As we arrive at the unofficial halfway point for the season, the Texas Longhorns enter their bye week sitting at 4-3. Here at Orangebloods, we’re there to evaluate every step of the way. Due to that, the staff came together to submit their votes for award winners in the following categories based on the teams’ first seven games.
WINNER: Bijan Robinson, RB, Sophomore
Over the course of seven games, Bijan has been the clear superstar of the Texas football team. Putting up 943 yards on the ground, with an additional 207 in the pass game. While those stats are already worthy of an invitation to New York at the end of the season, you could make a very easy argument that Bijan has created a large amount of his production on his own. Consistently turning defenders in the backfield into small gains, and what should be just average gains into highlight reel plays breaking free for big yardage. While Robinson is just in his second year of play at the college level, he is already widely regarded as one of, if not THE best back in the country.
As Texas heads into the second half of the season, they will need Bijan to continue his dominance in the backfield in order to reposition themselves in the conference. With the way he’s played his career, that should be the least of Sarkisian’s worries.
Runner Up: Casey Thompson, QB, Junior
WINNER: DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Senior
Entering the season, there were questions surrounding the defense in regards to who would step up to be the leader of the unit, and in terms of performance, it’s clear that Overshown has done so. Tallying 56 tackles so far despite missing time in last week’s game against Oklahoma State still ranks third in the conference, just three behind conference leader, Malcolm Rodriguez. Overshown offers a tremendously long frame that helps him cover ground well both against the run and pass. While he could potentially have another year of eligibility, he is putting together a season that could easily have him playing on Sundays next year. Still, the focus remains on the now, and Overshown gets time to recover from his injury and will hopefully be back and ready to go at full strength for the Longhorns crucial match up against the Baylor Bears.
Runner Up: Anthony Cook, DB, Senior
WINNER: Xavier Worthy, WR, Freshman
Unfortunately for all other eligible competitors, this award was probably the biggest blowout of the process. There aren’t many freshmen that are capable of producing to the extent that Xavier Worthy has shown. In a season where the Texas offense was looking for a go-to weapon in the passing game, Worthy worked his way onto the field, and to the top of the depth chart. Worthy leads the team with 29 receptions, 542 yards, and 6 touchdowns added on as a clear runaway winner for newcomer of the year.
While Worthy is clearly noticed on the field, an underrated aspect of his play, is the influence it has on recruiting. Each top freshman weapon, or recruit in general, could see the impact Worthy has had in year one, and could very easily take that to envision themselves stepping in and having the chance to produce immediately. The future of Xavier Worthy is easy to get excited about, but our focus is on the new, and Xavier Worthy is hopefully only going to continue as the season goes on, it will be interesting to see if he surpasses 1,000 yards by season’s end.
Runner Up: Ovie Oghoufo, EDGE, Junior
WINNER: Anthony Cook, DB, Senior
Our NIL athletes tried to warn us… It seemed we couldn’t get through an interview without our athletes shouting out Anthony Cook as a player that has stood out in camp. Cook was a rotational piece last year that earned his role on the field, and now there’s an argument to be made he’s been the most consistent performer on the defense all season. While the secondary has had it’s ups and downs, one of the brightest examples of Cook’s play is looking at his game against Treylon Burks in the Arkansas loss. While the Razorbacks largely had their way with the Longhorn defense, Cook made plays time and time again. Outside of that game, Cook’s play has continued to shine, and what was once a rotational player fighting for a starting job has become an absolute stud and key piece of the defense if Texas plans to finish out the season strong.
Runner Up: Alfred Collins, DL, Sophomore
WINNER: Keilan Robinson, RB, Junior
Talk about making the most of what you’re given, Keilan Robinson has been a dominant rotational piece in the backfield both in the run and pass game. Robinson followed Sarkisian here to Texas, and has already made his name well known among Longhorn fans. On 24 carries, he has put up 179 yards and 2 touchdowns on top of that. While he hasn’t had to sustain it on a larger sample size, his 7.3 yards per carry average leads all backs on the team this season. Recently, Robinson has shown his playmaking ability in the pass game, taking 3 receptions for 38 yards.
Runner Up: Anthony Cook, DB, Senior
WINNER: Keilan Robinson, RB, Junior
Our first repeat winner, Robinson, takes back to back awards. While last award there was talk on his production, here is the chance to express his chance to grow in role and involvement in the offensive gameplan. Robinson has incredible speed, we all knew that when he arrived from Alabama. While it’s hard to find play time in a backfield that consists of Heisman hopeful, Bijan Robinson, and a sturdy second hand man in Roschon Johnson, there is some justification in Keilan struggling to get touches. However, the coaches should feel encouraged to give him a chance. Over the past three games, Keilan has had 1 carry for a single yard, and 3 receptions for 38 yards. Obviously the last three games were tighter than the beginning four, but getting Keilan involved could both help keep the other two backs fresh, while also alleviating the lack of receiving threats with Jordan Whittington being out for the foreseeable future.
Runner Up: Xavier Worthy, WR, Freshman
WINNER: Stan Drayton, Offensive Run Game Coordinator / RBs Coach
With four backs averaging over 6 yards per carry, Drayton gets all the love here for our midway point Coach of the Year award among the Longhorns staff. Bijan is on track for a Heisman trophy, Roschon Johnson has 234 yards on 34 carries, and even the reserve backs Keilan Robinson and Jonathon Brooks have stepped up to the plate when called upon.
Drayton is in his fifth year as the Longhorns running backs coach, his career has had a long line of dominant runners including Ezekiel Elliot who spoke to the team this week, and even had success in the NFL guiding the Bears to have two rookie breakout backs in Jeremy Langford and Jordan Howard. The fact is, success has always seemed to occur with Drayton involved, and that trend seems to only continue this season. While there are reasons to be down on the season, or maybe question some of the coaches, there should be little to no doubt on the job Drayton has done, leaving him as the obvious winner of this award.
Runner Up: Steve Sarkisian, Head Coach
Offensive Player of the Year
Defensive Player of the Year
Newcomer of the Year
Most Improved
Subtle Standout
Keep An Eye On
Coach of the Year
Offensive Player of the Year
Offensive Player of the Year
WINNER: Bijan Robinson, RB, Sophomore
Over the course of seven games, Bijan has been the clear superstar of the Texas football team. Putting up 943 yards on the ground, with an additional 207 in the pass game. While those stats are already worthy of an invitation to New York at the end of the season, you could make a very easy argument that Bijan has created a large amount of his production on his own. Consistently turning defenders in the backfield into small gains, and what should be just average gains into highlight reel plays breaking free for big yardage. While Robinson is just in his second year of play at the college level, he is already widely regarded as one of, if not THE best back in the country.
As Texas heads into the second half of the season, they will need Bijan to continue his dominance in the backfield in order to reposition themselves in the conference. With the way he’s played his career, that should be the least of Sarkisian’s worries.
Runner Up: Casey Thompson, QB, Junior
Defensive Player of the Year
Defensive Player of the Year
WINNER: DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Senior
Entering the season, there were questions surrounding the defense in regards to who would step up to be the leader of the unit, and in terms of performance, it’s clear that Overshown has done so. Tallying 56 tackles so far despite missing time in last week’s game against Oklahoma State still ranks third in the conference, just three behind conference leader, Malcolm Rodriguez. Overshown offers a tremendously long frame that helps him cover ground well both against the run and pass. While he could potentially have another year of eligibility, he is putting together a season that could easily have him playing on Sundays next year. Still, the focus remains on the now, and Overshown gets time to recover from his injury and will hopefully be back and ready to go at full strength for the Longhorns crucial match up against the Baylor Bears.
Runner Up: Anthony Cook, DB, Senior
Newcomer of the Year
WINNER: Xavier Worthy, WR, FreshmanNewcomer of the Year
Unfortunately for all other eligible competitors, this award was probably the biggest blowout of the process. There aren’t many freshmen that are capable of producing to the extent that Xavier Worthy has shown. In a season where the Texas offense was looking for a go-to weapon in the passing game, Worthy worked his way onto the field, and to the top of the depth chart. Worthy leads the team with 29 receptions, 542 yards, and 6 touchdowns added on as a clear runaway winner for newcomer of the year.
While Worthy is clearly noticed on the field, an underrated aspect of his play, is the influence it has on recruiting. Each top freshman weapon, or recruit in general, could see the impact Worthy has had in year one, and could very easily take that to envision themselves stepping in and having the chance to produce immediately. The future of Xavier Worthy is easy to get excited about, but our focus is on the new, and Xavier Worthy is hopefully only going to continue as the season goes on, it will be interesting to see if he surpasses 1,000 yards by season’s end.
Runner Up: Ovie Oghoufo, EDGE, Junior
Most Improved
Most Improved
WINNER: Anthony Cook, DB, Senior
Our NIL athletes tried to warn us… It seemed we couldn’t get through an interview without our athletes shouting out Anthony Cook as a player that has stood out in camp. Cook was a rotational piece last year that earned his role on the field, and now there’s an argument to be made he’s been the most consistent performer on the defense all season. While the secondary has had it’s ups and downs, one of the brightest examples of Cook’s play is looking at his game against Treylon Burks in the Arkansas loss. While the Razorbacks largely had their way with the Longhorn defense, Cook made plays time and time again. Outside of that game, Cook’s play has continued to shine, and what was once a rotational player fighting for a starting job has become an absolute stud and key piece of the defense if Texas plans to finish out the season strong.
Runner Up: Alfred Collins, DL, Sophomore
Subtle Standout
Subtle Standout
WINNER: Keilan Robinson, RB, Junior
Talk about making the most of what you’re given, Keilan Robinson has been a dominant rotational piece in the backfield both in the run and pass game. Robinson followed Sarkisian here to Texas, and has already made his name well known among Longhorn fans. On 24 carries, he has put up 179 yards and 2 touchdowns on top of that. While he hasn’t had to sustain it on a larger sample size, his 7.3 yards per carry average leads all backs on the team this season. Recently, Robinson has shown his playmaking ability in the pass game, taking 3 receptions for 38 yards.
Runner Up: Anthony Cook, DB, Senior
Keep An Eye On
Keep An Eye On
WINNER: Keilan Robinson, RB, Junior
Our first repeat winner, Robinson, takes back to back awards. While last award there was talk on his production, here is the chance to express his chance to grow in role and involvement in the offensive gameplan. Robinson has incredible speed, we all knew that when he arrived from Alabama. While it’s hard to find play time in a backfield that consists of Heisman hopeful, Bijan Robinson, and a sturdy second hand man in Roschon Johnson, there is some justification in Keilan struggling to get touches. However, the coaches should feel encouraged to give him a chance. Over the past three games, Keilan has had 1 carry for a single yard, and 3 receptions for 38 yards. Obviously the last three games were tighter than the beginning four, but getting Keilan involved could both help keep the other two backs fresh, while also alleviating the lack of receiving threats with Jordan Whittington being out for the foreseeable future.
Runner Up: Xavier Worthy, WR, Freshman
Coach of the Year
WINNER: Stan Drayton, Offensive Run Game Coordinator / RBs CoachCoach of the Year
With four backs averaging over 6 yards per carry, Drayton gets all the love here for our midway point Coach of the Year award among the Longhorns staff. Bijan is on track for a Heisman trophy, Roschon Johnson has 234 yards on 34 carries, and even the reserve backs Keilan Robinson and Jonathon Brooks have stepped up to the plate when called upon.
Drayton is in his fifth year as the Longhorns running backs coach, his career has had a long line of dominant runners including Ezekiel Elliot who spoke to the team this week, and even had success in the NFL guiding the Bears to have two rookie breakout backs in Jeremy Langford and Jordan Howard. The fact is, success has always seemed to occur with Drayton involved, and that trend seems to only continue this season. While there are reasons to be down on the season, or maybe question some of the coaches, there should be little to no doubt on the job Drayton has done, leaving him as the obvious winner of this award.
Runner Up: Steve Sarkisian, Head Coach
