Well, here’s something you see every day. Former Oklahoma wide receivers coach Jay Norvell is headed across the Red River and down to Austin as Texas’ wide receivers coach. Norvell spent seven seasons coaching the Sooners’ wideouts, and the last five as co-offensive coordinator.
An Iowa graduate, Norvell was also in the mix for Wisconsin’s open wide receivers job.Norvell: “I’m a very disciplined person, love my players, and I pour myself into them every day.” #horns #hookem
— Cedric Golden (@CedGolden) January 17, 2015
There are two ways to think about this if you’re a Texas fan. On one hand, Bob Stoops identified Norvell as part of the program with Oklahoma’s offense. And if that’s the case, how can he be part of the solution at Texas? On the other, Norvell was a major cog in the best passing offenses in Oklahoma history - he coached three of the top four pass-catchers in OU history - and had a hand in a number of Big 12 championships and, yes, wins over Texas.
Strong could have done a lot worse than a known commodity with skins on the wall in terms of player development and recruiting.
Norvell will have his work cut out for him this spring and fall. Texas boasted FBS’s 90th-most productive passing offense this fall and loses its top two pass-catchers (John Harris and Jaxon Shipley) to graduation. Rising senior Marcus Johnson is the Horns’ top returning wideout with all of 27 catches for 313 yards and one touchdown. No other returning wide receiver caught more than 10 passes last season.
Texas is also locked in recruiting battles for Tallahassee, Fla., wide receiver John Burt (vs. Auburn) and Aledo, Texas wideout Ryan Newsome (vs. UCLA and Tennessee).
If nothing else, Norvell has some pretty elite company. He’s now the third Texas coach to have worn crimson in another life. The other two? Darrell Royal and Mack Brown.