Texas football preview: Welcome to the Steve Sarkisian era

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Seven months after the confetti fell on nationwide champion Alabama, a brand new faculty soccer season is almost right here. As a part of Sports activities Illustrated’s 2021 preview content material, we’re rolling out scouting stories for all of SI’s preseason top 25 teams, that includes all of the names, storylines and large video games it’s worthwhile to know. Beginning with No. 25 Nevada and working by No. 1 Alabama, we’ll be that includes 5 groups per day from Monday by Friday.

The Large Story: Texas

A brand new period is starting in Austin. Tom Herman’s tenure ended after 4 years during which the one vital achievement was a Sugar Bowl win over Georgia in 2019. Now it’s Steve Sarkisian’s time to try to flip round a program that hasn’t received a convention championship in 11 years. The rebound should begin on the quarterback place, with both Casey Thompson or Hudson Card ready within the wings after Sam Ehlinger’s departure. However the Longhorns have query marks on either side of the ball, to not point out the addition of a wholly new teaching employees. Can Sarkisian begin a rebound faster than his two predecessors? Or is Texas destined for everlasting mediocrity?

Cannot Miss

No participant injected hope into the hearts of Texas followers in 2020 fairly like working again Bijan Robinson. The 6-foot, 222-pound again out of Tucson lastly began receiving constant carries within the second half of the season and made probably the most of it. His 8.9 yards per carry, good for third within the nation, have been punctuated with a 172-yard, three-touchdown efficiency in opposition to Kansas State—in simply 9 carries. He’s explosive, he’s agile, he’s acquired breakaway velocity. In different phrases, Robinson offers off shades of nice Texas rushers of the previous. Perhaps extra importantly, he’s a whole again that might carry an offense in case of emergency.

Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports activities

Key Query: Who can turn into a downfield menace?

Texas sorely missed Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson in 2020. The receiving duo served as each Ehlinger’s safety blanket and large play menace for the primary three years of his profession in Austin. After each have been chosen within the NFL draft, Ehlinger’s passing numbers took a pointy dip with no high wideout possibility. Joshua Moore appeared the half at instances however by no means made performs persistently, going quiet for numerous stretches within the season. Former Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the 12 months Jake Smith determined to hightail it to USC after two seasons during which he by no means actually discovered his footing. Perhaps Moore will make a leap like Duvernay did, or possibly Jordan Whittington can turn into explosive (and wholesome) within the slot. However extra questions stay than solutions in the interim.

X-Issue: Defensive depth

As is life within the Wild West of the switch portal, teaching adjustments may cause a revolving door of expertise, particularly with gamers in reserve roles. Texas misplaced linebacker Juwan Mitchell (final yr’s main tackler), nook Jalen Inexperienced and a number of other different depth items defensively, to not point out a bunch of offensive transfers. In return, LSU linebacker Ray Thornton and Alabama linebacker Ben Davis transferred in, however the linebacker place stays extraordinarily skinny. 4 of the 5 main tacklers from 2020 are gone, most notably third-round choose Joseph Ossai. That’s to not say there isn’t some star expertise—DeMarvion Overshown will anchor the linebacker spot, and Keondre Coburn and Alfred Collins present a pleasant duo up entrance. However the Longhorns’ success defensively will key on whether or not or not they will construct a stable rotation round their high stars.

Date to Circle: Nov. 6 at Iowa State

It could seem to be the plain alternative—the normal early October assembly with Oklahoma—is being ignored. However the Pink River Rivalry matchups are at all times a coin toss, regardless of the power of the 2 groups concerned. The actual check of how shortly the Sark rebuild is coming alongside will are available Ames. The Cyclones stored their Large 12 championship hopes alive final yr with a late comeback in opposition to the Longhorns in Austin. This yr’s rematch will characteristic an Iowa State group that’s simply as proficient and simply as poised to spoil Texas’s convention title probabilities in lieu of its personal. As late within the season as this recreation is, and with Texas ending out with a lighter stretch of Kansas, West Virginia and Kansas State, this recreation might play an enormous position within the Large 12 panorama.

The Backside Line

It’s by no means straightforward for the followers in Austin to mood expectations, however now’s the time to take action. This group has extra of the makings of a venture than a convention champion, and that’s not essentially a foul factor. However can Sarkisian hit the reset button faster than most count on?

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