Tag: Keilan Robinson

Four Texas players that can step up in Jordan Whittington’s absence

Keilan Robinson?

Texas received news that only adds more salt in the wound after Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma.

Star receiver Jordan Whittington is set to have surgery on his clavicle after going down in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma. Head coach Steve Sarkisian told the media on Monday that there is no timetable for the injury, but it is one that will likely keep him out for an extended amount of time.

Unfortunately, Whittington has been unable to avoid the injury bug during his collegiate career up to this point, as he played in the same amount of games this season (six), as he did in the first two years combined. The sophomore out of Cuero, Texas was poised to have a big season if he could stay healthy.

He is currently tied with Xavier Worthy for the most catches on the team with 24, and is second on the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He is clearly a huge loss for the Longhorns, as the receiver group has struggled at times to be consistent.

Whittington was quarterback Casey Thompson’s most reliable option on third down, as he had nine third down receptions on the season. The Longhorns lost a good one, and will need someone to step up to fill the void.

Here are four players that can step up and possibly fill the shoes of Whittington.

5 bold predictions for the Oklahoma Sooners vs. the Texas Longhorns

As the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns get ready for the Red River Rivalry, here are 5 Bold Predictions for Saturday’s matchup.

Every year, the Red River Showdown is hotly contested between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns, and this year will be no different. Only four times in the last 14 matchups have the Red River Shootout been won by more than eight points.

The last seven games have been decided by eight points or fewer, and the 2021 iteration appears headed to a similar outcome.

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns appear on paper to be evenly matched. There are areas where the Sooners will have the advantage and others where Texas has the advantage.

As we’ve seen in the past, the record or ranking of the two teams never seems to matter as the intensity of the rivalry levels the playing field.

With kickoff just around the corner, here are five bold predictions for Saturday’s game.

Now, remember, these are things that could happen but are unlikely to occur.

How Texas’ running back room stacks up against the rest of the country

Through four weeks of the season, Texas arguably has the most talented running back room in the country.

It’s no secret that Texas’ rushing attack has been key to their early success this season. Continue reading “How Texas’ running back room stacks up against the rest of the country”

Texas’ depth at running back has been key in Steve Sarkisian’s offense

Keep finding the two Robinsons plus Roschon Johnson, and the points will continue to be put on the board.

A lot of questions surrounded the Texas offense heading into the year. The running back room was not one of them.

Bijan Robinson was always going to be a star after his breakout freshman season. However, he cannot take every carry and expect to perform at a high level or stay healthy. Having incredible depth behind him has been key so far in Steve Sarkisian’s offense.

Roschon Johnson was the known commodity. The former quarterback has been a fan favorite for the past two years. His tough, physical style of running has and will continue to be a staple in the run game.

The nice surprise has been Alabama transfer, Keilan Robinson. When Sarkisian has used the do it all back, the offense has been moving. In the three wins, he has averaged 55.3 yards and has a touchdown. Not bad for an RB2.

Even true freshman Jonathan Brooks has been moving well in garbage time against Rice and Texas Tech. The Texas High School legend is averaging 6.9 yards per carry.

Check out the stats from all four here. Even though Robinson has more carries than the other three combined, their yard per carry shows how valuable their touches have been.

Recruits are beginning to notice as well. Four-star running back and Texas commit Jaylon Blue tweeted out his satisfaction with how Sarkisian is using the running backs four games into the season.

Going forward, Bijan’s big-play ability will continue to be the key in Sarkisian’s play calling. However, whenever he needs to take a breather, Johnson and Keilan will be ready.

All of the running backs will be effective in the passing game too. Casey Thompson finds them out of the backfield often and we saw that with Bijan’s touchdown against Texas Tech this weekend.

Keep finding No. 2, No. 5, and No. 7, and the points will continue to be put on the board.

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WATCH: Four Texas running backs record a touchdown against Rice

It was a touchdown party for the Texas running backs on Saturday night.

Stan Drayton is somewhere smiling at the fact that he may have assembled the best running back room in the nation.

There was an exclusive party in the end zone on Saturday evening, and four of Texas’ running backs were in attendance.

The Longhorns unleashed a deadly rushing attack against Rice that saw seemingly every running back that touched the ball tearing up the opposing defense. Starting running back Bijan Robinson led the team with three touchdowns and 127 yards rushing, the Texas running back room as a whole combined for six touchdowns and amassed over 400 yards rushing.

Bijan Robinson also made history in Week 3, as he became the fastest running back at Texas to reach 1,000 career rushing yards since the legendary Jamaal Charles.

Even with the change at quarterback, it was evident that the game plan was to feed the running backs as much as possible. The 38 rushes was the most of the season for Texas, and it is evident that Sarkisian should consider utilizing all of the backs as much as possible.

On every touch, it seemed as if one of the running backs could have gone the distance. Take a look at five of the six that did:

Position outlook for Texas’ running backs

If there is a position group more solid than running back on Texas’ depth chart, please let us know. 

If there is a position group more solid than running back on Texas’ depth chart, please let us know.

Stan Drayton has done an excellent job filling his room with qualities bodies from top to bottom. Even with the departure of Keaontay Ingram to USC, the Longhorns are going to have one of the best groups in the Big 12. Only Oklahoma can compare from a depth perspective.

Everything begins and ends with Bijan Robinson. Every Texas fan knows his name but soon everyone in the country will know who he is. With questions surrounding the quarterback and wide receivers, Robinson is going to be the main guy in Steve Sarkisian’s offense. How far he can carry the load will be the only question.

From there, at least four guys could be used in game situations if needed. Roschon Johnson, Gabriel Watson, and Daniel Young are the experienced bunch, while Jonathan Brooks is a true freshman. There are plenty of options for Sarkisian at running back.

Here is the position outlook for Texas’ running backs.

Three Longhorns make ESPN’s top 50 newcomers in college football

ESPN recently ranked the top 50 newcomers in college football.

For every star that leaves the college football ranks, there are new faces that come in and capture the attention of fans across the nation.

ESPN recently ranked the top 50 newcomers in college football, whether they be recruits, transfers, or simply players who did not start the season prior. With Texas having a new coaching staff, the whole roster essentially started with a fresh slate. The Longhorns also had a major haul of transfers that they hope will help add playmakers and depth to both sides of the ball.

Texas had three current players and one former player (Keaontay Ingram) make the list. It’s interesting to note that much of the chatter this offseason surrounded the players that the Longhorns added to their defense, but all three of the newcomers on ESPN’s rankings are on the offensive side of the ball. It does make sense, however, considering Steve Sarkisian is one of the best offensive minds in the nation and has utilized his talent to perfection regardless of what school he has been coaching at.

Let’s take a look at the three Texas players that ESPN expects to have major impacts in their first year of being a full-time contributor.

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Five key non-starters for Texas football this season

Five key Texas football players that may not have a starting role this season, but will be relied on heavily.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian inherited an extremely talented roster in Austin that has often been misused and underachieved by program standards.

On Sunday, the team practiced in the stadium after dark to give the newly turfed Campbell-Williams Field a test run. Media members were able to track the order in which players were getting reps.

Something that many people disregard is that reserve/depth players are critical to a teams success and oftentimes provide a needed spark or big play off the bench. Just look at Casey Thompson in the Alamo Bowl.

The Longhorns added plenty of young talent in their 2020 recruiting class, while also gaining the services of several talented transfers that just need an opportunity to shine. It’s resulted in numerous position battles on both sides of the ball, but there’s only so many starting roles available.

With the season starting in exactly 25 days, the starting roles for Texas will begin to be solidified over the next two weeks. Here is a look at five depth players who may not secure a starting role, but will still be key contributors for the Longhorns this year.

How Texas’ current, future running back room looks after Rueben Owens’ decommitment

After Rueben Owens’ decommitment, there are questions with Stan Drayton’s group. Here is the status of the current/future of UT’s RB room:

Five-star 2023 running back Rueben Owens made news by decommitting from Texas on Thursday afternoon. For a sophomore who “shut down” his commitment before being able to visit a single campus, seeing a change in heart is not surprising.

Even so, Owens and his father have iterated Texas is still the leader going forward. Schools like Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, and Ohio State will take interest in the five-star as well. A long two years are ahead for what should be an entertaining recruitment.

Focusing back in Austin, the future of the running back room is now in question. Owens was expected to hold the Longhorns over until at least the 2026 season, with players such as Jaydon Blue ahead of him.

The current situation is in good hands with Bijan Robinson and Co. expecting to have a big season. Texas running backs coach Stan Drayton and head coach Steve Sarkisian have done an excellent job nailing down and developing talent.

However, there is still work to do on the recruitment scene. Key prospects from the 2022 class remain, while the Longhorns are back at square one in the 2023 cycle.

Here is the status of the current and future of Texas’ running back room:

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Which Alabama RB will breakout in 2021?

The Alabama running back room used to be dominated by Najee Harris, but with him now in the NFL who will take over as the lead back?

Alabama has had some great running backs come and go over the years. Crimson Tide ball carriers usually end their collegiate careers as household names across the country; whether it’s Heisman winners Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram, or recent stars such as Damien Harris and Najee Harris.

With Harris being selected No. 24 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2021 NFL draft, Alabama now has somewhat of a power vacuum at the tailback position.

In recent years, the running back room has seen the ball spread around a decent amount, and when the top guy departs from the program, the next guy moves up. However, that was not the case in 2020.

Harris accumulated 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns on 251 attempts. The running back with the next-highest stats: Brian Robinson with 91 carries.

Now, 91 is still a sizeable number of carries, but it does not compare to what Alabama has done in the past.

For example, the last time Najee Harris was not the starting running back for Alabama, he was the third-string back behind Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris.

Despite being a sophomore behind two current NFL starters on the depth chart, Najee still got 117 carries.

With those high level of reps second-string and third-string players often get, Crimson Tide fans know what to expect in the upcoming seasons when those players move up the depth chart and are then the starters.

Mike Rodak of AL.com projects the starting running back will be Brian Robinson, who was a four-star product out of Tuscaloosa in the 2017 recruiting class.

Robinson has shown flashes of potential, but has never been able to compete with those that sat above him – most of whom are now starting in the NFL.

Then, according to Rodak, sophomore Roydell Williams, a 2020 four-star Alabama native, could get a solid amount of looks based on his production.

Williams is likely a new name to Alabama fans, but he soon won’t be. He is a great horizontal runner that can cut at the line of scrimmage and is shifty enough tomake linebackers miss. To top it all off, he’s got the breakway speed to give you a guaranteed six points if he can get through the secondary.

In Alabama’s spring game, Williams carried the ball 12 times for 45 yards.

I predict Williams will become the starter for Alabama long before anyone anticipates.

After Williams, Rodak includes Jase McClellan, who saw some action in 2020, Keilan Robinson, who has began transitioning to wide receiver, and Trey Sanders, the former five-star who has dealt with injuries over the last two years.