After a couple weeks of reports, Texas put an end to their OC search. The Longhorns have officially hired Ohio State PGC Mike Yurcich.
After a couple weeks of reports and speculation, Texas finally put an end to their offensive coordinator search. The Longhorns have officially hired Ohio State passing game coordinator Mike Yurcich. He also spent six seasons with Oklahoma State as their offensive coordinator.
Here is the official announcement from the Texas football Twitter account:
One day after Yurcich’s Buckeyes lost in the College Football Playoff semi-final to Clemson, he is hired by the Longhorns. Texas removed Tim Beck from the OC position after the season finale against Texas Tech. Also hiring Chris Ash as the defensive coordinator, the Longhorns will have new guys running both sides of the ball next season.
Before the season ends, Texas will face off against Utah in the Alamo Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
There have been reports that Mike Yurcich will be taking over the offense starting next season. Here is why he will be a success at Texas.
Shortly after ending the season with a win over Texas Tech, the Longhorns got rid of a few coaches and one of those was offensive coordinator Tim Beck. There was speculation of LSU’s Joe Brady and USC’s Graham Harrell taking over, but both of them seem set to stay at their respective schools. While it has not been confirmed by the school yet, there have been reports that Mike Yurcich will be taking over the offense starting next season.
Currently at Ohio State, he has spent most of his D1 coaching career as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. Wherever he has gone, he has been apart of some electrifying offenses, producing stars at all of the skill positions. Even with his past, the question becomes: Can it translate to success at Texas? Was he the right hire for the Longhorns? While it may not be the flashiest name, Yurcich is going to have great success in Austin. Here is why.
Yurcich’s first big-time job was actually in the Big 12, spending time as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oklahoma State. Running the offense from 2013 to 2018, the Cowboys were flying on offense, averaging 38 points or more per game in every season but 2014.
One thing a Mike Yurcich offense had in his final three seasons in Stillwater was over or near a 4,000-yard passer and a 1,000-yard rusher. Mason Rudolph and Justice Hill balled out in 2016 and 2017, only behind in Oklahoma in most offensive stats. With more traditional pocket passers like Rudolph and Tayler Cornelius, the Pokes were able to sling the ball around the field.
Something else that worked well at the beginning of his time with Oklahoma State was running with the quarterback. In 2013, between Clint Chelf and J.W. Walsh, the two quarterbacks ran for a total of 663 yards. Against the Longhorns in 2013, Chelf killed Texas on the ground, rushing for 95 yards on 10 attempts while adding two touchdowns. With a dual-threat quarterback like Sam Ehlinger or any of the guys behind him, running the quarterback could become a big part of the offense.
When a quarterback that can run has an elite level running back to compliment them, they become that much more dangerous. That is exactly what happened this season during Yurcich’s one season at Ohio State. While he was not the offensive coordinator, he still played a huge part in the offense as the passing game coordinator. With Justin Fields under center, J.K. Dobbins elevated his game to a whole new level.
Running the read option with those two is nearly unguardable, as you lose either way. You cover Fields, one of the best running backs in the country is getting the ball. If you cover Dobbins, the former No. 1 recruit in the country is going to blow right by you. The system ran by the Buckeyes is something Yurcich can bring over and implement in Austin.
The run game will be huge for the Longhorns next season as two of the best receivers of the decade in Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson will be leaving for the NFL. Sam Ehlinger will remain at quarterback and we have seen what he can do running the ball, having 1,453 career rushing yards in his three years. The only question will be who will be the main running back to compliment Ehlinger?
Running back was a weird position for Texas this season, using third-string quarterback Roschon Johnson with Keaontay Ingram. Ingram will be back for his junior year, but two five-star caliber running backs will also be competing for touches. After spending the 2019 season injured, Jordan Whittington is scheduled to be back next season, ready to make an impact.
Possibly an even bigger player will be five-star running back Bijan Robinson. Coming in with the 2020 class, he has the opportunity to be a player than can turn around this Longhorn program.
Past Ehlinger, players like Casey Thompson, Roschon Johnson, Hudson Card, and Ja’Quinden Jackson all will be competing for the starting job in 2021. All five of those guys are considered dual-threat quarterbacks and can continue to run a similar type of offense. With freshman running backs like Whittington and Robinson, the future is bright in the backfield.
If the same offense that Ohio State runs is implemented to this Texas team, it has a chance to become one of the best in the country. Fields and Dobbins are excellent players, making it as Heisman finalists, and it may be difficult to replicate exactly what they do. However, the Longhorns will have highly skilled guys to replicate what they are doing.
Yurcich has run different types of offenses as the offensive coordinator with Oklahoma State and as the passing game coordinator with Ohio State. Finding success in with pocket passers and dual-threat quarterbacks, no matter who Texas has under center, they will be set up for success. Getting players at running back and wide receiver to make the explosive plays is the only question.
If the Longhorns become anything like the Cowboys or Buckeyes on offense, they could push towards the level they expect to be at.
Ohio State PGC Mike Yurcich was the top candidate for the Longhorns’ OC position and now he will be named to the position next week.
After reporting that Ohio State passing game coordinator Mike Yurcich was the top candidate for the Longhorns’ offensive coordinator position, Brett McMurphy is now reporting that he will be named to the position next week. Currently at the Fiesta Bowl for the College Football Playoff with Ohio State, Yurcich would not comment on the position and said his focus is “100% on Clemson.”
Ohio State passing game coordinator Mike Yurcich, the top candidate for Texas OC job, expected to be named Horns’ OC next week, sources told @Stadium. At Thursday’s @Fiesta_Bowl availability, Yurcich wouldn’t comment on Texas & told me his “focus is 100 percent on Clemson.”
Demoting Tim Beck at the end of the season, Texas will be without an offensive coordinator during their bowl game against Utah. If the Buckeyes beat Clemson, it is not known if Yurcich will stay with the team during preparation for the national championship.
Ohio State’s passing game has been one of the best in the country this season, with quarterback Justin Fields traveling to New York City for the Heisman ceremony. Currently at 2,953 passing yards, Fields is a dual-threat quarterback as he also has 471 rushing yards. A total of 50 touchdowns, Yurcich will be dealing with another dual-threat quarterback in Sam Ehlinger.
According to Brett McMurphy, Ohio State’s passing game coordinator Mike Yucich is the top candidate to become the next OC for Texas.
According to Brett McMurphy of Stadium, Ohio State’s passing game coordinator Mike Yucich is the top candidate to become the next offensive coordinator for Texas. If he were to be hired, Yucich would remain with the Buckeyes for the rest of the season, as they are set to face off against Clemson in the College Football playoff.
If the deal with Yurcich falls through, McMurphy is also reporting that current Minnesota offensive coordinator would be a possibility. The Gophers are scheduled to play Auburn in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Ohio State passing game coordinator Mike Yurcich is leading candidate to become new OC at Texas, sources told @Stadium. If Yurcich is hired at Texas, he would remain with Buckeyes thru @CFBPlayoff. Minnesota OC Kirk Ciarrocca also possibility for UT OC job, source said
Yurchich has experience in the Big 12, as he was the offensive coordinator for Oklahoma State from 2013-2018. Also serving as the quarterbacks coach, he has worked with players like Mason Rudolph and Tyler Cornelius during his time in Stillwater. Moving onto Ohio State in 2019, he has worked with Justin Fields as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
This would be an excellent hire for the Longhorns as Yurchich has experience working with some excellent offenses. Working with some great quarterbacks, Sam Ehlinger would hopefully be able to make a jump with Yurchich coaching him. If the Longhorns offense looks like anything Oklahoma State did during the past few years, they should be one of the most explosive units in the entire conference.
