3 problematic Colorado State players vs. Texas

Jack Howell, S

The other experienced returning starter at safety for the Rams is the senior Howell. Howell was a preseason All-MWC selection on defense and former Freshman All-American selection for the Rams in 2021.

Colorado State probably relies a little too much on the playmaking ability of their safeties on defense. Last season, 29 percent of Colorado State's team tackles on defense and 10 percent of its defensive stops came from its two starting safeties, Howell and Blackburn.

Just for good measure, Texas's two safeties with the most tackles and defensive stops last season (Derek Williams and Jerrin Thompson) accounted for under 15 percent of the team's total tackles and five percent of its defensive stops.

Howell is probably Colorado State's best defensive back regarding his ability to defend against the run game. He ranked in the top 10 among defensive backs in the Mountain West last season in run stops and run stuffs (per PFF).

Texas should be able to set the tone on offense in this game, regardless if Sarkisian wants to get things going on the ground running between the tackles in the zone ground game or through the air with Ewers and this lethal passing game.

Where Colorado State could tighten things up more against Texas is in the shorter areas of the field on third-and-short and in the red zone. Texas struggled last season when it had to convert in those tighter areas of the field in third and fourth and short or on the goal line.

Colorado State will probably try and load up the box to limit Texas's effectiveness with the ground game with its physical safeties, Howell and Blackburn, playing closer to the line of scrimmage defending the short areas of the field.

But Howell struggles more when he's dropping back in pass coverage, especially in one-on-one pass cover assignments. Like Blackburn, Howell has limited top-end speed and lacks ranginess at the safety position in pass coverage.

Howell graded out in the bottom half in man coverage grade among Mountain West safeties in 2023.