Last weekend, with less than two minutes remaining, Texas needed just 1 yard to secure a first down and a 24-21 win over Iowa State.

So on the third-and-1 call, Roschon Johnson got the handoff. The senior running back gained 2 yards, and since the Cyclones were out of timeouts, the Longhorns ran out the clock and celebrated their third straight win.

On the play, the Cyclones made contact with Johnson behind the line of scrimmage, but he then received a forceful push from behind by a teammate. It wasn't one of his 300-pound offensive linemen. It was Jordan Whittington, the Longhorns' 6-foot-1, 205-pound receiver. "I've got to take him through TSA PreCheck with me and push me through like that," one of the TV announcers joked.

"I just really play to win," Whittington said Monday. "Whatever I can do to help us win, I'm going to do whatever I've got to do, and it shows. Sometimes it's just crazy plays. But that's what you do when you're determined, dedicated, committed."

Determined. Dedicated. Committed.

Admittedly, he has not always been those three things at Texas. During a session with reporters this week, Whittington was frank and said that he even fell out of love with football within the past year.

For Whittington, last season was a low point. After missing 17 of his first 23 games over his first two seasons, Whittington suffered a clavicle injury during the loss to Oklahoma and was sidelined for another four contests. His stepfather, Elmoris Johnson, whom Whittington describes as one of two father figures in his life, then died in late October.

More: Highlights from Texas coach Steve Sarkisian's Monday press conference

During that time, Whittington described himself as being selfish toward both his family and his team. He credited his faith, his mother and his teammates for pulling him through the tough times.

Whittington also thanked UT receivers coach Brennan Marion for helping rekindle his passion for the game. Marion was hired this offseason after coaching Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison at Pitt last year.

More: No. 20 Texas looks to avoid its road woes in upcoming trip to No. 11 Oklahoma State

Texas assistant coaches do not talk with the media during the season, but head coach Steve Sarkisian did speak this week about the relationship that Marion has formed with the receivers. Marion relates well with his receivers and allows them to have fun, Sarkisian said, which isn't a huge surprise since the coach has made wearing a cowboy hat at practices his shtick. But Sarkisian added that Marion is also "extremely demanding."

"The intent is not to be our players' friend; the intent is to be their coach, to push them to new heights, to push them to be the best that they can be whether it's as a player, as a person or as a student," Sarkisian said. "I think Coach Marion has found a really cool niche in his own way of doing that, and I think the players respond to him."

Whittington, who has talked previously about the changes to his diet, is averaging 13.6 yards over his 28 receptions this season. He's also taken pride in blocking for his teammates.

In last week's win over the Cyclones, Whittington hauled in a 5-yard touchdown pass just before halftime. To mark his first touchdown of the season — and his first score since October 2021 — he ran over to Bevo XV's pen and excitedly celebrated near the resting UT mascot. He had been planning that celebration for weeks.

"One day, I'm going to jump in there," he said.

A few years ago, Whittington probably wouldn't have imagined that he'd be celebrating with Bevo in 2022. No, not the five-star recruit who had Texas fans salivating after a six-touchdown performance for Cuero in the state championship game.

But a series of injuries prevented Whittington from reaching his potential. His first season, he played only in the 2019 opener because of a groin issue. He injured his hip flexor and his clavicle during the next two Oklahoma games. A torn meniscus cost him two more games in 2020.

"You expect to just get here and dominate, three and out, go to the league and stuff like that," he said. "I just had a young mindset. But I got humbled really quick, a couple of times in a row. But I wouldn't have wanted it no other way. I like it where I am today."

Texas will face No. 11 Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Saturday. Over the course of the Longhorns' three-game winning streak, Whittington has caught 10 of the 12 passes that have been thrown his way. Quarterback Quinn Ewers described Whittington as a "really good route runner, especially against man (coverage)."

While he's running routes, expect Whittington to do so with a smile on his face.

"With all that he's been through, I think he's taken more pride and more joy in playing now more than ever," Johnson said. Fellow running back Bijan Robinson noted that seeing Whittington thrive this season and play "with so much joy on his face, it encourages all of us on the team to (not) take this game for granted."

Getting past those injuries and his personal adversity has brought clarity and a new mantra: Happiness is a choice.

"If you just ask my peers, my loved ones, you could tell that I'm way different now in my viewpoints and perspectives on life," Whittington said. "I think I just started getting that a year ago, but's it been great ever since. I encourage everybody to live like that. Because happiness is a choice. Think about it."

Saturday's game

No. 20 Texas at No. 11 Oklahoma State, 2:30 p.m., ABC, 104.9, 105.3 (Spanish), 1260, 99.3, 98.5

Scouting Oklahoma State

Last year: 12-2, first in the Big 12 (8-2) but lost to Baylor in the conference title game; beat Notre Dame 37-35 in the Fiesta Bowl.

Will he or won't he? All eyes are on Spencer Sanders. His throwing shoulder, actually. The Cowboys' starting quarterback hurt it two weeks ago in the win over Texas Tech and looked bothered by it in last week's loss to TCU. Head coach Mike Gundy was noncommittal this week on whether Sanders — who has started 19 straight games — would be able to go on Saturday. If Sanders can't play, it'll be Gundy's son, Gunnar Gundy, playing quarterback.

Three players to watch: (1) QB Spencer Sanders, a four-year starter who's No. 12 nationally in total offense (324.7 yards per game); (2) LB Mason Cobb is the Big 12's second-leading tackler (behind Texas' Jaylan Ford) and is averaging 9.0 stops per game; (3) and K Tanner Brown is a perfect 12-for-12 on field goals and 42-for-42 on extra points, in case this game comes down to a kick.

FYI: Oklahoma State has the No. 4 scoring offense in the country, averaging 45.3 points. The Cowboys also are averaging 9.0 tackles for loss, which is No. 3 nationally, and are the Big 12's best when it comes to kickoffs. ... OSU has won at least 10 games the past seven years and is one of only six schools with a winning record every season from 2010 to 2021 (Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Wisconsin and Boise State are the others). ... Since 2017, OSU has produced the country's leading passer (Mason Rudolph in 2017), its leading receiver (James Washington in 2017) and its leading rusher (Chuba Hubbard in 2019).

Rich Tijerina

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Finally healthy, Texas' Jordan Whittington finds joy in football again