Texas Longhorns News: Marquise Goodwin returns from London

US Olympian Marquis Goodwin Returns to Football at UT

Texas Longhorns News: Marquise Goodwin Returns From London

From the Austin American Statesman

Return from London

Thank goodness for football.

That was Marquise Goodwin’s thought as the Longhorns’ senior wide receiver flew home from London after a disappointing performance Saturday in the long jump at the Olympics.

Goodwin, the U.S. national champion, managed a best of just 25 feet, 7 inches and failed to advance to the final round. If he’d duplicated his 27-4 best at the U.S. nationals, he’d have flown home with a gold medal.

“Most definitely,” he said Thursday night when asked if it was his most crushing athletic setback. I worked my whole life for that one moment.”

So … thank goodness for football.

“Football is a big stress reliever,” Goodwin said. “It’s great not to have to worry like, ‘Oh dang, if I would have done this; if I would have done that.’ My mind is totally on football now.”

That’s good news for the Longhorns, who warmly welcomed Goodwin home Thursday at practice, although it will be a few days until he actually dons pads. As Texas’ sole senior wide receiver, much is expected from him this fall.

“It was a real humbling experience in London,” Goodwin said. “I came back to where everybody loves me. There’s nothing like it. Your teammates always have your back.”

Back healthy

Jackson Jeffcoat said he has recovered from the torn left pectoral muscle he suffered against Texas A&M last season.

“I feel great,” said Jeffcoat, the junior defensive end who had surgery during the offseason after leading the Longhorns in sacks with eight.

It wasn’t so great the final two games last season, against Baylor and California.

“It was excruciating pain,” Jeffcoat said. “I’m not going to say it wasn’t. I really couldn’t push with my left arm. I couldn’t really club with my left arm. I didn’t have any strength in it.”

Old hat

Junior guard Mason Walters was asked if this fall camp was any different than his previous two camps.

“Yeah, Coach (Stacy) Searels has a much older hat,” Walters said of the Horns’ second-year offensive line coach. “And it doesn’t get as much lift as it used to.”

It’s not an Olympic event, but Searels is known for the longest throw of his old baseball cap when he’s upset after a blown assignment. Some of those throws have landed on the pads of his linemen, who actually get a big kick out of it.