Jerrick Gibson, RB
In the first round of the Playoff, Sarkisian and the Longhorns heavily relied on the ground game to wear down the Clemson defensive front and put the contest away late in the second half with a double-digit victory at DKR.
Sophomore running back Quintrevion Wisner and junior Jaydon Blue each rushed for over 110 yards and multiple rushing touchdowns vs. Clemson in the first round. Blue had multiple explosive run plays, including what was essentially the game-sealing score for the Longhorns' victory on a huge 77-yard rushing score in the fourth quarter.
Gibson also got involved with a couple of key first-down pick-ups on short-yardage and goal-line situations on money-downs in the first half. He led the team in the first half with two rushing first downs on the ground and over two dozen yards after initial contact.
Despite the fumbling issues Gibson had earlier in the season, he's clearly earned some trust back from the offensive coaching staff in practice for this postseason in the past few weeks. Gibson had multiple third and fourth-down carries on the ground against Clemson for the first time since the win over Florida in Week 11 a couple of weeks ago.
Running backs coach Tashard Choice has shown faith in Gibson and helped him develop during his true freshman campaign this fall.
"He’s doing an excellent job. He’s coachable. I’m on his head every single day. I don’t let up because once he really gets it and once he plays a little faster and understands what his eyes see, he’s going to be a really good running back."Tashard Choice on Jerrick Gibson
The battle in the trenches will be very physical between Texas and Arizona State on New Year's Day along both lines of scrimmage. Arizona State doesn't have a single defensive lineman who weighs at or over 300 pounds. Against Texas's bigger and more powerful offensive line along the interior, Gibson should be able to run over the Arizona State defensive line if the Longhorns can do what they did to Clemson to them in the second half and on key short-yardage plays early in the game.