Five Texas Longhorns to watch against the Kansas Jayhawks

A steadily improving Kansas Jayhawks program makes its way to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium this Saturday to provide Texas with a solid test ahead of the always anticipated Texas-OU game in the Cotton Bowl the following weekend.

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In years past the tendency might be to look ahead to the Sooners but that’s not the way this Texas team is wired. It’s also testament to the respect Texas has for Kansas and the direction head coach Lance Leipold has the Jayhawks headed.

Throw the previous two contests between these two out the window. Both teams are improved across the board. Texas still has a significant talent and depth advantage but KU has ways to make life difficult for any team.

Given the context and personality of this game, here are five Longhorns I believe could feature prominently this Saturday.

LB David Gbenda

The senior linebacker is not only improved over last year, he’s improving within the season. Athleticism and want-to were never in question, but playing fast, i.e. processing, rather than being fast, was. This year he’s much more comfortable with his assignments… so far.

With its blend of differing schemes, Kansas’ offense is going to test Gbenda in ways no other offense will. The motions, shifts, misdirection and unbalanced sets have the potential create uncertainty, bad reads, or overplay, issues that have slowed Gbenda in the past. 

Fortunately Gbenda is surrounded by quality defenders. Even if he struggles it doesn’t mean the defense will as a whole.

The flip side is, if he balls out, it’s going to be a long day for the Kansas offense.

TE Ja’Tavion Sanders

Defensive coordinators are getting to the point where they need to pick where to apply the tourniquet. The Texas offense can bleed you with death by a thousand cuts via the run game or put you in the guillotine by connecting over the top. If you try to split the baby and devote focus to each, the middle of the field is wide open leaving you with the potential for a significant “flesh wound.” 

So far the Kansas defense has had issues tracking the opposing team’s tight end. Illinois tight end Griffin Moore had four receptions for 56 yards. He’s had two since. BYU tight end Isaac Rex, a known quality, had seven receptions for 76 yards. 

Sanders provides a whole different sort of matchup problem, especially when you account for all the other torture devices on offense to account for.

DT T’Vondre Sweat

One could write Byron Murphy or Alfred Collins here and I wouldn’t bat an eye, but one of the interior defensive linemen needs to be included. Just as the offense spreads you thin on where you can devote attention, so too does Texas’ defensive line. 

When you cut through all the cool and innovative aspects of the Kansas offense it still comes down to blocking and tackling. Sweat is going to be hard to block. He should be able to affect both the run game as well as the pocket to disrupt Jalon Daniels‘ timing.

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RB Jonathon Brooks

One could mention Quinn Ewers and/or Xavier Worthy every week, and I probably will seven days from now, but that’s no fun. 

On the surface Kansas’ run defense is much improved over last year when Bijan Robinson ran for 243 yards. While I feel strongly the Jayhawks defense is better, I’m not sure they’re ready for the rapidly improving Texas run game especially with the threat of the deep ball. 

Kansas’ edges have been hardened but the middle is still soft and susceptible to being gashed. 

If Brooks doesn’t have another good game it’s probably because Cedric Baxter stole some productive carries. 

S Jalen Catalon 

There’s been some consternation within the fan base over Catalon playing limited snaps. That’s bizarre — given his injury history the feeling should be celebratory. I don’t know about you, but I want to see this guy balling in the Fall and hopefully on New Years Day.

Catalon’s ability does profile well to this game as a help defender when KU’s run game slips through the first level. Also, KU likes to run option to the boundary which is Catalon’s side of the field. For that reason, cornerback Ryan Watts could also have a big game. 

Beside the run game duties, Kansas likes to throw the ball in the middle of the field. The freelancing Catalon might get his hands on a ball this week.