Texas Football: What we learned from win over Kansas
Front seven needed Gary Johnson
Potentially the most detrimental news to the hopes of a win for Texas football in Week 13 was the suspension due to a violation of team rules for senior linebacker Gary Johnson. That left the starting linebackers for the Horns at freshman Joe Ossai, junior Malcolm Roach, junior Jeffrey McCulloch, and senior Anthony Wheeler. Johnson was the best of the linebacking corps all year.
You could argue that Johnson was the most explosive linebacker in the Big 12. He’s been possibly the defensive MVP for the team. Johnson spent his last year on the Forty Acres blowing up plays in the backfield and flying across the field to bolster the entire front seven.
Johnson’s absence was felt at times against the Jayhawks since stopping the ground game was the main task mask. Freshman running back Pooka Williams was by far the biggest threat to the Texas defense. Williams broke free for a huge rushing touchdown that encompassed nearly half his yardage for the entire game that kept the Jayhawks within striking distance.
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The part of the defense that stepped up the most to make up for Johnson’s absence was the safeties. Sterns and Jones had nice showings in pursuit of the ball carrier. They were very solid in this win, but the safeties weren’t the most surprising and encouraging signs. McCulloch snagged the only interception for the Horns and had a nice game in the linebacker rotation. He could have a starting spot at linebacker next year, so the way he showed out was huge.