Texas Football: 5 things Longhorns fans wish for in Christmas 2018

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AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 17: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns warms up before the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

5. A Sam Ehlinger Heisman campaign in 2019

Having the success from this season spill over into next for parts of the Texas football program would be huge with how much talent returns to the Forty Acres this off-season. There’s so much potential for this roster next year, but there’s also a lot of key faces that will be gone and will be dearly missed.

For the first time in more than five years, this Horns squad is going to have a player that has a real shot at contending for the Heisman Trophy on either side of the ball. Sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger is looking to take his game to the next level again this off-season. Some of the strides he made during the 2018 off-season were unexpected in a very positive way.

The initial odds for the 2019 Heisman Trophy had Ehlinger included among the top 10 contenders after the 2018 honors were announced. Ehlinger was also the most overwhelming favorites among candidates from the Big 12. He could be the third Big 12 quarterback in a row to take the Heisman Trophy home. He would follow in a line that includes Oklahoma quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield.

Other names to watch include Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (the overwhelming favorite), Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm, and Clemson Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Some type of progress for Ehlinger during his junior campaign that is similar to what he showed in 2018 will put him among the biggest Heisman contenders in the nation next year.

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