Contents

2012 Texas Longhorns football team

2012 Texas Longhorns football
Alamo Bowl champion
Alamo Bowl, W 31–27 vs. Oregon State
Conference	Big 12 Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 18
AP	No. 19
Record	9–4 (5–4 Big 12)
Head coach	Mack Brown (15th season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Major Applewhite (2nd season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Bryan Harsin (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Manny Diaz (2nd season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 2011 2013 →

The 2012 Texas Longhorns football team (variously "Texas," "UT," the "Longhorns," or the "'Horns") represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Longhorns were led by 15th-year head coach Mack Brown and played their home games at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. They were a member of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 9–4, 5–4 in Big 12 play to finish in a tie for third place. They were invited to the Alamo Bowl where they defeated Oregon State.

The team's motto for the season was created by Longhorns players. The motto was R.I.S.E., which stood for words Relentless, Intensity, Sacrifice/Swagger, and Emotion.^[1]

After the 2010 Texas Longhorns football team finished with the first losing season since 1997,^[2] Texas began the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season unranked in the preseason Associated Press poll for the first time since 1998, although they ranked 24th in the preseason Coaches' Poll.^[3] Texas defeated its first four opponents, including two that they had previously lost to in 2010.^[4] Texas would go on a two-game losing skid against top 10 teams Oklahoma and Oklahoma State before winning against Kansas and Texas Tech. The game against Kansas was the first shutout for a Texas football team since beating Baylor 63–0 in 2005.^[5] Texas would once again enter a two-game losing skid before beating Texas A&M in the Lone Star Showdown.^[4] The Longhorns would lose to Baylor before becoming selected to play in the 2011 Holiday Bowl.^[6] Texas would go on to win 21–10 against California, finishing the season with an 8–5 record.^[4][7]

The annual Texas Orange–White spring game took place on April 1, 2012.^[8] However, the teams were named Horns and Texas. Quarterbacks David Ash, Case McCoy, and newly recruited Connor Brewer attempted passes during the game.

The Texas team won the coin toss and elected to receive the kickoff at the beginning of the game. They would eventually score first on a 60–yard run by wide receiver D.J. Monroe. The Texas team would hold the Horns scoreless after scoring two more touchdowns in the first and second quarters. However, the Horns recorded their first touchdown with 5:55 left in the second quarter. The Texas team would answer on special teams after Mykkele Thompson made a touchdown on a 99–yard kickoff return.

After halftime, both Texas and the Horns would each score touchdowns, although Texas would maintain a lead. The final score of the game was on a 1–yard run by Heath Hohmann late in the fourth quarter for the Horns. However, the Horns could not score again, and the Texas team won 35–28.^[9]

Three Texas players were drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft. All players drafted were players on the Texas defense.^[10]

Following the draft five 2011 Texas players were signed as undrafted free agents.^[10][11]

2012 Texas Longhorns football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 1 Mike Davis So WR 2 Kendall Sanders Fr WR 3 DeSean Hales Sr WR 4 Cayleb Jones Fr RB 5 Jeremy Hills Sr QB 6 Case McCoy Jr QB 7 Kris Anderson Fr WR 8 Jaxon Shipley So WR 9 John Harris So WR 11 Jalen Overstreet Fr FB 13 Chet Moss So QB 14 David Ash So QB 15 Trey Holtz  Fr WR 16 Bryant Jackson So WR 17 Miles Onyegbule  So TE 18 D.J. Grant Sr WR 19 Marcus Johnson Fr RB 21 Daje Johnson Fr RB 24 Joe Bergeron So WR 27 Michael Zaring  Fr RB 28 Malcolm Brown  So WR 29 Jaren Nickleson Sr FB 30 Ryan Roberson Sr RB 32 Johnathan Gray Fr FB 36 Alex De La Torre  Fr RB 40 Tate Gresham  So WR 42 Dakota Haines  Fr RB 42 Heath Hohmann So OL 51 Donald Hawkins Jr C 55 Dominic Espinosa So OL 56 Drew Russo So OL 62 Curtis Riser Fr OL 65 Marcus Hutchins Fr G 66 Sedrick Flowers Fr OL 68 Kennedy Estelle Fr OL 71 Camrhon Hughes Fr G 72 Mason Walters Jr G, C 73 Garrett Porter Jr OL 74 Taylor Doyle Fr G, OT 75 Trey Hopkins Jr OL 76 Garrett Greenlea Fr OT 77 Luke Poehlmann Sr OT 78 Josh Cochran So G 79 Thomas Ashcraft Jr TE 80 Jackson Crawley  Sr TE 81 Greg Daniels So TE 82 Trey Graham Jr WR 83 Chirs Giron  Jr TE 83 Trevor Leeson  So WR 84 Marquise Goodwin Sr TE 85 M.J. McFarland Fr WR 86 Cade McCary  Jr TE 89 Barrett Matthews Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DE 1 Shiro Davis Fr DB 2 Mykkele Thompson So LB 3 Jordan Hicks  Jr S 4 Kenny Vaccaro Sr CB 6 Quandre Diggs So LB 7 Demarco Cobbs Jr LB 8 Aaron Benson So LB 11 Tevin Jackson So DB 13 Kevin Vaccaro Fr DB 16 Bryson Echols Fr CB 17 Adrian Phillips Jr LB 19 Peter Jinkens Fr DB 21 Duke Thomas Fr CB 23 Carrington Byndom Jr LB 24 Timothy Cole Fr CB 25 Josh Turner So DB 26 Adrian Colbert Fr S 29 Sheroid Evans So CB 30 Ryan Roberts  Fr CB 31 Leroy Scott So S 32 Devin Huffines  Jr CB 33 Steve Edmond LB 35 Kendall Thompson So DB, DS 37 Nate Boyer  So DB 38 Ben George  So S 40 Matthew Zapata  So LB 41 Holt Pearlman  Fr DE 42 Caleb Bluiett Fr DE 42 Logan Mills  Fr DE 44 Jackson Jeffcoat Jr LB 45 Shawn Izadi  Jr LB 46 Brad Terry  Sr DE 47 Chris Terry  Jr LB 48 Trey Gonzales  Fr DT 50 Paul Boyette, Jr. Fr DE, DS 50 Michael Cruciani  Sr DE 52 Bryce Cottrell Fr LB 55 Dalton Santos Fr DE 57 Taylor Silguero Sr LB 58 Cody Ramirez Sr DT 69 Kyle Kriegel Jr DE 80 Alex Okafor Sr DE 81 Hassan Ridgeway Fr DT 85 Ashton Dorsey Jr DL 87 Hasen Zaydon Fr DE 88 Cedric Reed So DT 90 Malcom Brown Fr DE 92 Reggie Wilson Jr DT 92 Alex Norman Fr DT 94 Chris Whaley Jr DT 97 Brandon Moore Jr DT 99 Desmond Jackson So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class PK 9 Anthony Fera Jr P, PK 14 William Russ So P 15 Alex King Sr P 15 Alex King Sr PK 23 Nick Rose  Fr PK 28 Nick Jordon Fr PK 31 Ben Pruitt  Fr PK 33 Grant Sirgo  So PK 35 Michael Davidson Fr DS 39 Tom Newman  So DS 45 Kyle Ashby  Fr	Head coach Mack Brown (15th season) Coordinators/assistant coaches Duane Akina – Assistant head coach/defensive backs Major Applewhite – Co-offensive coordinator/running backs Bruce Chambers – Co-recruiting coordinator/tight ends Bo Davis – Defensive tackles Manny Diaz – Defensive coordinator/linebackers Oscar Giles – Assistant coach/defensive ends Bryan Harsin – Co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Stacy Searles – Offensive line Darrell Wyatt – Co-recruiting coordinator/wide receivers Jeff Madden – Assistant A.D. for strength & conditioning Bennie Wylie – Strength and conditioning head coach for football Arthur Johnson – Assistant athletics director for football operations Ken Rucker – Dir. of high school relations and player development Marcus Tubbs – Director of football operations Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: August 5, 2012

During the 2011 recruiting period, Texas recruited 18 players, including nine from the 'ESPN 150.'^[12] As a result, Texas' recruiting class was ranked third by ESPN, second by Rivals and first by Scout.^[13][14][15]

UScollege sports recruiting information for 2012 recruits
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
Caleb Bluiett DE	Beaumont, TX	West Brook Senior HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	4.75	Feb 26, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Paul Boyette, Jr. DT	Humble, TX	Humble HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	280 lb (130 kg)	5.0	Feb 26, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Connor Brewer QB	Scottsdale, AZ	Chaparral HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	4.7	Feb 7, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 82
Malcom Brown DT	Brenham, TX	Brenham HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	280 lb (130 kg)	–	Apr 3, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 83
Adrian Colbert S	Mineral Wells, TX	Mineral Wells HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	189 lb (86 kg)	Dec 10, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Timothy Cole OBL	Brenham, TX	Brenham HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	218 lb (99 kg)	4.51	Apr 3, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Bryce Cottrell DE	Plano, TX	Plano West Senior HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	4.8	Jan 30, 2012
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 74
Torshiro Davis OLB	Shreveport, LA	Woodlawn HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	217 lb (98 kg)	Feb 1, 2012
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 81
Alex De La Torre MLB	Denton, TX	Billy Ryan HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	223 lb (101 kg)	4.6	Feb 12, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Bryson Echols CB	DeSoto, TX	DeSoto HS	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	–	Feb 26, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 81
Kennedy Estelle OT	Pearland, TX	Glenda Dawson HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	310 lb (140 kg)	5.2	Jun 5, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 82
Johnathan Gray RB	Aledo, TX	Aledo HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	4.4	Apr 22, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 85
Donald Hawkins OT	Senatobia, MS	Northwest Mississippi CC	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	318 lb (144 kg)	Dec 7, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A
Camhron Hughes OT	Killeen, TX	Harker Heights HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	270 lb (120 kg)	Feb 26, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 79
Peter Jinkens OLB	Dallas, TX	Skyline HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	4.5	Feb 26, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 81
Daje Johnson ATH	Pflugerville, TX	Hendrickson HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	182 lb (83 kg)	4.34	Jan 28, 2012
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Marcus Johnson WR	League City, TX	Clear Springs HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	179 lb (81 kg)	4.41	Dec 4, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Cayleb Jones WR	Austin, TX	Austin HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	4.5	Feb 27, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 83
Nicholas "Nick" Jordan K	Coppell, TX	Coppell HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	Jun 27, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Brandon Moore DT	Scooba, MS	East Mississippi CC	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	333 lb (151 kg)	Dec 7, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A
Alex Norman DT	Dallas, TX	Bishop Dunne Catholic School	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	280 lb (130 kg)	Feb 12, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Jalen Overstreet ATH	Dallas, TX	Bishop Dunne Catholic School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	206 lb (93 kg)	4.55	Feb 12, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 78
Hassan Ridgeway DE	Mansfield, TX	Mansfield HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	253 lb (115 kg)	5.0	Feb 16, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Curtis Riser OG	DeSoto, TX	DeSoto HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	–	Feb 13, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Kendall Sanders CB	Athens, TX	Athens HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	4.39	Dec 2, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Dalton Santos MLB	Van, TX	Van HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	4.62	Jan 29, 2012
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Orlando Thomas CB	Copperas Cove, TX	Copperas Cove HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	172 lb (78 kg)	4.47	Feb 13, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Kevin Vaccaro CB	Brownwood, TX	Brownwood HS	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Dec 11, 2011
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 3   Rivals: 3  ESPN: 1
‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Texas Football Commitment List 2012". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 13, 2011. "Texas College Football Recruiting Commits 2012". Scout.com. Retrieved September 13, 2011. "Texas Longhorns Commits 2012". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 13, 2011. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved September 13, 2011. "2011 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 13, 2011.

In 2012, Texas played six home games and five away games, as well as one game played on a neutral site. Texas began their 2012 season against two teams from the Mountain West Conference, Wyoming and New Mexico. Texas then faced Ole Miss, the first time Texas faced a team from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) since the 2010 BCS National Championship Game against Alabama and the first time they faced an SEC team in the regular season since 2008. After Texas' non–conference schedule, the Longhorns entered a bye week before playing a round-robin schedule against teams from the Big 12. Another bye week occurred before the game against TCU.^[16] Three football games during the season were broadcast exclusively on the Longhorn Network. As of November 2012^[update], eight games were broadcast nationally, and only one, against Kansas, was broadcast regionally.^[17]

• ^A Denotes the largest crowd to watch a football game at Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, set earlier in 2011 in the opening game against Rice, where an attendance of 101,624 was recorded. The record would be topped on September 4, 2016, with a crowd of 102,315 vs. Notre Dame.^[18]
• ^B Denotes the largest crowd to watch a football game at Jones AT&T Stadium, set earlier in 2012 against Oklahoma, where an attendance of 60,800 was recorded.^[19]

Leading up to the game Texas was favored to win by 31.5 points.^[20]

Before the game, Texas was favored to win by 6.5 points over West Virginia.^[21] It was the first game against a top–10 opponent in either the AP Poll or Coaches' Poll since losing to Oklahoma State in 2011.^[4] Leading up to the game both teams were undefeated with 4–0 records, and this game was West Virginia's first road game as a Big 12 member.^[22] It was announced that kicker Anthony Fera, who had transferred to Texas before the season, would be playing after being sidelined during the start of the season because of a groin injury. Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium saw a record attendance of 101,851, eclipsing the record set by a game against Rice in 2011.^[18]

Former Texas quarterback Vince Young, who attended the game, was the honorary team captain. Marquise Goodwin, Carrington Byndom, and D.J. Monroe were team captains for the offense, defense, and special teams, respectively.^[23]

At the start of the game Texas won the coin toss, but elected to defer, selecting to kickoff at the start of the game. The kickoff by kicker Nick Rose was returned 44 yards by Tavon Austin to start the game. On their opening drive, West Virginia drove down the field to score the first touchdown of the game on an eight-yard pass from leading Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Geno Smith to wide receiver Stedman Bailey. Texas responded on a two-yard rushing touchdown by Joe Bergeron, tying the game at 7–7. After the scores both teams were held scoreless on their subsequent drives. A 42–yard field goal by West Virginia kicker Tyler Bitancurt was blocked by Alex Okafor, and Texas failed to convert on fourth down on the following drive, resulting in a turnover on downs. West Virginia scored again after Geno Smith threw a 40–yard touchdown pass, this time to Tavon Austin, to let the Mountaineers lead 14–7 to end the first quarter. West Virginia scored once again to open the second quarter, this time on a rushing touchdown, to extend the Mountaineer lead to 21–7. After Marquise Goodwin lost a fumble, Texas cornerback Carrington Byndom was able to block a subsequent punt by West Virginia. Texas was able to capitalize on the blocked punt to score a touchdown and close the lead to 21–14. On the following drive, Mountaineer quarterback Geno Smith fumbled near the goal line, which was recovered by Jackson Jeffcoat and leading to a defensive touchdown, tying the game once again at 21–21. To close out the first half of play West Virginia was able to score two field goals, but the Longhorns were able to score a touchdown. Texas led at halftime 28–27.

Anthony Fera scored his first field goal under the Texas Longhorns football team at the end of a drive to begin the first quarter. However, on the subsequent drive West Virginia scored another touchdown, once again on a catch by Stedman Bailey, to reclaim the lead 34–31. Following the receiving touchdown Texas was able to respond with a four-yard touchdown run by Joe Bergeron, his fourth rushing touchdown of the game. Geno Smith connected with Stedman Bailey again for another touchdown catch, this time for six yards to give West Virginia the lead once again at 41–38 to start the fourth quarter. On the next drive the Longhorns were unable to score a touchdown. On the next drive Geno Smith lost his second fumble of the game, allowing Texas to start with good field position. However, a bad snap by center Dominique Espinosa forced Texas back further from the goal line. On the following attempted field goal, Anthony Fera missed wide–right. West Virginia took the opportunity to extend their lead with a 5–yard touchdown by Andrew Buie to lead 48–38. With just over a minute in the game, Texas was able to score with 15 seconds remaining on an eight-yard pass from David Ash to Marquise Goodwin to make the score 48–45. Texas was unable to recover the ensuing onside kick, allowing West Virginia to run out the clock and win the game.^[24]

Texas runningback Joe Bergeron recorded a career-high four rushing touchdowns, which accounted for four out of five offensive touchdowns by Texas. It was the first time at least four rushing touchdowns were scored by a Longhorns player since Vince Young did so in the 2005 Rose Bowl.^[23] After the loss, Texas moved down to 15th in both the Associated Press Poll and Coaches' Poll.^[25]