The Texas Longhorns will be looking for new faces to step up in 2020 after losing starting WRs Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay to the NFL. Brennan Eagles (right) and Jake Smith (left) are a couple of extremely talented receivers who are ready to take the next step.
BRENNAN EAGLES
BACKGROUND
Texas junior WR Brennan Eagles was a 4-star recruit from Houston, Texas. He lost his senior year in high school to injury, but was able to show enough in his junior year (1,069 yards, 15 TDs) and 2018 recruitment camps to finish as 247Sports’ 11th-ranked wide receiver. He held over 25 offers from programs like Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, and Clemson but eventually decided to stay home, taking his talents to the Longhorns.
Eagles, who measures at 6’4″ and 225 pounds, posted elite testing numbers as a recruit at The Opening finals, including a ridiculous 3.99-second 20-yard shuttle. To put that into perspective, only two wide receivers over 6’3″ and 215 pounds have ever posted a shuttle below 4.00 seconds at the NFL combine — Allen Robinson and Jeff Janis. Eagles finished his testing with a 132.24 SPARQ rating, good enough for second-best among wideouts.
Eagles had a quiet freshman season at Texas. He played in 11 games in 2018 as a key special teams member but only caught one ball for 35 yards. In 2019, he was finally able to show flashes of his talent — posting 32 receptions for 522 yards and six touchdowns. His 16.3 yards per reception (5th in the BIG12 for receivers with at least 30 catches) was evidence of his big-play ability, along with his touchdown catches of 25, 28, 55, and 73 yards.
FILM
Eagles has exceptional awareness. He understands how to adjust when the play breaks down and is always aware of where the markers are. He displays good technique and understands how to use his strengths. Eagles uses his body to box out defenders and uses leverage in his routes to lean defensive backs out of position.
Eagles’ strong hands allow him to win in contested-catch situations and play through contact. He shows excellent timing in high-point circumstances, and he exhibits excellent body control. He displays expert concentration and tracks the ball well, and his massive catch radius allows him to adjust to the placement of the ball.
Eagles handled most of his reps as an outside receiver. His route tree was limited to 4 or 5 routes on most days and he was usually targeted down the field. He saw free releases most of the time and had mixed results when facing press coverage. Although he is agile, Eagles lacks a high-end finishing gear and isn’t the most dynamic receiver in space.
JAKE SMITH
BACKGROUND
Longhorns WR Jake Smith was also a 4-star recruit, hailing from Scottsdale, Arizona. The 11th-ranked WR in 247Sports’ 2019 recruit rankings held over 30 offers from USC, Alabama, Georgia, and Arizona, among schools, before eventually landing with Texas.
Smith was a multi-sport athlete in high school and a swiss army knife on the football field. Over his high school career, he spent time at receiver, running back, defensive back, and returner. He finished his senior season with over 2,100 all-purpose yards and 26 scores. Although Smith doesn’t have any verified testing numbers, his speed is evident on the field. Texas QB Sam Ehlinger called the 6-foot, 200-pound Smith “freaky fast.” There are reports of Smith running a sub-4.5 40-yard dash and a sub-4.10 20-yard shuttle last summer.
Smith saw limited playing time in his freshman season at Texas and only caught 25 passes for 274 yards, but he immediately had an impact on the Longhorns offense. He had a knack for finding the end zone, as he was able to hit paydirt on 26% of his catches. The versatile weapon finished the year with six touchdowns, tied for second-best on the team.
FILM
Smith’s quickness and speed are an ideal fit for the slot, where he can wreak havoc down the seams and outrun defenders. He uses his quick feet to make sharp cuts and misdirect the defense with subtle head-fakes and body movements. Smith showcases a sturdy pair of hands, and he made a few highlight-reel catches on his way to six touchdowns this past year.
Smith’s history as a jack-of-all-trades allowed Texas to use him in a variety of ways, including quick-outs, end arounds, screens, and punt returns. He’s able to get easy yards and outrace defenders to the edge, a testament to his athletic ability and awareness on the field.
Smith doesn’t play up to his 200-pound frame. He has trouble breaking tackles and playing through contact, struggling to gain yards on his screens and returns. He’s also somewhat raw with limited experience, relying mostly on manufactured touches and outrunning his competition.
OPPORTUNITY
The departures of Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay open up 52% of the receiving yards, 47% of the receptions, and 37% of the receiving touchdowns from 2019. Eagles and Smith, who immediately climb to the top of the depth chart, are the only two receivers to catch more than 20 passes last year. Texas head coach Tom Herman’s offense has finished top 25 in total passing yards in the nation over the past two seasons and should have no trouble providing opportunities for the young duo.
New wide receivers coach Andre Coleman, who coached at K-State with receivers like Tyler Lockett and Byron Pringle, preaches versatility at the position. He attempts to prepare receivers for the next level, where players will be asked to step outside their comfort zone. “We want to learn on a bigger scale,” Coleman said back in January. “We don’t want to learn (the) X right? We want to learn scheme, right? We want to learn the big picture. Which means you can play anywhere.”
Eagles and Smith are different players but are natural complements to each other. Smith’s quickness and versatility make him a perfect fit for Duvernay’s old role as the primary slot receiver. Duvernay broke out last year with 106 receptions for 1,386 yards and nine touchdowns. Eagles should slide right into Johnson’s old role, who was on his way to his first 1,000-yard season before getting injured. Eagles’ imposing size and athleticism are perfect as an outside wide receiver and make him an ideal target for Ehlinger down the field.
GOING FORWARD
Eagles already possesses many traits of a dependable NFL WR1. If he can work on becoming a more complete and nuanced pass catcher, he has an Allen Robinson-like ceiling at the next level. A productive 2020 could see his draft stock rise, should he choose to declare. Smith still has two years of development before he is eligible in 2022, but he has a unique skill-set similar to that of Curtis Samuel. He will need the time to build up his play strength and prove he’s more than a gadget player. Can he show that he is an offensive weapon and a game-changer with the ball in his hands?
Both Eagles’ and Smith’s devy startup ADPs are in the 60-70 range, putting them between WR24-28. With continued growth in their games, they both project favorably to the NFL and are sleepers in the deeper half of devy drafts.
Cory Pereira/@FF_Guitarist