Analyzing Texas' running back room for 2023 season

Texas has high hopes for QB Quinn Ewers and their passing attack for this fall. However, the Longhorns have a lot of questions to still answer in the backfield with the departures of Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson in the NFL Draft.

On3’s JD PicKell addressed comments about Texas’ running backs during the live stream of an episode of ‘The Hard Count’. In doing so, he listed off three potential rushers that will help supplement the loss of Robinson and Johnson.

“I think Cedric (CJ) Baxter is going to be a guy for you,” PicKell said. “Just give him the ball and let him work. I think he’s going to be a guy for you.”

“They’ve been really impressed with Savion Red as well, the converted wide receiver to the running back position,” said PicKell. “(We’ve) heard a lot about him coming out of spring ball. Keilan Robinson (too).”

Still, that’s not a sure fire fix yet for the lack of proven production on the ground down in Austin. With Robinson with the Atlanta Falcons and Johnson with the Chicago Bears, Texas lost two players who combined for 931 carries, 5,600 rushing yards, and 56 rushing touchdowns.

Even so, PicKell still doesn’t believe that it’ll be that much of an issue. If nothing else, he thinks that, for the sake of the Longhorn’s success, their run game should be a complementary aspect next to their pass game rather than the star attraction that it had been with Robinson.

“So, the way I’m going with this is maybe you don’t have that household name like a Bijan Robinson. Or that alpha dog like a Roschon Johnson. But I still think there’s a lot of talent in that room that is just waiting to prove themselves,” continued PicKell. “I think the running back room will actually be just fine, to be honest with you.”

“I think that it’ll still be a thing where you have to capitalize in the pass game. Like, whatever that running back room does, it’s going to be great. But I think it will an accessory to getting the ball to those playmakers on the outside,” said PicKell. “I think the key to this season for Texas resides with Quinn Ewers.”

Losing anywhere from 70% to 90% of your rushing attack isn’t exactly a great foundation for your offense to build upon. With that said, PicKell believes that it’ll be a-okay on The 40 Acres considering what their offensive game plan should be in 2023.

“I think the running back room is definitely enough of what you need to check the box,” PicKell said. “But I don’t think it’ll be a thing like last year where you hand the ball to Bijan Robinson and just let him work. I don’t think it’ll be like that.”