Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Texas Football: 5 reasons Longhorns can realistically win the Big 12 in 2017

By Connor Muldowney

AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 15: Shane Buechele #7 of the Texas Longhorns drops back to pass against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half on October 15, 2016 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 15: Shane Buechele #7 of the Texas Longhorns drops back to pass against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half on October 15, 2016 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 11: A detail of the helmet of the Texas Longhorns at Cotton Bowl on October 11, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 11: A detail of the helmet of the Texas Longhorns at Cotton Bowl on October 11, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

4. Incoming recruiting class

You might be thinking about what type of impact an incoming recruiting class could truly have on a team like Texas that already returns a ton of starters. The answer might not be clear right away, but when you think about it, a handful of Texas’ 2017 recruits were hand-picked by Herman and those are guys that fit his system.

Sure, there’s plenty of talent on the roster as is, but Herman’s guys will come in knowing that they fit the description of what the new head coach wanted for the Longhorns. He reeled in the Big 12’s second-best recruiting class in 2017 and 26th-best in the nation, according to 247Sports. Not bad for having just a few months to do work.

Let’s take a look at some of the incoming players that have a chance to make an impact right away — and there really isn’t a slouch in sight.

Gary Johnson, the No. 1 JUCO transfer linebacker, has a shot to contend for time right away on an up-and-coming defense. Damion Miller was one of the top wide out recruits in the class and Toneil Carter was an elite running back prospect. While both may redshirt, they also provide some solid depth at the positions.

If anything, the incoming class provides solid depth and can be turned to if the upperclassmen aren’t getting the job done.

Home/Texas Longhorns