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Texas Football: 3 weapons Sarkisian can use to expose Arkansas

By Andrew Miller

Bijan Robinson, Steve Sarkisian, Texas Football Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Bijan Robinson, Steve Sarkisian, Texas Football Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Wide reciever Jordan Whittington celebrates a touchdown during Texas’s game against Louisiana at Darrell K. Royal Stadium on Sept. 4, 2021. Texas won the game 38-18.Aem Ut Louisiana 37
Wide reciever Jordan Whittington celebrates a touchdown during Texas’s game against Louisiana at Darrell K. Royal Stadium on Sept. 4, 2021. Texas won the game 38-18.Aem Ut Louisiana 37 /

Jordan Whittington, WR

The breakout wide receiver in the first week of the season for the Longhorns was definitely the former elite five-star recruit and redshirt sophomore Jordan Whittington. We finally got to see what Whittington could do in a full set of meaningful game action with Texas. Longhorns fans got glimpses of what he could do down the stretch last season.

But this outing for Whittington against the experienced and proven Louisiana secondary was a great sign of what could be to come with him.

It will be a matchup to watch with Whittington and either Brown or Bishop next weekend. Both of the top Arkansas cornerbacks are solid in pass coverage and rarely get beat deep. The Rice Owls didn’t have much of a chance to get anything going outside either.

But there is plenty that Sark and the Longhorns can do to scheme Whittington open in passing plays. Whittington did most of his damage over the weekend against Louisiana in the middle of the field, which is something that I’ve mentioned Arkansas is the most prone to giving up. Get Whittington open in front of someone like linebacker Bumper Pool, Brooks at nickelback, and/or safety Joe Foucha, and the opportunities for him to gain yards in chunks will open up.

In Week 1, Whittington registered seven catches for 113 receiving yards (16.1 yards per catch), and one receiving touchdown. And of those 113 receiving yards in Week 1 for Whittington, he nabbed 85 of them between the numbers. That’s where Sark can have him do the bulk of his damage next weekend against this Arkansas pass defense too.

If there is one area that Sark was able to beat Arkansas in the past (specifically against Odom-led defensive schemes), it was down the field on the right side of the field. That is another spot where Texas can use Whittington’s speed to beat this Arkansas defense.

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