According to junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger, the Longhorns are back. But has the college football blue blood returned to the upper echelon of contenders, or did Tom Herman simply catch lightning in a bottle in 2018?
This article is the first of a three part series previewing the Texas Longhorns 2019 football season. This part will focus on the offensive side of the ball for the Longhorns.
Sam Ehlinger led the Longhorns to a Sugar Bowl win in 2019
Quarterback - A
1 - Sam Ehlinger - JR. - #11 - 6’2” - 230 lbs
Ehlinger was the life force of Texas’ 10-win campaign last season, the first for the Longhorns this decade.
The sophomore started slow in the season opener loss to Maryland, allowing the “Buchele or Ehlinger” debate to continue. Ehlinger quickly slammed that door, however, en route to a 3,000+ yard, 25 touchdown season, while throwing just 5 interceptions.
Ehlinger added another 16 rushing touchdowns via his tree-trunk legs and a nearly unstoppable goal line package.
If Ehlinger stays at this level, the Longhorns will be a Top 15 team, but if he improves, the Longhorns are serious contenders for the CFP.
2 - Casey Thompson - FR. (RS) - #8 - 6’1” - 190 lbs
Thompson has yet to play in a game for the Longhorns, but has looked both good and bad at times in his two Spring Game performances. Thompson definitely has the tools to be an elite runner (47 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown), but hasn’t shown that he can consistently make the throws needed to compete in the Big XII (9-23, INT).
And while the starter Ehlinger may look like an Abrams tank, he has missed games due to injury the last two seasons. If that trend continues, Thompson will be thrown into the fire.
Keaontay Ingram carries the ball against Baylor
Jordan Whittington enrolled early to get a head start on the 40 acres
Running Backs - B+
1 - Keaontay Ingram - SO. - #26 - 6’0” - 215 lbs (205 last year)
Ingram was one of the best surprises of last year. The plug-and-play true freshman averaged 5 yards per carry and 6.3 yards per reception with 850 yards from scrimmage.
He was so good that many were upset that senior transfer Tre Watson was still starting ahead of Ingram at the end of the season. However, Ingram’s numbers were in part due to Watson’s hard-nosed style of running. Ingram could then come in and be the change-of-pace-guy.
Ingram has the speed, quickness and hands to be a game changer in this offense. The only concern I have is his body. Will he be able to handle receiving the majority of carries for an entire season?
He is listed as 10 pounds heavier coming into this season than at this point last year. This is a good answer to my concern. An even better answer to the increased workload for Ingram this year is a true freshman running-mate who can help out, which he has in Whittington.
2 - Jordan Whittington - FR. - #21 - 6’1” - 215 lbs
Whittington - the #2 ATH in the nation for the 2019 class out of Cuero, TX - comes into Austin on the heels of a ridiculous senior season. He averaged more than 16 yards per carry and 19 yards per reception, racking up 1768 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns (plus one touchdown pass for good measure).
Whittington dominated talks during spring practice and showed he belonged at the college level in the Spring Game leading all rushers with 62 yards rushing on 12 carries. He looks like he’s a player who is too good to be kept off the field.
Look for him to play a similar role to Ingram’s last year, as well as splitting out as a receiver regularly.
Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson made acrobatic catches all 2018. En route to a combined 11 touchdowns.
Wide Receivers - A+
1 - Collin Johnson - Senior - #9 - 6’6” - 220 lbs
Thank the good Lord in Heaven that #9 decided to return for his senior year. Johnson has the chance to be the best receiver in college football this year with the help of his huge 6’6, 220-pound frame and vacuum hands.
Johnson had 985 yards on 68 receptions and 7 touchdowns in 2018 even while being the main focus of every opponents’ secondary. With the steady improvement of Ehlinger, an explosive run game, and a plethora of accompanying talent at the wideout position, defenses are going to have a harder time zeroing in on Johnson.
Look out for a monster season from Johnson, elevating himself to an early round draft pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
2 - Devin Duvernay - SR. - #6 - 5’11” - 210 lbs
After an underwhelming sophomore season in 2017, Duvernay had a resurgence from the outside receiver spot last year. He caught 41 passes, 4 of which were touchdowns, for 546
yards. Duvernay was an underrated threat in the Longhorns’ passing attack, giving Sam Ehlinger a second vertical threat for big chunk gains.
I see Duvernay starting opposite Collin Johnson again this season and having another productive year.
3 - Joshua Moore - SO. - #14 - 6’1” - 180 lbs
Moore had 7 catches for 53 yards before a shoulder sprain in practice ended his freshman season. He showed flashes of talent in the first 6 games of the season, most notably a 27- yard touchdown grab early in the third quarter that opened the floodgates in the second half of the Longhorns’ 37-14 victory over USC.
Moore has good speed and hands but may be overshadowed by the new talent coming to Austin this fall.
4/5 - Brennan Eagles - SO. - #13 - 6’4” - 225
Malcolm Epps - FR (RS) - #85 - 6’6” - 245
Malcolm Epps and Brennan Eagles are both tall receivers with good hands. Sound familiar? The Sophomore and Redshirt Freshman are both viable options to replace Johnson in 2020. Eagles only had one reception in 2018, but it went for 35 yards in the 28-21 win over Tulsa. Epps also had one reception in 2018 for 18 yards. With Johnson coming back from offseason knee surgery, look out for Epps and Eagles to get considerable reps in early season games vs LA Tech and Rice.
Jake Smith and Marcus Washington don the Orange and White respectively
Freshmen Wide Receivers
Bru McCoy’s commit-decommit-commit-decommit-commit journey might look like a loss for Texas’ 2019 receiving class, but the Longhorns didn’t come away empty handed. In fact, Texas’ best haul in 2019’s class might well be at the receiver position. Marcus Washington and Jake Smith both look like freshmen who will make an immediate impact on the field.
Jake Smith - FR. - #16 - 6’0” - 200 lbs
Out of Notre Dame Preparatory in Scottsdale, AZ, Smith was named the 2018 Gatorade National High School Player of the Year. Smith averaged 180 yards from scrimmage per game his senior year and scored 39 touchdowns.
His on-field speed is remarkable, routinely blowing past defenders off the line and never looking back. But will the speed translate to the college level?
I - and more importantly, Sam Ehlinger - say yes.
Horns247 reported that Ehlinger said Smith is “the fastest wide receiver he’s ever thrown to”. Look for Smith to be on the field early and often in the 2019 season running past Big 12 cornerbacks with ease, probably from the slot position.
Horns247 reported that Ehlinger said Smith is “the fastest wide receiver he’s ever thrown to”. Look for Smith to be on the field early and often in the 2019 season running past Big 12 cornerbacks with ease, probably from the slot position.
Marcus Washington - FR. - #15 - 6’2” - 200 lbs
Washington was named the MVP of the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game. While Washington doesn’t have the speed of classmate Jake Smith, his sure hands and crisp route-running are already at a big time college football level. Washington is built for an outside receiver role, which may cause him to lose playing time to Duvernay, but the freshman will make an impact when he is on the field.
Cade Brewer stepped up in 2017 for the injured Andrew Beck
Brayden Liebrock will bring athletic pass-catching ability to the Longhorns in a way Texas hasn’t seen since Jermichael Finley
Tight Ends - C+
1 - Cade Brewer - JR. - #80 - 6’4” - 250 lbs
Brewer has played in 24 games for the Longhorns and will be the primary “Y”. Brewer got a lot of playing time his freshman year due to the injury to then-starter Andrew Beck. Brewer is not as dangerous a receiving threat as Beck was, but is a solid blocker and has plenty of experience.
Texas benefited from great tight end play in 2018, and Brewer has the potential to provide that again. But as it looks now, the “Y” position may be the weakest spot for the Texas offensive attack.
2 - Brayden Liebrock - FR. - #89 - 6’4” - 230 lbs
Another freshman of note is Chandler, AZ tight end Brayden Liebrock. Liebrock was a 4-star recruit and is widely considered an elite pass-catching tight end. Liebrock caught 104 balls for 1,384 yards and 16 touchdowns his senior year. Watch for Liebrock to get some reps in the red zone where his size will be an advantage.
Grad transfer Parker Braun has played 36 games in his collegiate career providing much needed experience up front for the Longhorns
Offensive Line - B
The offensive line lost a lot of talent from 2018, but with the addition of Georgia Tech graduate transfer Parker Braun, this unit will still be strong. The Texas line will probably look like this: LT - Sam Cosmi, LG - Parker Braun, C - Zach Shackelford, RG - Derek Kerstetter, RT - Denzel Okafor.
Sophomore Sam Cosmi was Honorable Mention Big XII Offensive Freshman of the Year thanks to his 13 starts at right tackle for the Longhorns, but 2019 will probably see him shifted over to the left side to protect Ehlinger’s blind side.
Parker Braun comes in from Georgia Tech’s triple option flexbone offense and should bring a gritty-physicality to the unit.
Senior Zach Shackelford has missed time due to injury in each of his seasons as the Longhorn’s center. Hopefully for both him and Texas, Shackelford can stay healthy his senior season, especially as he is a Rimington Award watch list caliber player.
Junior Derek Kerstetter has been a valuable and versatile player for Texas, taking snaps at guard, tackle and center. Should Shackelford miss time this year, Kerstetter is the front-runner to move over.
The right tackle position previously held by Sam Cosmi will be filled by 6’4”, 310-pound Denzel Okafor. Okafor’s large frame should help him hold off pass rushers.
Overall
All-in-all, the Texas Longhorn offense will be a force to be reckoned with. Sam Ehlinger is on many people’s Heisman watch list, Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay will look to increase their draft stock while showing a talent-filled freshman class the ropes, while Keaontay Ingram and Jordan Whittington will be a terror to Big XII defenses for years to come.
Overall grade - A
Pictures Courtesy: TexasSports, VictoriaAdvocate, BurntOrangeNation, MaxPreps, Sports360AZ, The-Ozone