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Texas Football: 5 realistic goals for the Longhorns to attain in 2018

By Andrew Miller

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Daniel Young #32 of the Texas Longhorns rushes for a touchdown defended by Jordyn Brooks #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Daniel Young #32 of the Texas Longhorns rushes for a touchdown defended by Jordyn Brooks #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 14: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns passes the ball under pressure from Kenneth Mann #55 of the Oklahoma Sooners at Cotton Bowl on October 14, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 14: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns passes the ball under pressure from Kenneth Mann #55 of the Oklahoma Sooners at Cotton Bowl on October 14, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

5. 3,000 total yards from Sam Ehlinger

Last season, the reliance on sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger to run the ball was a little too much. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck took a lot of scrutiny from the fan base, and pundits across the nation, about his play calling choices over the course of the 2017 campaign. Ehlinger ran between the tackles too often, and it caused him to already have to go through concussion protocol in his true freshman season.

On a more positive note, at least Ehlinger was able to lead the Horns in rushing yards for 2017. He even eclipsed the freshman running back duo of Daniel Young and Toneil Carter for the team lead in rushing yards. If he is used in a better fashion by the coaching staff this fall, his rushing yard totals could increase this time around.

The real area of needed improvement for Ehlinger is in passing yards and passing accuracy. The trends started last year for his completion percentage were on the lower end of starting quarterbacks in the Big 12, and in the Power Five altogether. It would be a nice surprise if Ehlinger completed more than 60 percent of his passes this year.

Since Ehlinger was able to beat out junior Shane Buechele for the starting quarterback job in the preseason, he should be able to increase his stat line across the board. Notching around 2,500 passing yards and 500 rushing yards is not too far out of the realm of possibility for Ehlinger in his second year on the Forty Acres.

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