Brenden

Schooler

Schooler (6'2/201) began his college career at Oregon as a safety, but he arrived in Austin as a wide receiver. With the head coaching change, and the redshirt senior deciding to not enter his name into the transfer portal, Schooler will be back on the defensive side of the football this fall. In 2016, he accounted for 74 total tackles (1.0 for loss) and four interceptions as a free safety at Oregon. He’ll likely back up Jerrin Thompson this fall, but Schooler should not have much trouble getting onto the field.

Normally, a redshirt senior would obviously not be able to stay in school. However, due to COVID, the NCAA has allowed players to retain this year of eligibility, effectively allowing seniors to stay for another year. Schooler, who transferred from Oregon this year, has missed a lot of the season with a thigh issue, so it makes sense that he would want to give things another go in 2021. Schooler (6'2/196) has earned just 11 receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns in 2020.

Schooler (6'2/196) was able to take part in Monday’s practice, and is trending in the right direction regarding his availability for Saturday’s game. The senior wide receiver started last weekend’s win at Oklahoma State but did not record any statistics. Having a healthy Schooler is big for Texas, as fellow slot receivers Jake Smith and Jordan Whittington have also been banged up this season. Whittington, who remains sidelined due to a lower body injury, was able to do some running during Monday’s practice.

Whittington (6'1/209) has struggled to stay healthy this season, as he suffered a small tear in his lateral meniscus during the Longhorns’ September 12 win over UTEP. And now he has another injury to deal with. Whittington, who caught ten passes for 65 yards in the overtime defeat, underwent surgery last September to address the re-aggravation of a sports hernia suffered while in high school and missed the 2019 season as a result. No word if this injury is similar, but according to 247Sports’ Chip Brown the pass-catcher is expected to be out for “some time.” With Jake Smith dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Oklahoma game Brenden Schooler, who is healthy after suffering a thigh contusion, stands to get more reps Saturday when the Longhorns face Baylor.

Getting Schooler (6'2/190) back is good news for the Longhorns, as starting slot receiver Jordan Whittington is expected to miss time due to a hip flexor strain. Add in the fact that Jake Smith has been slowed by a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Longhorns’ October 10 loss to Oklahoma, and Texas has been banged up at the slot position.

Smith (6'0/200) has yet to play this season, but that hasn’t changed his status as the Longhorns’ top slot receiver even with the play of Brenden Schooler. Filling in for the injured sophomore wideout, Schooler caught nine passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns in wins over UTEP and Texas Tech. Smith may get the start against the Horned Frogs, but Schooler shouldn’t lack for reps given how well he’s played.

Smith (6'0/200) did not appear in either of Texas’ first two games due to the hamstring injury, which first became an issue late in preseason camp. However he was a full go in Sunday’s practice, putting him in line to make his 2020 debut against the Horned Frogs. Brenden Schooler started at slot receiver in place of the injured Smith.

Schooler (6'2/190) originally signed with Oregon back in 2016 before grad transferring to Arizona in late-December. The former first team All Pac-12 special teamer apparently didn’t find the desert heat to his liking as he then transferred again to Texas in late-August. Schooler only caught two passes for 44 yards in 2019 before entering the transfer portal. His round-about route to Texas has landed the former-Oregonian a starting lineup spot in one of the most powerful offenses in the country.

Schooler caught one pass for every time he transferred this offseason. Though he earned just the two receptions, Schooler made them count, converting both into explosive plays. Schooler score was a catch-and-run off a curl route in which he broke off the cornerback and took off down the sideline. Injuries kept Schooler out for most of the 2019 season, but he looks to be off to a strong start to the 2020 season. The Longhorns take the field again on Sept. 26 against Texas Tech.

Schooler (6'2/190) has now transferred twice this offseason, first to Arizona (from Oregon) and now onward to Texas. Having never logged more than 22 receptions in a season, count the former Ducks wideout as a minor-key addition to the Longhorns roster.