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Texas Football: 5 takeaways from successful 2018 season

By Andrew Miller

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: P.J. Locke III #11 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates with teammates after intercepting a Georgia Bulldogs pass during the second half of the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: P.J. Locke III #11 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates with teammates after intercepting a Georgia Bulldogs pass during the second half of the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 03: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns pitches the ball to Keaontay Ingram #26 in the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 03: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns pitches the ball to Keaontay Ingram #26 in the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

3. Mainstays in the backfield can be good for a long time

We touched on the impact felt by Ingram on the ground this season. The duo that featured Watson and Ingram was the most productive at running back for the Horns since D’Onta Foreman. It was also the most efficient combination the Horns had in more than three years. Putting Foreman’s 2016 production alongside any other recent Texas running back is almost cheating, though.

Compare what Watson and Ingram provided for the Horns to what Daniel Young, Chris Warren, and Toneil Carter did in 2017 and you get a world of difference. That wasn’t evident by the lack of playing time for both Young and Carter this year. Young was consistently the third back on the depth chart and Carter didn’t get a single rushing attempt, leading him to transfer.

Although, it wasn’t just the impact Ingram and Watson had on the ground. They combined for more than 300 receiving yards and five touchdown catches. Watson’s pass blocking ability was very valuable alongside sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger this year, and also helped to open up more running room.

What’s so promising for this Texas offense is the return of Ehlinger and Ingram. The loss of Watson will hurt, but the starters in the backfield for the Horns had a tremendous 2018 campaign and should at least be around until the end of the 2020 season. Incoming freshman running back Derrian Brown should also be a key part of the ground game for years to come.

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