Texas Football – Top 5 Players Who Need To Be Special in 2017
Texas Football needs certain players to be special in 2017 to drive Tom Herman’s first Longhorns team.
The time to be special starts now during spring drills leading to the spring game on April 15. Then, it’s making sure the team is ready for the first real game of the Tom Herman era in September.
But, you can’t just flip the switch in the middle of August; the work has to be put in now. So, we want to see these five players step up and assert themselves as special players throughout 2017 preparation.
(1) QB Shane Buechele. This is Shane’s QB job to keep or lose to Sam Ehlinger. Texas fans saw how special Shane was on opening night against Notre Dame last season. He carried that over to the first-half of 2016, but then he hit the freshman wall.
Buechele’s production fell off and the team became too dependent on D’Onta Foreman to carry the ball 30, 40, even 50 times a game. Plus, defenses figured out the offensive scheme under former OC Sterling Gilbert and had enough tape to scout Buechele’s tendencies.
Texas Football cannot afford a sophomore slump from Buechele. And, he cannot afford it, either, as Ehlinger will be on his tail. We need to see Buechele regain that special form that was present against Notre Dame for the 2017 season.
(2) LB Malik Jefferson. This is Jefferson’s defense to run. He is absolutely a great fit under new DC Todd Orlando, who is all about using linebackers in his unique defensive attack.
Jefferson showed flashes of greatness in his freshman and sophomore years at Texas, but he did not become the dominant player that Texas fans expected. Now is the time for him to become the best player on the field in 2017.
Jefferson has the tools, ability, and work ethic to be like former Longhorn Derrick Johnson as the unquestioned leader of the defense from the LB position. But, he needs to be special right now to lock down the role.
(3) LB Gary Johnson. We’re going to keep it at the Linebacker position. Why does a transfer LB playing his first year with Texas Football need to be special in 2017?
The defense has suffered in recent years from the lack of a consistent, imposing middle linebacker. And, Johnson brings immediate credibility to the MLB position because of his age and experience at the JUCO level.
Sure, it’s a different competition level playing against Big 12 stars. But, Johnson is so impressive on the field that Texas fans are daydreaming about what he could bring to Todd Orlando’s defense.
The Longhorns defense was porous under Charlie Strong. And the best way to clean that up is having a great linebacker who can stop the run, tackle in open space, and blitz QBs when necessary. The combination of Johnson and Jefferson should be special in 2017 to restore Texas Defense.
(4) RB Toneil Carter. Carter is another very impressive first-year player coming to the Texas program.
Carter, who early enrolled out of high school, will challenge Chris Warren for the starting RB spot this coming season.
At the very least, Warren and Carter will form a dynamic duo sharing carries and giving defenses a taste of thunder (Warren) and lightning (Carter).
But, Carter could end up with the starting job depending on how he fares in spring ball. Carter has ridiculous running skills, athleticism, and determination to find the endzone. He will be very special at some point for Texas – we just want to see it in 2017 to help replace D’Onta Foreman.
(5) K Josh Rowland. A kicker? Say what? Yes. You could argue that Texas lost 4-5 games in the Charlie Strong Era because of kicking. That’s the difference between whether you play in a bowl game or sit at home watching bowl games on TV.
Rowland is another graduate transfer, like Gary Johnson. And, it’s his starting job to win.
Next: Top 5 Position Battles after National Signing Day
Texas needs a consistent kicker to make sure what happens to Strong in his three years does not happen to Tom Herman. That’s why Rowland needs to be special in 2017.