Texas Football: 5 takeaways from Big 12 Media Days

3. More confidence than last year

Ehlinger opened up for Texas football media this week at his crowded stand for a long time. No Texas player got as much camera time during Big 12 Media Days as Ehlinger. And that’s to be expected that he could very well be the most polarizing player in this conference in 2019.

Ehlinger really opened up on the speed that he has around him in the receiving corps and in the backfield. This was much more excitement than the Longhorns had about the offense heading into last season. Given that Ehlinger was not the set in stone starter for 2018 in last year’s media days, that was also to be expected.

Moreover, Herman was also more focused and confident than he seemed at Big 12 Media Days this year than he was last. Herman was stuck last year on a question where he was supposed to name all the “elite players” he had on the roster. This year, he was confident that Texas has the talent necessary to win the Big 12.

There’s a big difference between even where Johnson and Roach were at in their interviews compared to what they sounded like last season. Leaders on both sides of the ball seem ready to go with more confidence to open 2019 than in 2018. That lack of confidence and certainty last year also cost them in the Week 1 loss to the Maryland Terrapins.