Texas Football: Top 5 breakout candidates for 2017

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BERKELEY, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Chris Warren III #25 of the Texas Longhorns scores a touchdown against cornerback Josh Drayden #20 of the California Golden Bears in the first quarter on September 17, 2016 at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California. Cal won 50-43. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Texas had the second-best rushing attack in the Big 12 a season ago thanks, in large part, to the season churned out by D’Onta Foreman. The bruising back finished with 2,028 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

Unfortunately, the Longhorns will be forced to move on without him as he took the leap to the NFL. Now, it’s Chris Warren III’s backfield. It’s not like the junior running back is void of talent, though. In fact, he finished with 366 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per touch, in 2016. He had just 62 carries all year, but that will soon change.

Foreman was a workhorse for Strong. He ran the ball 323 times in 2016 and was one of few running backs in recent college football memory to even approach, let alone break, the 2,000-yard mark for a single season. If Warren gets about 250 carries and averages about 6.0 yards per touch, he will surpass 1,500 yards.

That looks to be the case as he will be the lead back, expected to run the ball 20-25 times per game. Texas won’t lean on the run game quite as much this year, but when it does, it’ll be in good hands.

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