 6Adistrict title. andAndrew McKirahan. community. in." Here's even more num TheEaglesdon'tslack off Posey, a three-year Now, that brotherhood bers. Georgetown's deep attheplate, either. Led by starter who has signed a has a chance to make his pitching staff includes shortstop Cole Posey (.424 letterofintentwith Boise tory for a program that eight players who have average, 45 runs, 35 RBIs, State, has played with won its first district title thrownatleast11 innings six home runs), thirdbase many of bis teammates in 1939 but has yet to lift and none who have manJeffreyDavid(.430,45 since elementary school, a title trophy at thestate topped 40 innings, and runs, 26 RBIs, three home when he was a member of tournament. And ifthey the Eagles have a team runs) and infielder Ty the Austin Wings youth do, that letter G will also ERA of 2.18. Seniors Tilson (.396, 28 runs, 32 baseball program. stand for greatness,a word Grant Wood and Jack RBIs), Georgetown boasts "Everyone was like reserved for only the best. Brinley boast ERAs of a team battingaverage of 'Watchoutfor this group "It's our senior year; 0.70 and 0.73, respec .311 and has scored fewer comingup,' " saidPosey, we want to go as far as tively, which are the than three runs just once referringto many ofthe15 we can," Posey said. two lowest ERAs of any this season. seniorsonGeorgetown's "And the only right way starters in school his But what Foster caJls team. "The chemistry is to go out is with a state tory. That's especiaJly "the Georgetown way" on the next level, sothat championship.11 Lewis hurls no-hitter as Cavaliers trounce Hays By John Harrl~ April 23 at Cavalier Field secure a playoff spot. The hHless while striking out American•Statesm.w thatended after five innings Rebels are currently tied nine and allowingtwo bas- Contspondfnt because ofthe10-runrule. for third with Bowie and a erunners in bis second s, which has half-game ahead of Austin consecutive dominant per already clinched theDistrict High, which ended its regu - formance against Hays. In senior pitcher Jimmy Lewis 25-6A title, improved to Jar season with a win over a 7-1 win at Hays on March did it again. 26-2 overall and 14-1 in Akins April 23. Austin High 26, Lewis yielded one bit For the second time in a district play. Hays, 22-7, holds the tiebreaker edge and struck out nine in seven month, Lewis silenced the overall, fellto9 -6 indistrict over Hays after sweeping the innings. bats ofDistrict 25-6A base play and needs a win over Rebelsin district play. ball rival Hays in a 10-0win Del Valle at home Friday to Lewis held the Rebels SeeCAVS, A9 cavaliers pitcher Jimmy Lewis (19) delivers the pitch against the Hays Rebels during the fourth inning at the District 25-6A baseball game on April 23 at L, High School. [JOHN GUTIERREl/1-0RSTATESMAN] in back-to-back wins goodonall counts, rack Baty's homer came with twostrikes tonight, put in third place in the dis CAYS against Lehman and ingupu hitsandsending two strikes in the count ting balls in play. Brett trict, committed t wo Wesceil:ie. ninebatterstotheplatein and followed the previ doesn't panic. He missed errors leading t o runs in From Page AB "It all start s with breaking the game open ous pitch in which he one. Theytriedto sneak a thefirst and thirdinnings. Jimmy on the mound," withfour runsinthethird swungandmissed against fastball past him, and he "You have to play a La:.~coach Mike inning. reliever Jeremy Copeland. explodes anit.• clean game to beat ~ How impressive was Rogers said of the LSU Texas-bound senior "We've been working Hays coach James ~, 1. ·,,, said Howard, Lewis' latest effort? In bound hurler, who once Brett Baty set the tone hard on our two-strike Howardwants toshoreup whose pitchers yielded the seven gamesbetween again performedinfront with an RBI double in swing and approach," his defenseintimeforthe six walks. "We had two its two meetings against of several major-league the second, followed by Rogers said. "They did a postseason. The Rebels, errorsthatreally hurt, and ~. Hays aver scouts. "He was really, a moon-shot home run good job ofbattling with who entered the contest six walks didn't help.• aged9.3 runs. The Rebels really good." over the center-field totaled 19 runs last week The Cavaliers wer e fence to leadoffthe fifth. The lilll.a ~ Cavaliers celebrate their 10-0 win in five innings against the Hays Rebels at the District 25-6A baseball game on April 23 at l .~ High SC.hooL [PHOTOS BY JOHN GUTIERRWFOR STATESMAN) w.kelli...:U Cavaliers' shortstop Parker Guerin (5) leads the team line for fist bump exchanges after the game with the Hays Rebels on April2l at l.alle rmnl High Sdlool. PREP SOFTBAll CENTRAL TEXAS IPUYOFTS o..- ■lldlups: 1'1lortNJ 8MtroP at Glena, &alt cndrn•~.tm ~~N~ ill!llWbmal, Lllt Tol)'llr IS.Wirootrlc,.. ...lilt ~vs. EJglnatRouadRotk,Lft ftldl\' Bowltvs.Corwtnt.kldsonllSaaMAn:m, 7p.& H--VS.Bridgel.vl By ColbyGordon the Maroons to reach the Amt'.t'icatt- St.stestnru1 plnyoffs. Corre:spondenl THE WEEK IN PREVIEW THEWEEK IN REVIEW Playoffs schedule: Team of the week: L•l Thursday Monday be led L High School CyberPatriots. Utile Yoga: 10:30 a.m., Fall prevention workshop: The program will include community 10:Joa.m., information about social Library, 1938 Lohmans Community Library. The media safety and secu· Crossing, Austin. For infor• workshop, led by Body rity. For information, call mation, call 512·263·2885. Balance Physical Therapy, 512-263-2885. will demonstrate exer· Friday cises to improve balance May9 and teach strategies for cowboy Music with K.R. preventing fal is. For Infor l • ' way MUD meetings: Wood: 4 p.m.. • mation. call 512·263·2885. Hl'.30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Community library. Singer, atthe l: I , 'flay Activity songwriter and historian Tuesday center, 105 cross creek. K.R. Wood uses Texas The public meetings will music to teach about its Memoir writing group: pertain to the out ofdistrict history. For information, 3 p.m, wastewater project to bring call 512·263·2885. Community Library. a public sewer system to Explore personal histories the Old · way area. Both Saturday through writing activi• presentations will feature ties. For information, call the same information. Star Wars craft: l ·3 p.m" 512-263·2885. , community Better Lights for Starry Library. Attendees can Wednesday Nights: 2p.m. at the make a lightsaber to eel· community Library, cbrate Star Wars Day. Wellness worbhop: 1938 lohmans Crossing. 10-11:30 a.m., Austin. Matt Lara of the HIii Hour of STEM: 2 p.m., United Methodist Church, country Alliance will pres Community 1502 Ranch Road 620 N, ent on light pollution. Library. Kids can see Austin. The workshop, and drive a Lego robot "Portlon Control and Alliances with retired built by the Vandegrift MyPlate." will provide par· U.S. Ambassador Gene High School robotics ticipants with information Christy: 7 p.m., 1-~ team QuadX. and direction on how to community Library. Christy find better health through will discuss past and SUnday food portion control and present U.S. alliances with use of MyPlate, the current foreign countries. Puzzle exchange: 3·4 p.m., nutrition guide published Community by the U.S. Department of Leadership Clll tcllZIS Library. Attendees can Agriculture. Reservations 10 year celebration: 6-9 bring gently used puzzles are required by calling p.m., Vintage Villas, 4209 with 500· l,500 pieces to 512·266·9877 oremailing Eck Lane, •way. Dinner exchange with others. [email protected]. and one drink ticket are Pu22les must be packaged included with live enter securely and contain all CyberGenerations: tainment rrom Suede. The pieces. 5p.m" ~ cost is $65 per person. Community library. This Register at J ham- ongoing tech series will ber.corn. Eanes board considers,staff salaries, benefits Trustees hope and benefits of area school Leglslature wlll districts while considering Increase school funding a 2 percent salary increase for 2019-2020. By SuzanneMajors Davis Officials said a number of Conltibuting writer factors go into the dechion making, some controlled by As the Texas legislature the district but many not. considers increasing public Eanes bas direct influence school teacher and staff sal over salaries, staffing and aries,theEanes &hool Board benefit decisions. But , it ofTrustees also studied the bas indirect influence with issue during their April 23 regard to legislators, enroll regular meeting. ment and bow much il draws Eanes school boanf president Jennifer salas, Superintendent Tom Laurie Lee, executive on the reserve fund balance. Leonard and board member Christie Bybee discuss staff salaries and directorofhuman resources benefits during the April 23 meeting. (PHOTO BY SUZANNE MIJORS DAVIS) for Eanes, compared salary See BOARD, A5 BOARD FromPageA.l Another consideration is the annual donation from the Eanes Education Foundation, which last yearcontnbuted$2.5 mil lion to the district. The district has no direct influence over taxable assessed values of properties or unan ticipated revenues and expenses, officials said. Superintendent Tom Leonard told the board the district will not know its exact tax assessed value until July or August. But he said the tax assessor's office hinted that next year's tax rate increase would bea little less than 5%. School board members said they are cautiously optimistic about the progress of bills in the Legislature, which could increase school funding. House Bill 3 cou ld inject $6.3 billion in new funding for Texas school districts and[J]jght mean ingfully increase the basic allotment the state pro vides for each student. Senate Bill 4 mandates a $5,000 raise for teachers and librarians. Either one of these bills would bring relief to the district, board members said. Leonard told the board that if the Legislature does notresolve school fund ing issues until a special session, board members can !alee up salary com pensation in August. "You can change the number (for a raise) or make it retroactive," he said. "We've done that before." Lee stressed the impor tance of attracting and retaining good teachers. Trustees have previ- ously said they want teacher startingsalaries tobe comparable tothose of . . ,.., school district. They also want teachers with five years increasing teacher sli of experience to at least p ends and pay for be in the middle of the substitute teachers, comparison with other supportingstrategicini Central Texas districts tiatives such as Social for salaries and those with Emotional Learning and 10and20 years ofexperi Special Education and enceshould be ranked in offering more competi the topquartile. tive wages totechnology Preliminary projections staff. ofarea districts show six Custodial and ground have not yet made deci skeepers are also not paid sions, five are projecting competitively, she said. 2 or 3 % raises, and one "Some ofthose positions district bns a freeze. are at the lowest end of Lee said most districts our salary schedules,n are "doingthesame thing Lee said. "They come in we are, which is tallcing at about s11 and hour, and waitingat this time. n and the average is about Leonard noted the $13 anhour for employees numbers could change whohave been heremany significantly depend years. So we do want to ing on the Legislature's definitely take a look at actions. that." Looking attheproposed Lee also gave trustees 2 'lb increase for the 2019- a look at benefits. The 2020 school year, new district currently con Eanes teachers would tributes $473 per salaried be in fifth place in local employee, putting it in salary comparisonsof 12 fourth place among those districts. Eanes teach in the area. She said the ers would place eighth district considered rais in salary comparisons of ing the contribution to five year teachers; infifth $500 and that doing so place for 10 year teacher would costan additional comparisons; and in $270,000. Lee said offi fourth place for 20 year cials do not know if the teachers whencompared Texas Retirement System to local districts. will raise the district's Lee also urged board rates, but will soon find members to consider out. Texas will add star potentialin comingmonths SomekeyJune a.rrlvals expected topush for pla,ylngtime In fall B)' Mfke Craven mcraft~tat.esm:m.com Texas signed 24recruits in a 2019 els$$ that ranked third in lhe nation, trailing only Alabama and Goorgi.t. Ten of those pledges enrolled early illkl look part in spring prac tice, though four-star inside linebacker De'Gabricl Floyd was ruledout for the season. That leaves the Longhorns with 14 new freshmen plus Georgia Tech graduatetrans• fer guard Parker IJraun and junior('oJlcgeoffensive tackle WillieTylerloadd to lbe mu. The. signees in the 2019 classwho arrived early have anadvantagein tcrmso(e.arly playing time. But thatdoesn't mean the guys showing up June l don't stand a chance ofseeinglhcfield, cSpccially as theseasonunfold~. Players: can uow participate in as many as four games without losing eligibility. Herc arc five who haveyet to arrive but could m3ke an impact in 2019: Jake Smith, wide receiYer, Scottsdale (ArizJ Noire Dame Jake Smith is elKtric in tight spac!ts and is anideal candidate for the H•back position. (MJl(tCRAVCN/AMCRIC-.N·STATES.W.Nl Prl!I) FYI: 6 feet I inch, 189 pounds; ,t stars; No. 8 wide Let Mike Craven keep you up receiver on the ~testrccrufting news Smith is: the type ofathlete at hookem.com,our home for Tex3S wasJackingwhen Tom Longhoms news and an..,,lysis. Herman inherited the roster from Charlie Strong. He's electricin tight spaces and such as Anthony Cook and is an ideal candidate for lhe lalen Greenarc primed and H-back position.whichask.s ready for starting positions a player lo play slotreceiver, as sophomores. But don't excelou screens and take j~t count out Watson, a lengthy sweeps, much as D'Shawn defensive backwho canplay Jamison was deployed lut cornerorsafety. year in bisfres.hman sea-.on. Cornerb3cks coach Jason Smith was the Gatorade Washington loves big, rangy Player of the Year. lie led prospects, and Watson Notre Dame Prep to con checl(stbose boxes. liemight secutive state title game not take a starting spot as a 3ppcaranccs and be.came Creshman, but he'll sec the the fust Arl%0n• ploycr with field on delouse ond special 1,000 yards rushing and teams. 1,000 receivingin lhe same sea.sonsince-Christian Kirk. David Gbenda, inside Smith will tou ch the linebacker, Katy Cinco Ranch football. He'll become a per· manentstapleofthe offense FYI: 6 •0, 118; 4 stars; No. ifhcmcetsexpectationsearly 40 on the Fabulous SS in theseason. Gbenda is probably not ready toplay as a freshman Kenyatta Wa154n II, and wouldn't be on this list cornerback, BUford (G&.) if Floyd weren't outfor tho Grayson season. But Texas needs depth atllocb>.ckcr. Cbcnda FYI: 6 - 2, 182; isa hard-bitting player \\ilb 4 stars; No. 16 real speed for his posiUon. cornerbaclt Hecan play the Macorrover The corner• !ipOt and is sure t o excel o n back position special teams with hii. speed is unsettled and physicality. Gbenda WAtson entering the shouJdo't be expected to 2019 season. anive in June and com Thatdoesn't mean the posi pete for a starting spot, but tion will take a step back he can provide valuo to the without Kris Boyd and two-deep over a 12- game Oavautc Davis. Young guns season. Lollgbomsneedanotherbody an elitedefen Bnyden Liebrod<. tight end. at the position with Maloolm siveend or big Chandler, Ariz. Epps seemingly now a wide enough to bo rccclvcr. 'Ib.al give!SUebrock an elitedefen m:6-5,200; aud (eUow 2019 s.ignee Jared sive t ackle. ◄ stars; No. 5 Wiley a chance to earn real 'l'hal doesn't light end playingtime. Sweat matt.erat 'l'ex.u because he'll a~:;a~~7t!; T'Vllfldre SYtta~ defensive be asked to play a hybrid of at t ight end ladle, HuntSYille the two positions. Sweat has Utt,roc:t with Andrew M:ik:olm Roach-type potcn Beck gone. PVI:6-3,249;3 stars:No.22 lial, 31ldRoochmadcanimp;lct The. leading candidate is ootbeFabSS asafrcshman. Louisiana native fomtf:'r .....,l starCade Sweat was underrated a$ Myron Warrenls also a 2019 Brewer. Reese Leitao ls also a prospect who wasn't quite slgnoe whocould ronlributo