After Larry Coker wrapped up his part of the NSD press conference I spent a few minutes chatting 1-on-1 with UTSA offensive coordinator Kevin Brown.
Q: How important was it to find guys in this class that can come in right away and compete for two-deep spots to help offset the amount of players lost from last year's team?
A: It was really important. We signed four JUCO prospects on offense and we haven't historically done that on the offensive side of the ball. We got a running back, a wideout, a tight end and an offensive lineman so when you lose that many we've got a lot of quality coming in but they're young so those JUCO guys have experience so they have to come in and compete. They're bigger and that helps.
Q: How nice is it have Jaylon Henderson already on campus so he can go through the spring?
A: I think it is very beneficial. We tried to get him and Manny Harris both in the spring but Manny had a few classes to still take, but for Jaylon he gets a head start learning the offense and the system. Physically, he is 6-foot-2, 200-pounds so it won't be a physical challenge for him. The challenge will be on the mental side: learning the offense, getting used to the system and figuring out the speed of the game. Having that spring is going to be invaluable because we expect them all to compete. It is wide open and we're going to play the best guy and go from there.
Q: When you're recruiting without a wide receiver or offensive line coach to end a cycle how hard is it to keep the class together, especially those positions, and how much more work is it for everyone else to pick up the slack?
A: We were honest. We told (the recruits) why (we didn't have a position coach) but that once we got someone in there that they would know and that the philosophy and what they were told in recruiting is not going to change. We're always going to do what is best for these kids and this football team and that was and is our approach. And you know, it was more work, but when the coordinators and head coach involved its about relationships. We had those guys in for junior days and they were around the program to know what we're about and what we're going to be about and that weathered the storm.
Q: The offensive line has to be the biggest question mark heading into the spring and even the fall, how big was getting Gabe Casillas on board at offensive tackle to come in and compete for a starting spot or at least push into the two-deep and help with depth?
A: Offensive tackle is the hardest position to recruit. You can get big guys and leaner guys, but trying to get someone with the length and the athleticism to play on the edge is tough, especially since we ask our offensive tackles to do a lot. He was about 280 pounds on campus last week and we can add that. But you're right, even if he doesn't earn a starting spot he is going to push the guys in front of him and be an adequate back-up and provide depth and that isn't something we have.
Q: In terms of Cavil, what is his status?
A: It is still at the Clearinghouse (NCAA) and we haven't heard back from them.
Q: How important was it to find guys in this class that can come in right away and compete for two-deep spots to help offset the amount of players lost from last year's team?
A: It was really important. We signed four JUCO prospects on offense and we haven't historically done that on the offensive side of the ball. We got a running back, a wideout, a tight end and an offensive lineman so when you lose that many we've got a lot of quality coming in but they're young so those JUCO guys have experience so they have to come in and compete. They're bigger and that helps.
Q: How nice is it have Jaylon Henderson already on campus so he can go through the spring?
A: I think it is very beneficial. We tried to get him and Manny Harris both in the spring but Manny had a few classes to still take, but for Jaylon he gets a head start learning the offense and the system. Physically, he is 6-foot-2, 200-pounds so it won't be a physical challenge for him. The challenge will be on the mental side: learning the offense, getting used to the system and figuring out the speed of the game. Having that spring is going to be invaluable because we expect them all to compete. It is wide open and we're going to play the best guy and go from there.
Q: When you're recruiting without a wide receiver or offensive line coach to end a cycle how hard is it to keep the class together, especially those positions, and how much more work is it for everyone else to pick up the slack?
A: We were honest. We told (the recruits) why (we didn't have a position coach) but that once we got someone in there that they would know and that the philosophy and what they were told in recruiting is not going to change. We're always going to do what is best for these kids and this football team and that was and is our approach. And you know, it was more work, but when the coordinators and head coach involved its about relationships. We had those guys in for junior days and they were around the program to know what we're about and what we're going to be about and that weathered the storm.
Q: The offensive line has to be the biggest question mark heading into the spring and even the fall, how big was getting Gabe Casillas on board at offensive tackle to come in and compete for a starting spot or at least push into the two-deep and help with depth?
A: Offensive tackle is the hardest position to recruit. You can get big guys and leaner guys, but trying to get someone with the length and the athleticism to play on the edge is tough, especially since we ask our offensive tackles to do a lot. He was about 280 pounds on campus last week and we can add that. But you're right, even if he doesn't earn a starting spot he is going to push the guys in front of him and be an adequate back-up and provide depth and that isn't something we have.
Q: In terms of Cavil, what is his status?
A: It is still at the Clearinghouse (NCAA) and we haven't heard back from them.
