Jaydon Blue, RB
The speed and explosiveness junior running back Jaydon Blue brings to the Texas offense and ground game proved to be crucial to the Longhorns' win over Clemson. Blue got a jolt of confidence at a huge time last weekend, rushing for over 100 yards for the second time this season and averaging over 10 yards per carry against the Clemson defense.
Blue's two explosive run plays helped to mask some of the third and fourth-down troubles in short-yardage situations the Longhorns have struggled on offense with recently. Texas did better against Clemson on money down conversions, but the Longhorns were still around 50 percent conversion rate on third and fourth and short in the second half vs. Clemson's defense.
He rushed for a big 38-yard touchdown that helped the Longhorns get their first lead of the ballgame in the first quarter to put them up 14-7 on the scoreboard. Later in the fourth quarter, Blue essentially gave the Longhorns their game-sealing touchdown when he exploded past the Clemson defenders down the sideline for a season-high 77-yard rushing score.
Against a smaller Arizona State defense that doesn't have the edge rushers and talented linebacker play that Clemson had up front last game for Texas, Blue could be huge for the Longhorns' outside zone run game in the Playoff quarterfinal next week.
Inside Texas's Ian Boyd pointed out (paywall content) that Arizona State's active safeties and smart defensive tactics could help them try to overcome Texas's size advantage in the trenches along the offensive line against the Sun Devils, without any 300+ pound defensive linemen up front.
If Texas can ware down Arizona State's defensive front seven in the trenches, Blue and sophomore running back Quintrevion Wisner should be able to take over this game on the ground for the Longhorns, as they did in the double-digit win over Clemson last weekend in the Playoff.