Background: He’s following in his father’s footsteps in more ways than one. Dave Studdard helped make Earl Campbell famous by producing holes as a Texas offensive tackle from 1975-77. Dave played 10 years for the Broncos and settled in Lone Tree, where Kasey’s pee-wee football league opponents once needed five players to tackle him, with one breaking his helmet along the way. Kasey started four years on the Highlands Ranch offensive and defensive lines. He was close to signing with Colorado before playing in the U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio. “Vince (Young) was on the team. So were Aaron Harris, Rob Wright, (Justin) Blalock. There were like eight of us. They didn’t help recruit me, but it was the fact that I met these guys and they were guys I wanted to be with.” After backing up as a freshman, he started all 12 games at left guard last year, earning honorable mention all-Big 12.
Stat line: Studdard has started all six games this season and has helped an offense that ranks fourth nationally in scoring (45.7 points) and fifth in rushing (264.7 yards). Lindy’s ranked Studdard as the nation’s eighth-best guard.
What’s up: Dave Studdard has been a major force in Kasey’s life. He lists his dad, along with John Elway, as his sports heroes. Dave was his line coach for four years in high school. “If you messed up, he’d be all over you,” Kasey told the Austin American-Statesman. “The other guys would get corrected, and I’d get my face mask grabbed.” He says when he returns from a game now, his dad might have left messages on his phone with comments such as, “I noticed your shoulders weren’t turned on the 15th play on the third drive.” Kasey has become one of the Big 12’s most tenacious players, and though he’s 6-feet-3, 305 pounds, he’s the smallest of Texas’ starting offensive linemen.
What’s next: He came to Texas hoping to start for three seasons. “My goals aren’t met yet,” he said. “We haven’t won a Big 12 championship. We haven’t won a national championship.”
Henderson’s take: A decisive win over Texas Tech on Saturday should keep Texas in the hunt for the national championship. His father’s last team in 1977 went 11-0 in the regular season but was upset by No. 5 Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl, 38-10. Texas hasn’t won a national title since the 1970 UPI crown.
