Texas vs. Colorado State PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS | 2024 SEC Football

[Music] what's going on SEC unfiltered he's Dave shoem mate I'm Cole Thompson coming to you live right here on the SEC unfiltered channel breaking down every single game going into the 2024 season we got you covered this is your home for all things SEC so make sure you hit subscribe down below the ring notification that way you don't miss a single preview a single episode a single bit of content coming from this Channel and make sure of course you're following us on all the socials to keep up to date Tik Tok Facebook Instagram Twitter SEC unfiltered you want to follow Dave on Twitter it's SC I mean it's mckans Sports follow me on Twitter Mr Cole Thompson and to keep up with the number one source for all things SEC make sure you visit SEC unfiltered.com this episode's brought to you by roback use promo code SECU for 20% off all joggers polos hoodie shorts much much more look good feel good this upcoming fall at Rob back.com promo code SECU Dave this is the second time in program history that these two have met up and the first time was very much in favor of the Longhorns 1975 a 46 nothing Victory but keep in mind Colorado State one of the dark horses to win the Mountain West they returned a ton of production they didn't lose their Star Quarterback they didn't lose their star receiver they have some pieces in play that if you come out swinging you might might be able to silence the Rams but if not they're going to be battering going into the third quarter no you're 100% right I actually got off the phone before this interview with a guy used to be a student for me uh that works in their support staff role there just Colorado State over in Fort College just kind of asking them about that roster he mentioned like you talked about it the Braden Fowler Nicolosi kid kind of a gunslinger mentality he's like I think that maybe could help us in that Texas game he also he randomly just mentioned he's like NFL Scouts I think he's the liaison said they mentioned the Right Guard Drew moss and also the center Jacob Garner is potential uh NFL guy so that should be a good challenge I think initially right off the bat for the Texas defensive line guys like Alfred Collins on the interior Bill Norton coming in from Arizona uh you could even throw Vernon Bron in that conversation as well just a kind of a good test El litness test right off the bat game one this is like Arkansas playing Arkansas Pine bluffer this is a legitimate you mentioned it coak an under the radar Mountain West team uh mentioned that he's like I think we should get to six wins this year he's like I thought we should have got to six last year he's like we're going to be competitive and I know Tech I know there's interior lineman interior defensive lineman for Texas uh goes against probably arguably one of the better interior fronts in the country as well every day in practice Hayden Conor Jake major DJ Campbell as well so it's nothing they're not used to but game one you got to buckle the chin straps you can't just roll the ball out there and expect that Jay norell is a good coach they're confident uh they mentioned they are a little concerned about that heat 230 heat on that Turf that that could be a little bit of an adjustment adjustment for guys coming from the higher altitude in Colorado again I I think this is a good if I'm if I'm Steve sarkeesian I think this is a good appetizer to what should be the entree next week when you head to Ann Arbor in the big house one of the biggest things is that you don't want to go walking into Ann Arbor with not being a little tested and so you will be if you're Texas and we have to talk about the major news right now coming out of Austin no CJ Baxter in 2024 he is out for the year with the PCL LCL injury and they're really also missing a couple of other tailbacks because of more injuries have stockpiled up but they do have Jaden blue who I look at on paper I think is a superstar talent I think that his ability to win in the open field with that home run speed is something that can be bottled up and be a major weapon for this offense and then of course you bring in an offensive line I've been on record with this I think many other people have been on record with this this might be one of the best offensive lines in the nation it's certainly a top three offensive line in the SEC headline by All-American and Calvin Banks bring back Jake major veterans ship when it comes to the offensive trenches one player gone right tackle how are you going to be able to replace the production lost by Christian Jones but let's go ahead and talk about of course what is going to be the major element of this team it's Quinn yers it has to be Quinn yur when you look at what this schedule is and how many people have been hyping up all of Texas it starts it ends with number three last year guided them to a big 12 championship last year got them to a Monumental game against Oklahoma State where he had a big 12 record has stepped up big against SEC competition played well in the first game against Alabama before the injury and then played it phenomenal in the second game in the home at Nick Sav so he's ready for the SEC but at the same time you won't have the same Supporting Cast that guided you to a Sugar Bowl last year no Adin I Mitchell no Xavier worthy no Tavian Sanders no Jonathan Brooks na CJ Baxter it is a brand new crop of players who would eventually either make or break your success and when that's the case and you also have arguably the most famous backup quarterback in the history of college football breathing down your neck and fans in the stance have already started clamoring for number 16 to be number one on the depth chart there comes a little bit of out of pressure when every single snap is underwat no 100% no I mean like you said quarterback obviously starts with queen years you saw I think I saw the other day I saw this wasn't anybody talking to I saw their pra scrimmage notes they kind of started off slow offensively I'm I'm like you let's let's come out firing against Colorado State I I want to see Quin come out with a fast start my other question would kind of be who kind of does it feel and again I don't think Sark and them are going to really show you a whole lot in this first game completely offensively obviously like who does it feel like his wide receiver one who does it feel I know you're high on Matthew Balden uh you're high obviously Isaiah Bond we all know him you're also high and Silas Balden uh as well jonte cook could it be him DeAndre Moore maybe the freshman Wingo who kind of steps up is there we probably won't know after this first game but you kind of want to get a feel of like hey who touches the Rock first on that outside on the perimeter game maybe it's a Jet Sweep maybe they just throw a little bubble screen tunnel screen now screen get it out I'm just interested to kind of see from that perspective we know the running back situation they're looking for somebody after Jaden blue to kind of Step Up uh quarterback situation I'm with you I want to see Quinn ERS come out and get a quick fast start I would love for Texas to come out there on the first drive and go put a phenomenal drive together four to six play Drive score right off the bat kind of set the tone to 24 but I want to see who those Playmakers on the outside are that's kind of what I'm looking for initially just surface level as we're rolling into this first game against Colorado State my big thing is figuring out how are you going to replace the production lost by CJ Baxter and maybe it's not in terms of is it one player is it maybe turning to a guy like Weisner to now be a guy that you thought was maybe a third down back now he's got to be a primary secondary option behind Jaden blue maybe there are some plays where they utilize Quin yers the thing about yers is people don't give him enough credit he's a sneaky athlete and this was a team that the last two years has been mediocre to maybe a little bit above average at best on Third and short conversions if you are able to milk that clock and it is a main stay in the SEC you win that's a bottom line you and I know this is clear as day if you're able to control the time of possession nine times out of 10 the one that comes out on top in that stat line is is the one that comes out with the w and so I feel like that when you see Queen ERS on Third and short how can you utilize either a quick passing game do you get some jet suets mixed in you know they had keln Robinson on this roster and there's a lot of similarities between him and silus Balden for their ability to be utilized on multi- different facets do you get some jet sweeps mixed in do you get some quick little shovel passes at the line of scrimmage to be able to move it cross the you know cross the sticks pick up a first down what's going to be the case of how do you make up for backer because the thing that's really important here that we know the save this is a team that is going to have running backs that weigh under 215 pounds so they don't have that physical approach there's not a single running back now with backer on the sidelines that is weighed over 210 pounds that is a critical Factor when it comes to being great on third down especially in those short yard situations that's what made bra backer his M Mo that's where made him a standout I honestly think that they're going to find a way but this is the good new you paid C sarkeesian $10 million to now be able to scheme up plays to where you're putting the situation let's see what the money's worth man this is the time for you to shine because if you kind of have to at this point yeah like weit we hit on offense like defensively I think they're going to get tested from talking to them at Colorado I think they know their guy the Fowler Nicolosi kid I watched I remember briefly seeing him against Colorado that two overtime game that should have be Colorado brief I had been a lot of film study on him but I think he does kind of have a Gunslinger mentality he's going to take some risk maybe they pay off maybe they don't but I do think the Texas secondary is going to get tested so how are those Malik Mohamed Juday Baron I mean you got Andrew makuba come over from colums those guys are going to be tested right off the bat I mean who who's playing in that star position is it Baron who else comes over from that other in the corner spot if it is him so I think they will be tested that week one because I think Colorado State's going to come in with literally nothing to lose in that game um yeah so I'm kind of excited from that standpoint just see how the Texas backend kind of responds because if I'm Colorado State that's where I would go Attack Just hey let's take our shots let's see where we are let's see if we can get this game into the second half because I mean I think they got to be there in the second half probably with a lead if they even want to have a chance in this game because I do think that heat uh is going to wear them down with a 230 kickoff those guys coming over from Fort College they're not going to be used to that the dep's not going to be there so it'll be interesting to see Colorado State's initial game plan hey we gota got to get up early probably be ahead a little bit early and uh take advantage some of some explosive plays maybe like we mentioned Quin U gets off to a slower start not saying I believe this is what's gonna happen I if there was a path to Colorado State being in this game in the second half I think that would be it what's baffling is that the SEC has extremely talented receivers you and I both know this you got it when you look at Georgia they have Dominic love it they're gonna bring in London humph they have a really good upand Comer and Kobe young you look at Kentucky who's going to be coming into Austin later in the season they have talented receivers jamori Macklin Baran Brown Dane key you talk about Texas A&M they got some talented receivers this might be the most talented receiver that the longhorn secondary faces all year and Tory Horton Tory Horton is an absolute stud this was a kid that last year broke out big over 1100 receiving yards eight touchdowns eight 11.8 yards per play go back and remember that Colorado game he literally took that over by storm 16 catches 13 3 yards one major touchdown he was a big reason why that game went into overtime and he had offers he had offers from SEC schools from Big 12 schools from ACC schools he was one of the more sought-after players to go ahead and buy in in this nil Collective but much like what we've already heard about quarterback play there's something about being a part of a system that just makes it special and Tory Horton said I want to be a reason why Colorado State makes the college football playoff as that group of five School in year one cuz somebody got to go so this is going to be a major test I think for a secondary that last year was known for giving up explosive play after explosive play with a lot of newcomers you already mentioned Andrew makuba he's not a newcomer in terms of a starter but he is a newcomer in terms of being on the 40 acres this is a dude that was an all ACC freshman of the year can he be that guy over the top how do you feel about your other secondary positions how do you feel about Malik muhamed having to start how do you feel about maybe a guy like Cole having to play in a small sta the guy from San San Jose State these are role players that are going to step up big Tory Horton might in my opinion be the ultimate litness test of what you want if you are a secondary coach to figure out can you go toe-to-toe with these other receivers because I'm not sure you're going to see a better playmaker in the open field than what you're GNA see in week one no I know I totally agree I think it's a good T I think it's a good first game it's not your C obviously if you open up with Michigan it's whatever it's game it's week one there's things there's benefits to having a big game like Georgia Clemson to open up the season and get your guys attention all off season but I do think this is a good I like this I like this again I don't think shark plan this this game was scheduled for potentially probably his first year there but I do think this is a good like I mentioned I use the word appetizer I think it's a good appetizer because again this isn't just a roll of the ball game out you mentioned I think there are potential under the radar Mountain West team maybe seeing UNLV or Boise State in the conference Championship game out there out west but I think this this will be a good litness test we have a good feel for Texas after this I mean they're going to improve teams get better teams teams get worse as well but I think you would this would be something to tune in this isn't just to roll the ball out boring check a box kind of game I think Texas gonna have to show up they're gonna have to play well I think they will they'll be excited for that first game and again like I said I do think that heat especially in the second half middle of the second quarter going to start taking its toll in Colorado State you gotta go ahead and pick one player that ends up showing out from the transfer portal Texas had some really good names that came on over this past off season really big difference makers that is the main reason why we were talking talking about Texas being a front runner to win the SEC be a playoff team many of fine folk are not arguing that Texas belongs in the top four of the of the preseason AP Top 25 because of what they added in if you were going to go ahead and say there's somebody that you believe stands out and immediately puts the SEC on notice who is that guy I mean so they got what the three transfer receivers B isah Bond Matthew golden Silas Bowden all transferred into the program this year or other places in 2023 I'm the guy you just mentioned I brought him up earlier too he's a Texas native he went to LBJ in Austin first game back at home in his home state transferring from Clemson I'm gonna go safety Andrew makuba I remember us recruiting him out of high school phenomenal kid that's all he said yesterday he kind of felt like he hit his Peak at Clemson and kind of stopped eveloping I think he's fired up to play uh one of his last seasons in Austin at the 40 acres as you mentioned I I I think he is an interception I think he has a I wouldn't say big interception because I think Texas is going to control this game but I think he's going to have make a couple of plays a pass break UPS an interception that's going to help us be like okay maybe they did limit some explosive plays like you said against a a good litness test in that first game against a big time white out and a quarterback that's gonna test you so I think Andrew makuba is that guy I would keep um I keep my on because I think they are GNA get tested on that back end I think that secondary is a big one I would like to say Malik Muhammad if we weren't going transfers and I would like to say a wide receiver I think most people know I call Silas Balton as wide receiver one for this squad and ultimately I think by The Season's end that is the dude that we were talking about in the same light that we are right now about Isaiah Bond but whenever you are a quarterback that just needs to get a throw off what is the one position that you got to Target first it's your security blanket across the middle of the field it's your tight end and Amari iack right now is flying under the radar in terms of what could be this Weaponry we saw what he was last year he reminds me a lot of Kyle pittz in terms of how they utilize him you're not going to get the best version of him as a blocker he's going to offer very little value inside the Red Zone that's why you have Gunner there that's why you have another tight endend that can take some pressure off in run blocking but from a receiving standpoint he's a great route Runner he's got good solid hands he was a big playmaker at times last year for Alabama with Jaylen milroe so if you get that type of same guy and you get a guy that can give you at least 13 yards after the play he was a big explosive playmaker in Tuscaloosa you get that version you're talking about now four different weapons that can win at any level of the field short intermediate long me a guy that can win at the intermediate I think Amari I might end up being one of the better tight ends in the SEC even though he is joining the you know even though Texas is joining the SEC they kind of took a piece from the SEC and said no we're gonna make sure that we're good in this aspect Dave plus 35 is the line over under set according to FanDuel at 59 and a half what are you doing you tou I'm gonna go Texas 4413 I think they're just gonna I think KY will just cover and again I was talking to again the guy runs recruiting over at col State I think now you're going to see a lot of these teams you heard Kirby Smart mentioned lack of depth I think these teams like Texas who think they're going to be playing three to five extra games potentially down the road they're going to be throwing in some young guys some dep guys in there when they kind of get a lead just so they can get some film on tape and kind of see where these guys fit in I think you could see some back door covers kind of at that point early in the season they score late they put one again especially if Colorado State's still playing their quarterback like they said as a gunslinger he's going to take some risk maybe they score late get it under the 35 I'm I'm going to go like 44 4413 4417 would not surprise me at all I agree with you you're going to see a lot more backd door covers especially in the early part of the Season where you're starting to get some second teamers going and I think largely you're doing that because you want to make sure that the roster is set on all stages you feel good about your depth and so when you get to the third quarter and you're up by 21 or you're up by 28 you really don't care about the line you don't really care about the betting I agree with you I think that Colorado State actually covers this 35 and a half point line because they are going to have their starters out there until late in the fourth quarter because for them this might be their toughest game and if they could hold their own in the fourth quarter against a second team defense that might be better than some first team defenses in the Mountain West so I go 3820 is the final score I think that you will see a great performance for Quinn ERS I think you will see this defense Corral and get the Back Field I think they finished with four sacks of the day but ultimately I do think that Tory Horton against a second team Texas defense some young playmakers that might be the difference of what we talk about when it comes to a win with the cover and a win that just gets you prepared enough for going against San Arbor and again this is ultimately what you want to have a good litness test going in to the H big house especially against a team that's coming off for winning a national title great he's day shate I'm Cole Thompson make sure that you hit subscribe down below because we're breaking down every single SEC game we're sickos like that and this is home for SEC coverage download the podcast version of the show where get your podcast listening systems make sure that you're following us on all the social channels Tik Tok Facebook Instagram Twitter at SEC unfiltered for the number one content make sure you're following him on Twitter mock1 Sports follow me on Twitter at Mr Co Thompson and check out all of our great great work your home for SEC coverage isit SEC unfiltered.com he's Dave Shem I'm Co Thompson until next time LongHorn nation peace [Music] h