Texas Football: 4 reasons the Longhorns can upset Alabama in Week 2

Question marks in the Alabama receiving corps

We’ve talked a lot about how Texas matches up well with Alabama in Week 2, especially on defense. But it’s worth mentioning one of Alabama’s biggest question marks on offense in this game.

Alabama’s receiving corps is not what it once was under Saban a few years ago. The Tide didn’t have a receiver with over 700 receiving yards or double-digit touchdown catches last season. Former Georgia transfer Jermaine Burton and redshirt junior JaCorey Brooks led Alabama’s receivers last year, with over 600 receiving yards a piece and 15 receiving touchdowns combined.

This receiving corps for the Tide is largely comprised of the same players they had last season. Redshirt sophomore Isaiah Bond, Burton, and redshirt sophomore Kobe Prentice lead the way for a similar-looking group of Alabama wideouts that Texas faced last season.

I am fully confident that Texas can match up well in the secondary with Alabama’s top receivers. Texas has a deep and proven secondary with some playmakers that can make a difference in this game, including senior safety Jalen Catalon and sophomore cornerback Terrance Brooks.

Texas also has depth in the cornerback room to stay fresh and keep up with the Alabama receivers throughout the game. The Longhorns have four quality cornerbacks that can make life difficult for the Alabama receivers this weekend. Redshirt junior field corner Gavin Holmes and the stud true freshman Malik Muhammad are two CBs Texas didn’t have last season that will contribute against the Tide this weekend.

Holmes has the straight-line speed to stay with almost any Alabama receiver covering the deep ball. And Muhammad has proven since fall camp that he has a nose for the football. He made a couple of big plays against Rice last weekend and could be a difference-maker against Bama.