Texas

What is Texas Getting With SMU Transfer RB Velton Gardner?

Published

1 year ago

August 22, 2024

What is Texas Getting With SMU Transfer RB Velton Gardner?

AUSTIN — “Sark After Dark” was in full effect Wednesday night, as the Texas Longhorns landed SMU transfer running back Velton Gardner, per a post on his Instagram page.

The Dallas native will be entering his sixth season of college football as a grad transfer after playing three years at Kansas and two seasons in his hometown with the Mustangs.

Gardner announced in February that he’d be entering the portal and has now finally found the final destination of his collegiate career. He joins a running back room that’s headlined by Jaydon Blue along with sophomore Tre Wisner and freshman Jerrick Gibson.

Oct 3, 2020; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks running back Velton Gardner (0) warms up before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports / Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

So what does he bring to Austin? To put it simply, speed and experience, the latter of which Texas is currently lacking at the running back position.

The Longhorns will be lead by Blue this season, but Gardner, who first enrolled at Kansas before the pandemic, immediately becomes one of the team’s oldest players. What he could provide as a potential mentor for the likes of Wisner, Gibson and even Clark during the season could end up proving more valuable for the future of the program than the carries he’s likely to receive in a depth role as grad transfer.

During his career, Gardner has played alongside running backs like Chicago Bears’ Khaili Herbert, current Kansas star Devin Neal and former Cincinnati Bengal Pooka Williams Jr. He’s seen what it takes to play at an elite level and is better suited than most to rub off some of this knowledge on the Texas young guns.

However, his speed could certainly earn him more than just a touch or two every game as well.

Gardner has flashed his breakaway speed on occasion during his lengthy career. Though he’s never had a full-time role as the lead back, he has six runs of 30 yards or more and four runs of 40 yards or more in his career, including this 61-yard touchdown during the 2020 season with Kansas in which he avoided defenders without being touched while sprinting past the defense down the sideline.

Take a look:

You don’t score a 61-yard touchdown untouched unless you’ve got some high-speed jets for feet. Gardner isn’t necessarily an Xavier Worthy-type of fast, but he could be due for a long touchdown run at some point this season.

Gardner’s experience lines up with what coach Steve Sarkisian said the staff is looking for in a potential new running back when he spoke to the media on Monday.

“We definitely have a spot that we can utilize,” Sarkisian said. “Again, a lot of times this late in the game, it’s probably not a traditional transfer, maybe more of a graduate transfer, something of the sort. So we’re kind of looking at all of our options. We just don’t want to take a body, to take a body. If it’s someone that can help us in some capacity, maybe limited role, bigger role, whatever that is, we are we are looking at all options.”

In five total seasons, Gardner has tallied 229 carries for 1,024 yards and six touchdowns while adding 22 catches for 73 receiving yards. During the 2020 season with Kansas, he posted a career-best 72 carries before finishing with a career-high 368 rushing yards two years later with the Mustangs. At SMU in 2022, Gardner had a career-high 100 yards rushing on 11 carries in a 45-16 win over Lamar.

No. 4 Texas kicks off the regular season at home against the Colorado State Rams on Saturday, Aug. 31.

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Texas

North Texas nonprofit 4-Legged Helpers helps keep pets fed and safe: 11 Days of Giving

Published

12 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

North Texas nonprofit 4-Legged Helpers helps keep pets fed and safe: 11 Days of Giving

As the holiday season continues, at CBS News Texas, we are once again proud to honor those making a difference in our community.

As part of CBS News Texas’ third annual 11 Days of Giving campaign, supported by Tom Thumb Albertsons, $1,000 is awarded each day to a local nonprofit making a meaningful impact.

Today, we’re introduced to 4-Legged Helpers, a non-profit helping local animal shelters keep animals safe, fed, and prevent them from being euthanized all over the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

One of those animals is Bosco.

“He’s a big old goofball,” said Carlos Renovato.

Bosco is also looking for a home. Renovato is the animal control officer in Wilmer, and he said it’s a struggle to provide for the animals he’s tasked with caring for.

“Our budget’s not enough for the resources; if an emergency comes along, they don’t have the ability to go to the vet or the funds to feed them. So, it comes down to euthanizing the dogs,” said Renovato.

Luckily, for Renovato and Bosco, they know Heather Marks and Leanne Hayden.

“We donate, we help him with food, toys, treats, things like that, if there’s anything he needs, we’ll just let him know and make sure he gets it,” said Marks.

The two founded 4-Legged Helpers.

“The animals just need help,” said Marks.

They estimate it costs around $700 per animal to get them adoption-ready.

“That’s a lot, but it’s worth it. Because they wouldn’t see tomorrow if we didn’t step in,” said Marks.

That’s why 4-Legged Helpers was selected to receive a $1,000 donation. The money will keep goofballs like Bosco happy and healthy.

“We are their voice, and if we weren’t here to fight for them, no one would be,” said Marks.

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Texas

Michigan Forced to Make Major Coaching Change Ahead of Citrus Bowl vs. Texas

Published

24 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Michigan Forced to Make Major Coaching Change Ahead of Citrus Bowl vs. Texas

As the offseason of college football approaches, coaches across the country are leaving their current programs for new ones. One of these coaches is Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who has left the Wolverines for the Mizzou Tigers. With his departure, Michigan will look to a new coach to assume Lindsey’s duties in the upcoming Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

Taking over play-calling duties for Michigan will likely be Wolverines tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator Steve Casula.

Steve Casula Takes Over As Offensive Coordinator

Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Michigan Wolverines running back Bryson Kuzdzal (24) during the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

According to ESPN, Lindsey signed a three-year deal with the Tigers to take over as the team’s offensive coordinator. After spending only a single season with the Wolverines, he left in the aftermath of the recent Sherrone Moore scandal, which led to the firing of the former Michigan head coach.

Casula is in his second season with the Wolverines as an assistant coach, but previously worked with Michigan from 2019 to 2021 as an offensive analyst. Nearly eclipsing 20 years of coaching experience, this will not be Casula’s first time taking on a team’s offensive playcalling.

Casula previously held stints as the offensive coordinator at Davenport, Ferris State and, most recently, UMASS. While with Massachusetts, the Minutemen offense averaged 22.5 points per game, 163.5 rushing yards per game, 181.8 passing yards per game and 345.2 total yards per game.

Now he takes on perhaps his toughest challenge yet as an offensive playcaller, taking on the Texas Longhorns in the Citrus Bowl.

Texas has undergone some coaching changes as well, on the opposite side of the ball, recently firing defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and hiring Will Muschamp in his stead.

While the Texas defense didn’t perform to expectations this season and has had various players opt out of the Citrus Bowl, they still boast some of the best young talent in the nation. Defensive players set not to play in the Longhorns’ upcoming contest include linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., safety Michael Taaffe, defensive lineman Ethan Burke, cornerback Malik Muhammad and linebacker Trey Moore.

This will mean the Longhorns will get an early look at perhaps some of the players that will be the core of next season’s defense. Some young names like Jonah Williams and Bo Barnes likely be given a chance to play significant minutes, and will hope to put a stop to Casula and the Michigan offense.

With the turmoil that Michigan has undergone over the past few weeks, perhaps Casula can bring some stability to the offense after Lindsey’s exit.

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How to watch Kentucky vs. Texas A&M volleyball in NCAA championship

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

How to watch Kentucky vs. Texas A&M volleyball in NCAA championship

The 2025 NCAA volleyball season comes down to Kentucky vs. Texas A&M. The conference rivals will meet in the first all-SEC national championship game on Sunday, Dec. 21 (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

Texas A&M is vying for its first championship after upsetting No. 1 overall seed Nebraska and Pitt in the Elite Eight and Final Four, respectively. Meanwhile, Kentucky is looking to win its second title and first since 2020 after beating Wisconsin in a five-set semifinal thriller.

It will be the 28th all-time meeting between the teams. The Wildcats hold a 17-10 advantage in the series, but the Aggies are 2-0 when the team’s meet on a neutral court.

Kentucky beat Texas A&M on Oct. 8 in College Station. The Aggies won the first set, but Wildcats rallied to win the last three for the victory.