Texas Football: Ranking 5 best 2018 Longhorns seniors

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AUSTIN, TX – OCTOBER 13: Collin Johnson #9 of the Texas Longhorns is congratulated by teammates after a first half touchdown against the Baylor Bears at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

We have to pay respect where it is due for what the Texas football program did during the 2018 campaign. Part of the reason for all the accomplishments this past season under head Texas football coach Tom Herman was thanks to the haul the team had on the graduate transfer market, including one key offensive lineman.

That one key offensive lineman the Horns were able to add via the transfer market was the former Rice Owls offensive tackle Calvin Anderson. The Horns brought Anderson in to solidify the left tackle spot at the edge of the offensive line to replace the void left by departing former All-American Connor Williams (who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys).

Anderson did a bang up job from the very start of the regular season at the left tackle spot. He solidified the edge to both give the passing game more time to develop and the running game get a bigger push at the point of attack. Pro Football Focus graded Anderson out as the top offensive lineman for the Horns on numerous occasions this past season, including in the Big 12 Championship Game.

As a result, the Horns jumped up the NCAA ranks among the top 50 teams in the nation for sacks allowed and the efficiency for the ground game rose too. Texas rushed for more than 150 yards per game and posted nearly four yards per carry and two touchdowns on the ground. All of that improvement was partly thanks to what Anderson brought to this offensive line.

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