There are plenty of question marks surrounding the Texas football program ahead of the 2020 season.
Head coach Tom Herman revamped his coaching staff this offseason, how they make an impact with the players is yet to be seen. Two primary wide receivers departed to the NFL, leaving a void at the position group that will present an interesting battle for the starting spots.
However, they also have one of the most experienced rosters returning in the Big 12. When you combine the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and factoring in two new coordinators on the coaching staff, experience is crucial.
ESPN has created a formula to calculate a team’s returning production percentage. It compiles key personnel stats such as quarterback passing yard’s returning, wide receiver and tight end receiving yards returning, last season’s career starts on the offensive line, last season’s running back rushing yards returning, etc. On defense, it takes a look at the returning production percentage of the defensive line, secondary and from the full defense as a whole.
In regards to the Big 12, there is only one other team that had a higher percentage than the Longhorns. Oklahoma State tops the list with the most returning production with 80%. Texas landed at the No. 2 spot in the conference with a percentage of 74%.
Big 12’s returning experience percentages:
- Oklahoma State Cowboys – 80% (No. 9 nationally)
- Texas Longhorns – 74% (No. 21 nationally)
- Iowa State Cyclones – 67% (No. 52 nationally)
- TCU Horned Frogs – 65% (No. 64 nationally)
- West Virginia Mountaineers – 64% (No. 66 nationally)
- Kansas State Wildcats – 61% (No. 76 nationally)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders – 59% (No. 81 nationally)
- Oklahoma Sooners – 59% (No. 82 nationally)
- Baylor Bears – 51% (No. 108 nationally)
- Kansas Jayhawks – 42% (No. 126 nationally)
The Longhorns are within the top 25 nationally in terms of returning production on their roster. It’s understandable why Oklahoma appeared low on the list, considering they have a new inexperienced quarterback and their top receiver was selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Sitting at No. 21 overall, Texas is returning one of the best quarterbacks in the country with both primary running back’s from last season in Keontay Ingram and Roschon Johson. Two experienced offensive lineman, Sam Cosmi and Derek Kerstetter, will be anchoring the offensive line. On the defensive side, linebacker Joseph Ossai will be returning for his junior year after he led the team with 90 tackles last season.