3 problematic Colorado State players vs. Texas

Texas football opens up the regular season this upcoming weekend on Aug. 31 at DKR against head coach Jay Norvell and the Colorado State Rams from the Mountain West Conference. Head coach Steve Sarkisian is now just a few days away from embarking on Texas's inaugural campaign in the SEC this fall.

Colorado State's receiving corps can cause problems for Texas football in the secondary

Week 1 gives the Longhorns an opportunity to build momentum and confidence on both sides of the ball before the highly anticipated Week 2 matchup on the road in Ann Arbor against the defending National Champion Michigan Wolverines.

Before the Longhorns can focus on the Michigan game, it needs to be prepared to face a Colorado State squad with quality weapons in the receiving corps and some high-caliber safeties.

Here's a look at three problematic Colorado State players that Texas must be prepared to face in Week 1 on Aug. 31 at DKR.

Henry Blackburn, S

Colorado State's safety room is probably their strongest position group on defense. The Rams return two multi-year starting safeties to lead this level of the defense in the secondary this season, including seniors Henry Blackburn and Jack Howell.

The former of those two starting safeties for the Rams, Blackburn, became known for the hit that injured Travis Hunter in the Colorado game last season.

Blackburn, at 6-foot and 205 pounds, is a physical and intelligent safety who has tremendous timing and instincts playing the football. He makes up for a lack of ranginess in the defensive backfield and limited top-end speed with knowing where to be on the field and excellent timing to play the ball in pass coverage assignments.

Since he played wide receiver and defensive back in high school, Blackburn has good hands, and he understands how to cover different developing route concepts from the opposing wideouts in pass coverage.

While I do believe Texas's insane speed in the receiving corps and ability to spread out opposing defenses with their explosive passing game, Colorado State's safeties are still something the Longhorns need to prepare for when throwing to the middle of the field or during longer developing route concepts. Blackburn has the ability to make Texas pay if they make any mistakes over the middle of the field in the passing game.