Texas is widely expected to have one of the top offenses in college football for the 2023 season.
The Longhorns return 10 of 11 starters on offense and added a slew of talented players via the recruiting ranks and transfer portal on top of that.
However, are they set up for future success past the 2023 season?
Adam Rittenberg of ESPN recently published his college football future power rankings on offense. The rankings project success over the 2023, 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Texas landed at No. 9 in Rittenberg’s rankings, behind programs such as Oklahoma, Washington, Tennessee and the typical powerhouse teams. Here’s Rittenberg’s explanation for Texas’ spot in the rankings.
Texas has the personnel to be even higher on the list, and could soon establish itself as a premier offense. But there are doubts about a unit that scored 20 points or fewer in three of its biggest games last fall (Alabama, TCU and Washington), and never fully maximized transcendent running back Bijan Robinson, the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL draft. Will coach Steve Sarkisian put it all together? He has the opportunity beginning this fall, as quarterback Quinn Ewers is set to lead a unit returning mostly intact, especially along the line and at wide receiver. This spring, Ewers left little doubt about his starter status, although Texas has depth with Maalik Murphy, who shined during the spring game, and some freshman named Arch Manning. Sarkisian is set up extremely well at QB through the 2025 season, especially if Manning, ESPN’s No. 5 overall recruit for 2023, meets expectations. Texas lost two running backs to the draft (Robinson, Roschon Johnson) and will need new players to emerge, including sophomores Jonathon Brooks and Jaydon Blue, or incoming freshman Cedric Baxter Jr., ESPN’s No. 30 overall recruit.
The Longhorns project very well at offensive line, wide receiver and tight end. All five starting linemen return, including left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., who earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as a freshman. The exciting thing is only right tackle Christian Jones enters 2023 with senior eligibility. Texas’ stellar 2022 offensive line recruiting haul should continue to pay off in the coming years with D.J. Campbell, Neto Umeozulu and others. Junior Xavier Worthy, a two-time All-Big 12 selection, and senior Jordan Whittington lead a talented and intriguing group of wide receivers, which now includes Georgia transfer Adonai Mitchell. Texas also welcomes back Isaiah Neyor, an all-league transfer from Wyoming who missed all of 2022 because of a knee injury. Texas adds Johntay Cook II, ESPN’s No. 3 receiver and No. 26 overall recruit, and wideout DeAndre Moore Jr., ESPN’s No. 75 overall prospect. Mackey Award candidate Ja Tavion Sanders (54 receptions, 613 yards) leads the tight end group, which also includes junior Gunnar Helm. Texas will need to build out its depth for 2024 and 2025.
It’s understandable why many are taking the “wait and see” approach in regards to Texas football, but it’s hard to ignore the strong roster that Steve Sarkisian has put together.
The talented incoming freshmen, along with several true sophomores that excelled the year prior, have Texas set up for success in the coming years. Don’t be surprised if they skyrocket up this list after the 2023 season.
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