5 Longhorns Who Must Use 2015 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team List as Motivation

Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Jonathan Gray (32) carries the ball under pressure from Baylor Bears corner back Xavien Howard (4) during the second half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Baylor beat Texas 28-7. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Gray, RB

Gray has battled timeshares and injuries his first three seasons at Texas. If he wasn’t splitting carries with Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron, he was fighting the injury bug – a torn Achilles being the most recent culprit. Gray spent much of the early part of the season getting his legs and speed back after missing about nine months to rehab. He started off slow but as the season progressed you started to see the old Jonathan Gray.

This season Gray is primed to be the feature back. While he is not built to be a between-the-tackles runner, he should get 20+ touches a game. Screen passes, misdirection plays, sweeps, it doesn’t matter how Shawn Watson gets him the ball, it’s just important he takes advantage of Gray’s athletic abilities. It’s time for Watson to turn him loose.