Longhorn 2023 Season preview
9 months 4 days ago - 9 months 4 days ago #392
by wvu4u2
Longhorn 2023 Season preview was created by wvu4u2
Texas hasn't met preseason expectations in recent years, but coach Steve Sarkisian's squad is poised to be the favorite in the Big 12 for 2023. The Longhorns return 15 starters, including quarterback Quinn Ewers and one of the nation's top offensive lines and receiving corps. The defense showed improvement in '22 and should continue that progression this fall. An early matchup at Alabama is a huge test for this team.
Previewing Texas' Offense for 2023
Texas has nine starters returning on offense, but one significant departure — Doak Walker Award-winning running back Bijan Robinson — left a huge hole to fill.
The candidates to replace Robinson are sophomore Jonathon Brooks (51 career carries, 340 yards), senior Keilan Robinson (662 career yards, including 254 at Alabama as a freshman), Jaydon Blue (only 15 carries in 2022), true freshman CJ Baxter (the nation’s No. 1 running back in the 2023 recruiting class) and sophomore receiver-turned-tailback Savion Red.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian set out this offseason to improve the team’s passing game, which should coincide with the growth and development of sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers, who’s being pushed by redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy and five-star freshman Arch Manning.
The team’s top two wideouts — junior Xavier Worthy (60 catches, 760 yards, nine TDs in 2022) and senior Jordan Whittington (50 catches, 652 yards in 2022) — are joined this season by Georgia transfer Adonai Mitchell (38 catches, 560 yards, seven TDs in the last two seasons) and a talented trio of true freshmen in Johntay Cook II, DeAndre Moore Jr. and Ryan Niblett. Texas also returns Isaiah Neyor, who caught 12 TD passes at Wyoming in 2021 before suffering a torn ACL last August after transferring to Texas.
First-team All-Big 12 tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders returns, as do all five starters on the offensive line, led by left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., a freshman All-American in 2022.
Previewing Texas' Defense for 2023
A defensive line that helped the Longhorns lead the nation in quarterback pressures in 2022 returns a solid cast this season, led by tackles T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II and defensive end Barryn Sorrell.
Senior middle linebacker Jaylan Ford, who had a breakout season in 2022 (119 tackles, 10 TFLs, four INTs, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries) returns, as does senior nickel Jahdae Barron (who led the team with 11.5 tackles for a loss last season), senior safety Jerrin Thompson (the team’s third-leading tackler in 2022) and senior cornerback Ryan Watts.
Texas also picked up potential help in Arkansas transfer safety Jalen Catalon and Wake Forest transfer cornerback Gavin Holmes.
Previewing Texas' Specialists for 2023
Junior kicker Bert Auburn (21-of-26 FGs in 2022) returns, and Texas will turn its punting chores over to Stanford transfer Ryan Sanborn (41.6 yards per punt in 2022). Return specialists Worthy and Keilan Robinson are big-play threats.
Final Analysis
The momentum of the program has been surging — especially in recruiting — since a 5-7 season in Sarkisian’s first year in 2021. The Longhorns will be a favorite to win the Big 12 with so much returning experience. In the Horns’ last season in the Big 12, Sarkisian could springboard his program into the SEC by breaking through with Texas’ first conference title since 2009.
see more at Athalon Sports.com
Previewing Texas' Offense for 2023
Texas has nine starters returning on offense, but one significant departure — Doak Walker Award-winning running back Bijan Robinson — left a huge hole to fill.
The candidates to replace Robinson are sophomore Jonathon Brooks (51 career carries, 340 yards), senior Keilan Robinson (662 career yards, including 254 at Alabama as a freshman), Jaydon Blue (only 15 carries in 2022), true freshman CJ Baxter (the nation’s No. 1 running back in the 2023 recruiting class) and sophomore receiver-turned-tailback Savion Red.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian set out this offseason to improve the team’s passing game, which should coincide with the growth and development of sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers, who’s being pushed by redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy and five-star freshman Arch Manning.
The team’s top two wideouts — junior Xavier Worthy (60 catches, 760 yards, nine TDs in 2022) and senior Jordan Whittington (50 catches, 652 yards in 2022) — are joined this season by Georgia transfer Adonai Mitchell (38 catches, 560 yards, seven TDs in the last two seasons) and a talented trio of true freshmen in Johntay Cook II, DeAndre Moore Jr. and Ryan Niblett. Texas also returns Isaiah Neyor, who caught 12 TD passes at Wyoming in 2021 before suffering a torn ACL last August after transferring to Texas.
First-team All-Big 12 tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders returns, as do all five starters on the offensive line, led by left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., a freshman All-American in 2022.
Previewing Texas' Defense for 2023
A defensive line that helped the Longhorns lead the nation in quarterback pressures in 2022 returns a solid cast this season, led by tackles T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II and defensive end Barryn Sorrell.
Senior middle linebacker Jaylan Ford, who had a breakout season in 2022 (119 tackles, 10 TFLs, four INTs, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries) returns, as does senior nickel Jahdae Barron (who led the team with 11.5 tackles for a loss last season), senior safety Jerrin Thompson (the team’s third-leading tackler in 2022) and senior cornerback Ryan Watts.
Texas also picked up potential help in Arkansas transfer safety Jalen Catalon and Wake Forest transfer cornerback Gavin Holmes.
Previewing Texas' Specialists for 2023
Junior kicker Bert Auburn (21-of-26 FGs in 2022) returns, and Texas will turn its punting chores over to Stanford transfer Ryan Sanborn (41.6 yards per punt in 2022). Return specialists Worthy and Keilan Robinson are big-play threats.
Final Analysis
The momentum of the program has been surging — especially in recruiting — since a 5-7 season in Sarkisian’s first year in 2021. The Longhorns will be a favorite to win the Big 12 with so much returning experience. In the Horns’ last season in the Big 12, Sarkisian could springboard his program into the SEC by breaking through with Texas’ first conference title since 2009.
see more at Athalon Sports.com
Last edit: 9 months 4 days ago by wvu4u2.
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