Team Info
Texas Longhorns
Head coach: Mack Brown
2012 Record: 9-4 overall, 5-4 Big 12
2012 Bowl Result: Beat Oregon State 31-27 in the Alamo Bowl
2013 returning starters: 10 offense, 9 defense
Betting Info
Odds to Win 2014 BCS Championship game: 65/2
Odds to win 2013 Big 12 Championship: +295
Regular Season Wins: over 9.5 -125 / under 9.5 -105
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For many schools a 9-4 record with a bowl win over a top 15 team would be a successful season. Texas is not one of those schools. In fact there are some Longhorn fans who think it is time for longtime coach Mack Brown to go after three straight seasons where Texas hasn’t been relevant on the national stage.
Technically, Texas finished tied with Oklahoma State for second in the Big 12 but both teams were 5-4, and far behind Kansas St and Oklahoma at 8-1. Texas opened the season 4-0, including blowouts over Wyoming, New Mexico, and a 66-31 win at a decent Ole Miss team. The Longhorns escaped with a 41-36 win in Stillwater over Oklahoma State. Texas then lost two games in a row to West Virginia 48-45 and a humiliating 63-21 loss to rival Oklahoma. Texas then won 4 straight games over Baylor, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Iowa St. The Longhorns would close the season with losses to TCU and Kansas St. Texas then beat Oregon St 31-27 in the Alamo Bowl in nearby San Antonio. Texas trailed in that game by 10 points going into the fourth but scored two late touchdowns to win by 4 points.
Now Texas has 19 starters back and is a slight underdog to Oklahoma St to win the Big 12 conference.
Offense
C0-coordinator Brian Harsin left to take the Arkansas State head coaching job. So now Major Applewhite running the show by himself. He has installed an up-tempo no huddle offense similar to what Oregon runs. Texas was 40th nationally in total offense, but only 6th in the offense first Big 12. The Longhorns return almost every one from last year on offense.
Junior quarterback David Ash has seemingly put his two year battle with senior Case McCoy behind him. Ash started every game last season except for the Kansas State game that he missed with a back injury. Ash completed 67.3% of his passes for 2,699 yards with 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, along with 51 carries, 141 carries, and 2 touchdowns. When he is on he is very good, but he will occasionally throw in some clunkers like he did against Kansas and TCU last year. It is hoped the faster tempo will help him be more consistent. McCoy mostly played in garbage time last year, but did take over in the Kansas and TCU games when Ash was benched. McCoy also started the Kansas State game in the regular season finale. McCoy completed 71.1% of his passes for 722 yards with 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Redshirt freshman Jalen Overstreet and true freshman Tyrone Swoopes will likely be the quarterbacks of the future, but Overstreet could see some time as a change of pace quarterback.
The top three running backs return for Texas. Sophomore Johnathan Gray had 57 carries, 939 yards, and 3 touchdowns, along with 11 catches, 151 yards and a touchdown. Junior Joe Bergeron had 127 carries, 567 yards, and 16 touchdowns, along with 9 catches for 84 yards. Junior Malcolm Brown missed 5 games with an ankle injury, but he had 61 carries, 324 yards and 4 touchdowns along with 15 catches, 112 yards, and a touchdown. Sophomore Alex De La Torre and junior Chet Moss will work in the fullback strictly as blockers when Bergeron isn’t playing the role.
Senior receiver Mike Davis had 57 catches, 939 yards and 7 touchdowns, and will start at the X receiver. Junior Jaxon Shipley had 59 catches, 737 yards and 6 touchdowns. Sophomore Daje Johnson had 19 catches, 287 yards and a touchdown. Marcus Johnson, Bryant Jackson, John Harris, Kendall Sanders, Jake Oliver, and Jacorey Warrick add depth to the unit. Greg Daniels and M.J. McFarland will rotate at tight end.
All five starters return on the offensive line. The line was decent in pass protection but needs to be more physical. Left guard Trey Hopkins was second team All-Big 12 last year. Senior right guard Mason Walters was honorable mention. Senior Donald Hawkins is the left tackle. Junior Josh Cochran returns at right tackle. Junior Dominic Espinosa has made 26 straight starts at center. Garrett Porter, Kenny Estelle, Kent Perkins, and Darius James will also see time in the rotation.
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Defense
The Texas defense badly under achieved last year giving up over 400 yards and 30 points per game. Nine starters return but coordinator Manny Diaz has to get them to play as a unit.
Senior Jackson Jeffcoat returns after tearing a pectoral muscle that cost him 7 games. Still he had 63 tackles, 18 for loss, and 6 sacks in just 6 games. Senior Reggie Wilson and junior Cedric Reed will rotate at the other end. A different Malcolm Brown than the running back will start at nose tackle. Senior Ashton Dorsey made 10 tackles for loss last year and will start at the other tackle. Chris Whaley, Desmond Jackson, and Jake Raulerson add depth to the line.
Junior middle linebacker Steve Edmond had 103 tackles last season. Sophomore Peter Jinkins will start on the outside. Junior Jordan hicks will start at the other outside linebacker after missing all but 3 games last season. Dalton Santos, Tevin Jackson, Kendall Thompson, and Deoundrei Davis will also see time at linebacker.
The secondary must replace strong safety Kenny Vaccaro now with the New Orleans Saints. Adrian Phillips looks to replace him after making 72 tackles and 2 picks last year. Kenny’s brother Kevin will back Phillips up. Junior Mykkele Thompson will start at free safety after making 59 tackles last year. Junior Josh Turner is also in the free safety mix after making 2 picks and a sack last year. Junior corner Quandre Diggs made 59 tackles, and 4 picks. Senior Carrington Byndon will start at the other corner after making 55 tackles and 3 picks last year. Freshman Antwuan Davis could also see time at corner.
Special Teams
Sophomore kicker Nick Jordan made 31 of 32 extra points, and 9 of 15 field goals. Five of his misses were from beyond 40 yards. Sophomore Nick Rose is mostly a kickoff specialist but did attempt and make 3 extra points. He has a stronger leg than Jordan and could take over as the kicker if Jordan falters.
Senior Anthony Fera, a former Penn State transfer, missed time last year because of a groin injury. He made 23 of 25 extra points and 2 of 4 field goals. He moves over to punter to replace Alex King who averaged 45 yards per punt.
Both coverage teams need to improve. The kickoff coverage team gave up 22 yards per return and the punt return team gave up 10.1 per return.
Quandre Diggs will return punts after averaging 8.2 yards per return last year. Daje Johnson averaged almost 21 yards per kick return last year.
Schedule
Texas opens at home against New Mexico St. Then comes a tough stretch of games at BYU, and Ole Miss and Kansas St come to Austin. The Longhorns face a potential trap game at Iowa St the week before facing Oklahoma in Dallas. Texas makes the trip to TCU, then hosts Kansas, and travels to West Virginia. Next comes home games against Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. The Longhorns close out the regular season in Waco against Baylor.
Outlook
With all this talent, if Texas wins 9 games again it will be a severe disappointment. The schedule is tough but with 19 starters back Texas is a veteran team that can handle the pressure. I see 10 wins for Texas, and possibly a BCS game berth.
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