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Texas Football: 10 Longhorns that could go in the 2019 NFL Draft

By Andrew Miller

WACO, TX - OCTOBER 28: Breckyn Hager #44 of the Texas Longhorns tackles JaMycal Hasty #33 of the Baylor Bears in the first half at McLane Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Waco, Texas. Texas won 38-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
WACO, TX - OCTOBER 28: Breckyn Hager #44 of the Texas Longhorns tackles JaMycal Hasty #33 of the Baylor Bears in the first half at McLane Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Waco, Texas. Texas won 38-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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BERKELEY, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Tre Watson #5 of the California Golden Bears pulls in a pass against linebacker Anthony Wheeler #45 the Texas Longhorns 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)
BERKELEY, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Tre Watson #5 of the California Golden Bears pulls in a pass against linebacker Anthony Wheeler #45 the Texas Longhorns 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) /

This situation with the grad transfer running back Tre Watson might be the most interesting to follow leading up to the 2019 NFL Draft. Since Watson was injured for most of the 2017 campaign, it’s hard to pull together a recent body of work to judge him off of. And, he’ll be playing in a completely different offense with Texas than he did with the Cal Golden Bears.

Watson does have the skill set to become a solid versatile running back in the NFL. He’s elusiveness and agile in the ground game and he’s also got good hands to make an impact in the passing game on some short routes too. Best case scenario places him in a similar role to that of New Orleans Saints Pro-Bowl running back Alvin Kamara. Although, that comparison might be a bit ambitious at this point.

Entering the 2018 campaign, Watson looks like the projected starter for Texas at running back. It’s likely that he would’ve chose the Texas Tech Red Raiders over Texas if he didn’t think he had that opportunity available to him. Texas has a deep backfield in which a few different backs could emerge, but Watson has the experience and versatility necessary to claim that starting stake.

The thing with Watson is that if he can cap off his long college career in proper fashion this year with the Texas offense, he has the chance to be a middle or late round pick off just one season’s reference. That will either be the luxury or burden presented to Watson for the upcoming season.

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