Texas Longhorns to watch in the NFL Draft, potential destinations

We look at where many Longhorns could go in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The 2023 NFL Draft is quickly approaching. This draft could be more enjoyable for Longhorns fans than the last one. Last season, Texas drew attention as a team who failed to have a single player selected within the seven rounds. That shouldn’t be a problem this year.

Running back Bijan Robinson is seeing plenty of attention from NFL Draft experts. We’ve detailed the various destinations on which he could land. Among those locations are the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and a handful of other teams who could use Robinson’s versatility.

Some have denigrated Robinson’s value based on rigid views on running back value. Others have criticized his 4.46 forty-yard dash. Even so, the Arizona product has generational elusiveness, balance and pass catching ability at the running back position. His talent warrants a first round draft pick.

Here’s a look at where other Longhorns could go in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Strong class secured, Texas can full-court press for five-star TE Duce Robinson

Texas seeks its fifth five-star recruit of the 2023 cycle.

Five-star tight end Duce Robinson probably isn’t choosing the Longhorns. That doesn’t mean Steve Sarkisian and company should stop trying. It appears Texas signees haven’t given up on the talented pass catcher.

Texas’ most recent signee DeAndre Moore championed the burnt orange recruiting pitch on Thursday. Moore, like Johntay Cook and Ryan Niblett, has the ability to play right away. It appears the playmaker wouldn’t mind sacrificing opportunities to share the football with the nation’s best tight end recruit.

Robinson would undoubtedly thrive at Texas opposite a complete tight end like Ja’Tavion Sanders. With Sanders, Xavier Worthy, Isaiah Neyor and Jordan Whittington potentially returning, the Longhorns should have no problem getting its elite receivers open. Brenen Thompson and Savion Red could have a role in the offense as well.

Georgia currently trends to land a commitment from the matchup nightmare at tight end. That said, with Bijan Robinson departing for the NFL, Texas figures to be more pass-centric offensively with a better scheme than the Bulldogs.

Duce Robinson’s recruitment might be a long shot, but the Longhorns can still aim for a cherry on top of their loaded recruiting class.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

WATCH: Bijan Robinson channels Barry Sanders on this run

Former NFL scout compares Bijan Robinson to Barry Sanders.

Bijan Robinson is not just any running back. He has the ability to become an all-time NFL great.

Former NFL scout Bryan Broaddus was reminded of another elite back watching Robinson play. He had the following to say about Bijan earlier this month.

He’s one of the best players in the country regardless of position. I had visions of Barry Sanders watching him play.

Broaddus’ comparison is high praise, but fits what we have seen from the special runner. Robinson’s innate ability to find openings that are not apparent to the average back has impressed since his freshman season.

The play below encapsulates what Broaddus likely sees from the Texas running back. Baylor defensive tackle Siaki Ika makes an incredible maneuver to get into the backfield. Bijan nullifies the move by countering with impressive footwork of his own.

In general, it’s true that most any starting caliber running back is as good as another in the NFL. But, as indicated by the above run, Bijan Robinson is on a tier of his own.

Texas running backs make Mel Kiper’s top 10 RB’s in 2023 NFL draft

Two Texas running backs make Mel Kiper’s Top 10 position rankings.

The accolades keep pouring in for Texas running back Bijan Robinson. After winning the Doak Walker Award, Robinson is now being lauded as the top running back in the 2023 NFL draft.

We have detailed what makes Bijan so great, but the unlimited set of skills he possesses bears repeating. The Longhorns starter is more than a bell cow. He is a game-changer. Robinson’s ability to make acrobatic catches and run crisp routes separates him from the average ball carrier.

Unsurprisingly, the Longhorns’ lead back tops Mel Kiper’s list of running backs. Albeit, he’s not the only Texas running back Kiper mentions among draft eligible players to watch. Roschon Johnson checks in at No. 10 on the list.

Here’s a look at Kiper’s complete running back rankings.

Social media reacts to Texas LB Jaylan Ford being snubbed by Big 12 coaches

Big 12 coaches owe Texas linebacker Jaylan Ford an apology.

Jaylan Ford had a historically great season at linebacker. Apparently not every all-conference voter took notice.

Ford was not voted as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year for the 2022 season. The talented linebacker was toward the top of multiple statistical categories, as we noted earlier this week.

The first-year starter ranked second in the conference in tackles (108), second in interceptions (4) and first in forced fumbles (3). His well-rounded performance didn’t distract Big 12 coaches from Felix Anudike-Uzomah’s 7.5 sacks.

For context, Barryn Sorrell had 5.5 sacks and was not included on the first or second team, another snub in its own right. It was yet another of many instances Texas players did not receive due credit.

As you would imagine, the news caused on stir on social media. Here’s how those who watch the team took the news.

Texas Football: Coaching milestones for Steve Sarkisian’s staff in 2022

Let’s look at the coaching staff’s biggest accomplishments from the 2022 season.

The Texas Longhorns football program is not ahead of schedule. Critics would argue that based on their own standards, it isn’t even on schedule.

Despite outside noise, Steve Sarkisian and company have accomplished multiple milestones that past regimes failed to do consistently.

Texas flashed great football at times this season. For the most part, it’s fair to consider the 2022 group a good football team. The issue for Texas revolves around consistency.

At its best, Texas stood toe-to-toe with Alabama and buried its red river rival, Oklahoma. At its worst, the team blew double digit leads to lesser competition and no-showed in the biggest conference game of the season offensively.

All in all, there were still plenty of signs the program is moving in the right direction. Here are a few accomplishments made by the 2022 team.

Dynamic duo of backs carries Texas past Baylor, 38-27

Bijan and Roschon buried the Bears.

The Texas Longhorns defeated the Baylor Bears in heartwarming fashion on senior day. Its two biggest leaders had the biggest impact on the game.

Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson helped the Horns separate after seizing the lead.

To a chorus of fans chanting Bijan Robinson’s name, Texas utterly annihilated the Baylor defense in the second half.

Robinson finished with as many total yards as Blake Shapen (179), capping a memorable junior campaign.

Jaylan Ford was the story for the defense with the interception that would ultimately close the game.

All in all it was an impressive performance all around for Texas.

Quinn Ewers completed 12 of 16 passes for 194 yards. He was 7 for 8 for 83 yards in the second half.

Xavier Worthy caught seven passes for 62 yards, while JaTavion Sanders had 65 yards on two receptions.

Steve Sarkisian made huge adjustments taking a pair of one yard stop routes to Worthy when defenders gave too much space to receivers.

Texas won the second half 21-8 due in large part to adjustments by Pete Kwiatkowski and dominant running game.

Texas improves to 8-4 and will wait to see what happens with Kansas and Kansas State on Saturday night.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=none image=https://longhornswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Black Friday: Five reasons Texas should defeat Baylor

Texas can finish 8-4 and push for a Big 12 title spot.

It’s a tough week to be a Baylor Bear. In recent weeks, the team has seen their conference title hopes disintegrate with consecutive home losses.

The week doesn’t get any easier for Baylor. They will now face a Texas team coming off its best performance of the season.

Texas didn’t get much from the passing game, but it didn’t matter much. The Longhorns ran for 427 yards against Kansas last week, led by Bijan Robinson’s 243-yard game. Jonathon Brooks broke 100 yards as well.

This year’s Baylor team will present new challenges for Texas as Blake Shapen has raised their offensive ceiling. Nevertheless, Steve Sarkisian should have a sizable talent advantage given what the Bears lost to the 2022 NFL Draft.

Here are five reasons Texas should beat Baylor on Friday.

Sunday Stats: Pete Kwiatkowski’s scoring defense is Texas’ best since 2009

Defense made all the difference in erasing last year’s Kansas loss.

The Texas Longhorns secured arguably their most impressive win of the season on Saturday. Steve Sarkisian’s squad took down the Kansas Jayhawks on the road, 55-14.

Texas wholly defeated the Jayhawks on the strength of Bijan Robinson and the Texas running game. Robinson ran for 243 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries. It was the type of performance Texas should have had last season against the Jayhawks. This time, the defense made all the difference.

For all that has been said about defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, and I’ve personally said plenty, the unit has become the defense fans hoped it would become.

The last two games have seen the unit reach another level defensively. Last week, the Longhorns held the playoff favorite TCU Horned Frogs to 17 points despite hardly any offensive production. They followed that performance by keeping Kansas off the scoreboard for nearly three quarters.

Let’s examine a few statistics that capture the improvements the Longhorns have made this season.

Still Bijan: Social media reacts to Texas’ statement win over Kansas

Bijan Robinson put up video game numbers against Kansas.

It’s been a huge week for Texas Longhorns athletics. Usually that’s indicative of football success in November, but the basketball team has received much of the shine this week.

For the fourth time in school history, the Texas basketball team earned a win over a No. 2 team in the AP poll. Not to be outdone, Sarkisian’s squad mopped the field with Kansas to end the week.

Despite the return of once Heisman hopeful quarterback Jalon Daniels, the Jayhawks offense was missing in action on Saturday. A 14-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Torry Locklin gave Kansas its first points of the game with 1:55 remaining in the third quarter.

Bijan Robinson was the story for Texas. The generational player rushed for 243 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries.

Let’s look at what Twitter users took away from Texas’ burial of Kansas.