Tag: Keilan Robinson

Early position outlook: Texas is locked and loaded at RB

The running back room led by Bijan Robinson is locked and loaded for 2022.

Many teams across the country would love to have as much talent and depth as Texas does at running back.

Bijan Robinson, who headlines the room, is one most electric players in college football. The junior-to-be is must-see TV every time he touches the ball.

Robinson is a star, but what makes this running back room so great is the number of quality players behind him.

Senior Roschon Johnson is a tough runner who provides excellent leadership. Johnson finished the season with a monster performance against Kansas State. His 179 yards helped Texas end a seven-game losing skid to cap the season.

After Johnson is speedy Keilan Robinson. The Alabama transfer flashed his wheels in 2021. Many Texas fans hope to see more of No. 7 next fall.

Young Johnathan Brooks passed the eye test during his freshman season. Brooks showed a mix of great vision and quickness in a limited number of snaps in his first year at Texas.

The 2022 class features Jaydon Blue. A four-star prospect who sat his senior year to prepare for college football. Blue enrolled early for the spring semester and was already getting to work.

Here is an early look at Texas running back depth chart heading into spring ball:

Studs and duds from Texas’ 22-17 victory over Kansas State

The Longhorns capped off a disappointing season with a 22-17 win over Kansas State.

The Longhorns capped off a disappointing season with a 22-17 win over Kansas State. The victory snapped Texas’ longest losing streak since 1956.

Texas finished the season 5-7 and will likely miss their first bowl game since 2016.

It was a bit of a struggle passing the ball for both teams. That did not stop the running backs from having outstanding games.

Roschon Johnson got the scoring going on the Texas opening drive on a nine-yard touchdown run. Kansas State star Deuce Vaughn would answer with a nine-yard touchdown of his own later in the first quarter.

Texas would add another touchdown on a fantastic catch by Cade Brewer over two Wildcat defenders. It took Kansas State one play to take a 14-13 lead as Will Howard ran for a 71-yard score.

The teams would trade field goals the rest of the way as Texas finally found a way to win 22-17.

Here is a look at the studs and duds from Texas’ season finale:

Five bold predictions for Texas’ final game of the season

It’s time to be BOLD.

The season is coming to a close, and the Longhorns are finishing nowhere near where most people expected.

Texas has been historically bad this season, as they are one game away from losing seven consecutive games. The Steve Sarkisian era has not been ‘All Gas, No Brakes’ as we thought it would be, and now the only thing Texas fans can do is look forward to next year and hope that the recruits and transfers brought in will actually change this program for the better.

Hosting Kansas State for the season finale is a tough matchup for Texas. The Wildcats have an electric running back in Deuce Vaughn, and a solid defense that can give the Longhorns trouble especially if Casey Thompson starts and continues to play like he has been.

At this point, this game should be used to get some younger players experience, and maybe sneak in some seniors like Kartik Akkihal to record a catch.

Amid Texas’ struggles, I’m still going to be bold for this matchup. Here are my final five bold predictions for the matchup with Kansas State.

Studs and duds from Texas’ 31-23 loss to West Virginia

Studs and duds from Texas’ sixth straight loss.

The Longhorns will not be going bowling this season after suffering their seventh loss on the season to West Virginia. The loss extends Texas’ losing streak to six consecutive games.

Texas was unable to come back from an early West Virginia 14-0 lead.

After Steve Sarkisian chose to bench quarterback Casey Thompson, Hudson Card gave the Texas offense some life in the second half. His 52-yard bomb to Xavier Worthy made it a 21-17 game.

Unfortunately, the Texas defense was incapable of getting off of the field on third down. The Mountainers converted on third downs of both 18 yards and 15 yards on scoring drives in the second half.

Texas had an opportunity to tie the game down eight points late in the fourth quarter, but Thompson threw a costly interception the play after Card suffered a foot injury.

The difference in the game was third down. The Texas offense was 2-10 on third down while West Virginia was 12-20.

Here are the studs and duds from Texas’ loss to West Virginia:

First half recap of Texas’ 21-10 deficit to West Virginia

Texas struggling with West Virginia at the half.

The Texas offense was all brakes, no gas in the first quarter of the West Virginia matchup.

The Mountaineers punched the Longhorns in the mouth going up 14-0 before the Texas offense registered a first down.

Running back Roschon Johnson ran for six yards at the 11-minute mark of the second quarter to move the chains for the first time all game. The Horns continued to pound the rock on the same drive before Keilan Robinson broke off a 49-yard touchdown run.

West Virginia responded with a very easy 12 play, 82-yard touchdown drive of their own. Running back Leddie Brown capped off the drive walking into the end zone untouched from two yards out.

Texas cut into the West Virginia lead before the half with a Cameron Dicker 50-yard field goal.

Texas will receive the ball first in the second half down 21-10.

Here is a look notable at the first half stats:

  • QB Casey Thompson: 4/12 for 29 yards
  • RB Roschon Johnson: Eight carries for 52 yards
  • RB Keilan Robinson: Three carries for 57 yards and one touchdown
  • WR Xavier Worthy: Three receptions for 22 yards

West Virginia:

  • QB Jarret Doege: 20/28 for 238 yards and two touchdowns
  • RB Leddie Brown: 17 carries for 65 yards and one touchdown
  • WR Sam James: Five receptions for 64 yards and one touchdown
  • Time of possession: 21 minutes and 14 seconds

Nick Saban comments on Texas RB Keilan Robinson’s transfer to Texas

Nick Saban had a few choice words on Keilan Robinson’s decision to transfer to Texas.

It’s not every day that Alabama head coach Nick Saban shades a former player for transferring, but he did just that on Thursday.

Alabama’s running back room has been extremely banged up this season, and they are reportedly starting to give players like wide receiver Slade Bolden reps at the position in order to give them some options.

It’s something that happened to Texas a couple years ago and is the reason Roschon Johnson switched from quarterback to running back. Even wide receiver Jordan Whittington spent time at running back early on in his collegiate career.

Saban did not just talk about players currently on the Alabama roster this week. He chose to throw Texas running back Keilan Robinson’s name into the conversation.

Robinson, a former four-star prospect from the 2019 recruiting class, signed with Alabama and played in a very limited role for two seasons accumulating just 39 career carries. Saban expressed that had Robinson stayed at Alabama, he would have been playing much more than he is at Texas, where he followed Steve Sarkisian. He even went as far to call Robinson “short-sighted.”

Where Robinson would have ranked on the Alabama depth chart is obviously unknown, but Saban seems to just be stating the obvious that he would be playing more. You would hope that a scholarship running back like Robinson would get playing time over Bolden and linebacker Demouy Kennedy.

It seems a little unfair for Saban to call out Robinson for not wanting to stay and compete, when he, like every other coach in America, has taken in a transfer or two before. For example, Alabama’s leading receiver Jameson Williams could not crack the rotation at Ohio State, and decided to take his talents elsewhere after a couple seasons of not being consistently in the lineup.

There is no problem with player movement, but the hypocrisy that coincides with it is where the problem lies. Another thing to consider is the fact that Saban had moved Robinson to receiver where he recorded no career catches.

Saban also seemed to be taking a shot at Sarkisian for not playing Robinson as much as he (Robinson) would like, which is the one part of the statement that I am sure all Longhorns fans could agree with. The staff has allegedly had meetings solely based on getting Robinson touches, but have only seen him get four carries in the last four weeks combined.

Robinson did not take too kindly to Saban’s shot at him as he tweeted this response around the time the quote surfaced.

Robinson currently has a total of 32 touches on the year along with being a key contributor on special teams. With Bijan Robinson out for the rest of the year, Keilan Robinson is expected to receive more opportunities.

Texas RB Roschon Johnson expects to play against West Virginia

Texas’ running back depth gets some much-needed good news.

Texas’ strongest position group all season has been running back. That changed in a major way against Kansas. The Longhorns lost superstar Bijan Robinson and promising freshman Johnathan Brooks to injuries.

On Tuesday, the Texas running back room received some much-needed good news as Roschon Johnson stated he will play this weekend against West Virginia.

Johnson has been dealing with turf toe and was only set to play against Kansas in case of emergency. He was tasked to finish the game when Robinson and Brooks went down.

 

Speedster Keilan Robinson should also make his return after missing the Kansas game while going through COVID-19 protocol.

Expect Johnson and Robinson to carry much of the workload for the final two games of the season.

Texas will head to Morgantown for a tough matchup against a strong West Virginia defense in Week 12. The Horns have no more room for error if they want to make a bowl game.

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Five takeaways from Texas’ 30-7 loss to Iowa State

Five takeaways after Texas drops fourth straight game.

Scoring 70 points on Texas Tech and winning on the road against TCU feels like decades ago. The Longhorns season has spiraled downhill since then. Texas has lost its fourth straight game for the first time since 2010.

The Horns had another uninspiring performance in Ames on Saturday. Iowa State outscored Texas 27-0 in the second half, dominating both sides of the ball.

Texas looks like they have gotten worse and worse since the Oklahoma game. Teams seem to have figured out how to slow down Bijan Robinson and double covering Xavier Worthy, making the passing game a non-factor. The run defense has not made the improvement against the run needed to close out games.

Steve Sarkisian’s team has held halftime leads in eight of nine games on the year. An astonishing stat, given their 4-5 record.

If this staff does not make major moves in both recruiting and the transfer portal this offseason, more trouble is ahead.

Here are five takeaways after Texas’ 30-7 loss to Iowa State.

How Alabama football transfers are performing with their new programs

Former Alabama players are shining at their new programs!

In this day and age, working the transfer portal is just as important as recruiting for a college program. Alabama has taken advantage, finding two of their best players in Jameson Williams (Ohio State) and Henry To’oto’o (Tennessee) from the portal.

But just as it giveth, the transfer portal can also taketh. Nine players who were on the Crimson Tide’s roster last season ended up transferring out of the program. All landed at Power Five schools as well.

Texas was the most popular destination, with running back Keilan Robinson and outside linebacker Ben Davis following Steve Sarkisian to Austin. The two Los Angeles schools in UCLA and USC are represented, as are rivals Tennessee.

A name fans may recognize the most is kicker Joseph Bulovas. Now at Vanderbilt, he has stepped up as Clark Lea’s placekicker this season.

Here are how Alabama’s class of 2021 transfers are performing at their new schools.

Five Texas players who need to step up against Baylor

These five need to perform against Baylor on Saturday.

After two grueling losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Texas has a full week to reflect and attempt to recharge for the final five games of the regular season. First on the schedule is a tough road game against No. 16 Baylor.

This could be the make-or-break game for Steve Sarkisian. 5-3 with a 3-2 Big 12 record could still push on toward a conference championship. Sitting at .500 overall could lead to even worse fates down the road.

Everybody within the program needs to step up heading into Baylor. Sarkisian, assistant coaches, and especially the players.

Talent is on this Texas roster. Within the next couple of years, more players will have been drafted from Tom Herman’s recruiting classes than the latter stages of Mack Brown or Charlie Strong. Coaching has been iffy at times but with NFL caliber level players sprinkled throughout, results have been poor.

Things need to change. Here are five players who need to step up for Texas during the Baylor game.