As the only team with a losing record from 2016 ranked in the top 25 of the Coaches Poll in 2017, they have something to prove.
Any number of predictions for the Texas Longhorns in 2017 could be considered bold. Any team staring down the possibility of their fourth consecutive losing season makes any prediction that the Longhorns will contend bold.
However, a No. 23 ranking in the Amway Coaches Poll signifies some respect from the voters and media. The good news for Texas is that their brand name is so big that it’s hard not to put them in the College Football Playoff if they win the Big 12. Texas is one of the most recognizable brands in college football.
The ultimate goal for first-year head coach Tom Herman and the Longhorns this year is measurable progress. Winning the Big 12 would be huge. Yet, winning at least eight games is a reasonable expectation for 2017.
The talent is there for Texas to succeed, Herman just needs to piece it together. Quarterback Shane Buechele is a four-star recruit with a solid foundation that could finally be the consistent option Texas needs under center. The receiving corps has skill, led by former Baylor transfer Devin Duvernay, Collin Johnson, and Armanti Foreman. And running back Chris Warren III showed flashes of greatness already in his career.
Defensively, Texas could be the best in the Big 12. The linebacker group is the best in the conference, led by potential All-American Malik Jefferson. Outside linebacker Breckyn Hager and middle linebacker Anthony Wheeler round out the trio.
Key games to watch for Texas in 2017 includes out of conference meetings with the Maryland Terrapins and USC Trojans. In the Big 12, Texas faces Oklahoma State and Kansas State at home while facing the Oklahoma Sooners in their annual Red River Game in Dallas.
5. Kris Boyd gets five interceptions
Possibly the weakest level of the Texas defense is the secondary. Sophomore free safety Brandon Jones is an unproven option and junior cornerback Davante Davis hasn’t earned the trust of the coaches yet.
Junior cornerback Kris Boyd and junior strong safety DeShon Elliott anchor this secondary. Boyd could have a big season in front of him. He played in 11 games last year, racking up 1.5 tackles for loss and one interception.
One player needs to step up in the secondary and lead this group. The player that leads by example very well could be Boyd. He’s a former four-star recruit with all the talent in the world. He stepped up to take on a bigger role in 2016 and will be counted on again in 2017.
The Big 12 is a conference that has so many great offenses and quarterbacks that Texas needs a guy to step up and force a few extra turnovers.
4. Texas beats Oklahoma
The biggest game of the year for the Longhorns is always Oklahoma. The annual Red River Showdown is one of the best rivalries in college football and the best in the Big 12. Texas defeated OU last in 2015 and will be looking for revenge after their five point loss last year.
If both OU and Texas are in the Big 12 Championship race by their meeting on Oct. 14, this will be one of the best games to watch in 2017. Considering OU is the Big 12 Championship favorite in 2017, Texas and OU could face off twice if they were to also meet in the Big 12 Title Game.
A big challenge for the Horns is getting through their schedule before OU. They have to get through USC and Kansas State to reach the Red River Showdown undefeated. USC is ranked No. 3 and Kansas State No. 19.
If Texas reaches the Red River Showdown with no more than only one loss, they’ll be ranked inside the top 10, giving more meaning to the game.
3. Devin Duvernay leads the Big 12 in receiving yards
Devin Duvernay averaged 20.6 yards per catch in 2016. If he gets around 40 receptions this year he’ll be able to more than double his receiving yards from last season.
Aside from Armanti Foreman, Duvernay is one of Texas’ returning leaders in receiving yards. He possesses a unique ability of precise route-running with great speed and good hands. Texas has the skill players to make Buechele’s life easy.
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Duvernay could easily see his role increased in 2017. He’ll start alongside redshirt junior Jerrod Heard and Collin Johnson. The receivers around Duvernay are good enough to free up some space for him to work with as one of the primary receivers Buechele will look to.
If Duvernay can outdo some of the best Big 12 receivers like Oklahoma State’s James Washington and Iowa State’s Allen Lazard, he would be considered one of the best in the entire country.
2. Chris Warren III picks up where D’Onta Foreman left off
Texas won’t lose a huge step at running back after the departure of All-American D’Onta Foreman to the Houston Texans. Replacing Foreman means replacing more than 2,000 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.
Chris Warren III is great when healthy. Before he went down after the Oklahoma State game, he rushed for more than 100 yards in two consecutive games. He averaged 6.6 yards per carry against Cal and 10.6 against Oklahoma State, in the two games he eclipsed the 100-yard mark.
Led by junior left tackle and projected first round NFL Draft pick Connor Williams, Texas boasts a talented offensive line. Both Buechele and Warren III should not have a problem with protection in either the running or passing game.
Picking up where Foreman left off does not mean that Warren III will rush for more than 2,000 yards and win the Doak Walker Award. Averaging 6.4 yards per carry like Foreman did in 2016 is more important for Warren III.
1. Shane Buechele is a Heisman Finalist
The first names that come to mind in terms of Heisman finalists in the Big 12 are Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph, and Buechele. According to Odds Shark, Buechele has the third best odds of any Big 12 player to win the Heisman, right behind Mayfield and Rudolph.
Buechele had a good freshman campaign, tossing 21 touchdowns. He’ll need to cut down on the amount of interception he throws. Most of that should come from the natural progression from his freshman to sophomore year.
Winning the Heisman would mean Buechele likely takes Texas to the College Football Playoff. The last two Texas quarterbacks that were Heisman finalists were Colt McCoy and Vince Young. Joining those legendary names in Texas football history would get Buechele in the top 3 voting for the Heisman.
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Texas seems to at least have one player in the running for the Heisman Trophy each year. Buechele is their best candidate for the 2017 campaign.