Texas Football: 5 keys to success in 2018

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AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 09: Daniel Young #32 of the Texas Longhorns runs the ball past Cameron Woodard #46 of the San Jose State Spartans in the fourth quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

3. Efficiency from multiple running backs

One of the lacking parts for Texas on both sides of the ball last year was the ground game. Rarely could Texas get its running backs to even average more than 4.0 yards per carry week in and week out. To-be sophomore running back Daniel Young finished up the 2017 campaign in solid fashion with some 100-yard performance, while averaging more than 4.5 yards per carry altogether.

Fellow rising sophomore running back Toneil Carter was solid at times last year too. Both Young and Carter are former four-star recruits that will figure into the mix in the Texas backfield in 2018. Texas also has some other running backs coming into the mix this year.

This offense is hoping to get a lot out of incoming freshman four-star prospect Keaontay Ingram and the confident grad transfer Tre Watson. At one point this off-season, Watson claimed he was the “best running back in the nation”. But, both Ingram and Watson should also have significant workloads.

The other running backs that Texas still has are Kyle Porter, Tristian Houston, and Kirk Johnson. That trio of rising juniors might be an afterthought this year, but Porter was the starter at the beginning of last season. One of those backs could wind up having a productive 2018 campaign. Texas just needs at least two running backs to average at least five yards per carry behind some solid play from the offensive line.

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