As Texas heads into SEC play, its nonconference wins really made the grade | Golden
Texas’ first nonconference slate as an SEC team resulted in four blowouts, a statement dismantling of defending national champion Michigan and the school’s first No. 1 ranking since 2008.
Saturday’s 51-3 victim Louisiana-Monroe was a mere speedbump on the way to next week’s SEC opener against Mississippi State. Texas is winning by an average of more than 40 points and hasn't really been tested.
There are tougher tests coming up, but they have the look of a team that's ready to live up to their lofty ranking.
While I’m from a family of educators and enjoyed a cup of coffee teaching some future sport journalists last year on the Forty Acres, I’ve decided to take a bite of the apple and grade the Horns so far entering arguably the most anticipated conference schedule since the 2005 national championship season. We'll come out with our weekly staff grades in the morning, but here are mine.
More: Our staff takeaways from Texas' 51-3 win over ULM
Coaching: A
The basketball kids like to use this term, but Steve Sarkisian has been in his bag as a play-caller, plus the locker room culture he has built over the last two-plus seasons is one of best feel-good stories in college football. The Horns are 16-2 in their last 18 games and are talented at every position with proven backups to boot.
MORE CED: Topping a national football poll is nice, but Texas knows it's only September | Golden
Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski is at the helm of the stingiest defense in more than 40 years while the special teams have been fine though kicker Bert Auburn, he of the 19 straight field goals last year, hasn't been in a position to be clutch yet.
Quarterbacks: A
Quinn Ewers was an early-season Heisman Trophy favorite before he strained his oblique last week against UTSA. He has eight touchdowns, two interceptions and a 175.2 passer rating. Better yet, he marched the Horns into Ann Arbor’s Big House and worked the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines. Arch Manning was electric in relief with five touchdowns — four passing and a 67-yard sprint sprint — in less than one half of play and showed that the offense will be in great hands moving forward.
More: Former Texas baseball star Omar Quintanilla discusses UT Hall of Honor, 2002 title team
Running backs: B-
The position has been beset by injuries, but Jaydon Blue has stepped up in place of expected starter CJ Baxter. Blue’s 124 yards Saturday night made him the first UT back to top the century mark this season. Freshman Jerrick Gibson gives the Horns a nice bruising dimension when Blue sits.
Offensive line: A
The most experienced unit on the roster has delivered. Kelvin Banks Jr., Jake Majors and Co. have paved the way for runners who were averaging 4.8 yards per carry entering Saturday's game and 4.8 yards per carry after it. The quarterbacks have enjoyed good protection. Of the three sacks that have been allowed, one came because young Manning held on to the ball for far too long in the UTSA game.
More: Colt McCoy's advice for first-time starter Arch Manning: 'Buckle up and go play.'
Wide receivers: A
The addition of Houston’s Matthew Golden and Alabama’s Isaiah Bond has made for little drop-off from the loss to the NFL of stalwarts Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington and Adonai Mitchell. In addition, DeAndre Moore Jr., Johntay Cook II and Ryan Wingo round out the deepest receiver corps in the country.
Tight end: A
Who saw Gunnar Helm coming? In his previous three seasons, he had caught only 19 passes for 236 yards in 39 games. Through four games, Helm has 10 catches for 189 yards and a touchdown. He's having an All-America season to his final college year and will be cashing NFL paychecks next fall.
Defensive line: B
Defensive tackles Vernon Broughton and Alfred Collins have held up their end in place of NFL rookies T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II. There haven't been a lot of sacks, but there’s been an uptick in pressures over the last couple of games. Next week’s opponent Mississippi State will be starting a true freshman. The Horns will come in salivating.
Linebackers: A
Sophomore Anthony Hill Jr. is the team's leading tackler and will be a bona fide superstar by the time he’s out of here and senior David Gbenda has played himself into getting drafted next spring. SEC offenses will test them more than we’ve seen, but they appear ready for this challenge.
Secondary: B
The addition of Andrew Mukuba to the nation’s 116th-ranked pass defense was a nice one. Jahdae Barron putting off the NFL for another year will make him more money. And let’s not forget safety Michael Taaffe, a former walk-on who is a magnet for the football. The last two have been at the forefront of a much-improved secondary that’s miles better than the crew Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. shredded in the Sugar Bowl just eight months ago.
Texas fans should be excited about what's ahead of them and even more geeked that their team hasn't even played its best game yet. The Horns have sent a message that their first season in the SEC isn't going to be a Georgia ho-hum conference title. Can't wait for Oct. 19.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Grading Texas football's nonconference performance in 2024
