Photo via HookEm.com
A year ago, there was not a coach on Tom Herman’s staff with a hotter seat than Stan Drayton.
During Drayton’s initial season, Sam Ehlinger led the team in rushing (381 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Daniel Young's 373 yards and three touchdowns). Drayton’s room improved with the addition of grad transfer running back Tre Watson in year two. However, Longhorn coaches and observers were forced to watch Noah Cain (Penn State) and Trey Sanders (Alabama) commit to other programs on national TV in December of 2018. Many inside the building believed the only way Drayton could save his job was by obtaining a commitment from North Shore running back Zach Evans (yeah, let that one digest for a minute).
Texas may have “missed” on Evans, but Drayton proceeded to obtain Bijan Robinson, arguably the nation's best running back. Heck, Drayton held onto Robinson after Texas finished with seven regular season wins, which was one hell of a recruiting job. Two years ago, Drayton successfully recruited Keaontay Ingram, the top running back in Texas.
It is hard to question Drayton as a recruiter. More importantly, the run game has improved throughout Drayton’s tenure. As a result of Drayton’s success, he received a multi-year extension during this offseason.
It is time to give Drayton props.
I would not have written that a year ago.
In fact, I categorized 2019 as the biggest year of Drayton’s career. Here is what I wrote a year ago:
“Simply put, the run game at Texas has not been special.
“Texas has not produced a 1,000-yard rusher during Drayton’s tenure. Some might attribute that to a lack of talent. Others might attribute it to Drayton’s running back rotation. Either way, Texas observers expect more production from that room.
“I am guessing Drayton does, too.”
“In 2017, Justice Hill (Oklahoma State), Justin Crawford (West Virginia), David Montgomery (Iowa State) and Rodney Anderson (Oklahoma) rushed for over 1,000 yards. Last season, Alex Barnes (Kansas State), Pooka Williams (Kansas), Kennedy Brooks (Oklahoma) and Montgomery eclipsed that mark. Williams finished with 1,125 yards and seven touchdowns as a true freshman on a team that averaged only 172 passing yards a game.”
Texas did not have a 1,000-yard rusher in 2019. Ingram finished 853 rushing yards and seven touchdowns (eighth in the Big 12). Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard led the Big 12 with 2,094 yards and 21 touchdowns, followed by Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts (1,298 yards and 20 touchdowns), Kansas running back Pooka Williams Jr. (1,061 yards and three touchdowns), and Oklahoma’s Kennedy Brooks (1,011 yards and six touchdowns).
Nevertheless, there has been progress under Drayton.
During Drayton’s first season, Texas’ rushing offense was ranked seventh in the Big 12. In 2018, the Longhorns finished eighth.
Last season?
Texas was fifth.
Here is the breakdown:
2017 Big 12 Rushing Offenses
1. Oklahoma 217.8
2. Kansas State 198.8
3. Oklahoma State 179.8
4. TCU 174.1
5. West Virginia 150.3
6. Texas Tech 140.9
7. Texas 139.9
8. Baylor 117.2
9. Iowa State 113.1
10. Kansas 102.6
2018 Big 12 Rushing Offenses
1. Oklahoma 247.4
2. Oklahoma State 190.3
3. Kansas State 182.6
4. Baylor 169.1
5. West Virginia 160.9
6. Kansas 158.6
7. TCU 156.6
8. Texas 153.1
9. Texas Tech 132.6
10. Iowa State 130.1
2019 Big 12 Rushing Offenses
1. Oklahoma 240.2
2. Oklahoma State 229.6
3. TCU 204
4. Kansas State 178
5. Texas 176.5
6. Baylor 166.43
7. Texas Tech 149.58
8. Kansas 145.75
9. Iowa State 133
10. West Virginia 73.25
Here is another sign of progress.
Young averaged 28.69 yards per game in 2017 (Oklahoma State’s Justice Hill led the conference with 112.85). Watson’s average was 56.14 in 2018 (Kansas State’s Alex Barnes led with 112.92). Ingram averaged 65.62 last year (Hubbard led with 161.08).
Meanwhile, Ingram had one game with over 100 rushing yards in 2018, while Watson’s best performance was 93 yards on-the-ground against Iowa State.
Last season, Ingram rushed for over 100 yards four times (Oklahoma State, 114; Kansas, 101; Kansas State, 139; Utah, 108).
Factor in Drayton’s proven recruiting ability, and the 2020 Texas running backs room is as deep as any program in the Big 12.
Ingram has compiled 1,561 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns during two seasons as a starter. He split carries as a freshman, but took the lead role last season. Hubbard is the Big 12’s best running back, followed by Oklahoma’s Kennedy Brooks, who rushed for over 1,000 yards in the past two seasons, and Williams. Ingram has a chance to be in that mix this season.
Roschon Johnson's switch from quarterback to running back might be one of Drayton’s best achievements.
Johnson was a highly recruited quarterback, but there was no chance he was going to play last season. Sam Ehlinger was the starter. Casey Thompson was the backup. Plus, the staff spent the offseason trying to improve Johnson’s throwing motion. The earliest Johnson would see playing time would be if he won the starting quarterback position in 2021. Instead, Johnson opted to play running back, and had an immediate impact.
Last season, Johnson rushed for 649 yards and seven touchdowns under the guidance of Drayton. Johnson recently decided to remain at running back, which will probably end up being his permanent position at Texas. He will receive every second team rep this offseason, and should improve with another season under his belt.
Oh, and Robinson will arrive at Texas this summer.
One of those players should be able to help Texas create more long rushing plays this season.
Last year, Texas was great at obtaining between 10 to 19 rushing yards. The Longhorns just did not have a lot of explosive plays.
Here are the Big 12 numbers:
10+ yards – 85 (second in the Big 12); Oklahoma finished first (116)
20+ yards – 14 (seventh); Oklahoma finished first (37)
30+ yards – 6 (tied for sixth); Oklahoma State finished first (19)
40+ yards – 3 (tied for sixth); Oklahoma State finished first (10)
50+ yards – 2 (tied for sixth); Oklahoma State finished first (8)
60+yards – 1 (tied for sixth); Oklahoma State finished first (6)
Ingram’s 68-yarder against Baylor was the longest run of last season
Drayton has recruited well.
He has stacked the running back room.
The Longhorns are poised for a breakout season on the ground.
It is time to give Drayton props.
Photo via EJ Holland
Funniest Things You Will See This Week
Nearly $40,000 has been raised on GoFundMe for her medical expenses (seriously)
Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it
Everyone who is not an Astros fan will laugh at this
Why?
Sports On A Dime
1. After interviewing Herman’s new assistants this past week, I left impressed by the coaching experience at Power 5 schools by those guys, how they explain the game, and their personal motivation to be successful. I could tell each coach has a chip on their shoulder. Obviously, time will tell how that translates on the football field. So far, the staff seems strong.
2. Texas receivers coach Andre Coleman’s response when asked if his receivers should impose their will instead of taking what the defense gives them: “No, it's not that simple because sometimes you can scheme against [a player], and take away a guy. Schematically, you can do that. When that happens, there's a matchup somewhere. What we as a coaching staff must do is find that matchup, and what I have to do as a coach is develop that player when they give us this matchup. In my opinion, that's what LSU did. When you watch their film, they took advantage of matchups. When those guys got a chance to make plays, they made plays. I mean they made plays across the board, right? It wasn’t one guy. Ja’Marr Chase won the Biletnikoff. It was him, and it was [Justin] Jefferson, and they took the matchup. In the championship game, [Thaddeus] Moss, that was the matchup, one-on-one matchup, and he made the plays. I think that's what they did a great job of. Finding the matchup. As coaches, you got to develop those guys that when they get that matchup, their technique and the fundamentals have to be right to win, which is what we did in the bowl game.”
3. Speaking of Coleman, Herman’s decision to add Everett Withers to his staff as an offensive analyst is a strong move. Herman turned to his support staff to fill in as coaches prior to the Alamo Bowl. Withers is in a prime position to step in if anyone on Herman’s staff receives a promotion to work for another program after this season.
4. Texas defensive backs coach Jay Valai on improving the young cornerbacks who played last year: “Yeah experience is a big thing. It’s fun and games when you're playing seven-on-seven, high school football. Then when you’re going out there, and you're playing LSU on live TV, it's a little different now. To me, learning from those experiences, but getting better from those experiences, and validating yourself once again on a daily basis that I got to get better. How do I eat an elephant? One bite at a time. How do I continuously get better? You saw the progression throughout the year from most guys. I think [there were] a couple of tendencies. Techniques here and there, and fixing just a couple of little details. We’re going to get the guys right. I know they’re motivated. They're going to love the style of football that we play.”
5. Texas linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler on balancing finding players who can run in this conference without giving up size: “Yeah, it's a tough balance. I think projecting size on a 16 or 17-year-old kid is an inexact science. That’s always a tough part of the evaluation, but there's a middle ground. There’s a way to identify those things, and things I've used in my past that to help give me a good idea.”
6. Texas left tackle Sam Cosmi was featured in a blog written by Blair Westerland, who talked about him learning how to deal with her anxiety battles.
Here is a very interesting line from the blog:
“The first panic attack that I experienced, I didn’t really know what was going on until halfway into it. I have never seen one before. Even though I didn’t really understand what was going on or why she was having a panic attack, I just knew to be there and listen.” – Sam
It is a very interesting read:
7. Just like that, the burnt orange Kool-Aid is being poured in February
8. As much as Chris Del Conte does not like to fire coaches, Shaka Smart continues to make that decision easier for his boss.
9. I always found Jon Gruden’s QB Camp on ESPN ironic because he never liked working with young quarterbacks as an NFL coach. That is why his desire to acquire Tom Brady makes total sense. Time will tell if Brady leaves New England, but after covering him for years in Tampa, I know Gruden would give up a pinky toe if that meant signing a future Hall of Fame quarterback.
10. Do yourself a favor. Check out Deontay Wilder versus Tyson Fury on Saturday. Wilder is the best American heavyweight since the days of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. I will be shocked if this fight goes the distance. Wilder wins by TKO in the eighth round.
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