3 Texas football players that are expected to opt out of Alamo Bowl

Roschon Johnson, RB

Maybe the least shocking of the opt-outs for the Longhorns for the Alamo Bowl is senior running back Roschon Johnson.

Not only was Roschon essentially the first Longhorns player to announce for the 2023 NFL Draft, but he also recently suffered a lower-body injury for the second time this season. In the win over the Kansas Jayhawks on the road on Nov. 19, Roschon was seen in a walking boot after the game as he suffered an ankle injury.

Roschon was essentially a lock to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft after playing four seasons with the Longhorns. He did technically have one more year of eligibility remaining if he utilized the COVID-19 redshirt year. But it wasn’t ever too likely that he was going to return beyond this season, which is now confirmed to be the case.

Moreover, Roschon’s absence will be very noticeable in the locker as Texas goes through bowl practices for the next couple of weeks. His presence will also be sorely missed in the backfield as he continued to prove to be one of the most versatile running backs in the Big 12 during the regular season.

His absence, along with another big-name Texas running back, means that Sark will have to rely more on three other players at the position in the Alamo Bowl. The trio of sophomore running back Jonathon Brooks, redshirt junior Keilan Robinson, and true freshman Jaydon Blue will get more reps against Washington in the Alamo Bowl.