IT Roundtable: Senior Day accolades, players to watch, keys to the game, predictions

Texas’ final scheduled home game of the 2024 season is this Saturday. The Kentucky Wildcats venture to Austin for the first time since 1951, when Bear Bryant was leading the flagship program of the Bluegrass State.

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The Inside Texas staff looks back on the careers of accomplished seniors, provides keys to the game, and gives score predictions in the Roundtable.

The Longhorns will honor a number of seniors from the 2021 class, plus some 2020 holdovers (and David Gbenda from 2019!). Who from the senior group holds a special place in your heart?

Eric Nahlin – Vernon Broughton. I really enjoyed covering his (rather difficult) recruitment. I had a lot of long talks with his mom that I remember fondly. Great family. They didn’t buy into a lot of recruiting narratives at the time and chose Texas for the right reasons. It was really fun to see him develop over time.

Justin Wells – Jahdae Barron. Late flip that nobody expected to be a future Jim Thorpe Award finalist.

Ian Boyd – Jahdae Barron has had a tremendous career at Texas. He transformed the 2022 defense by moving to “Star” (nickel) and grounding the quarters coverages Gary Patterson helped install. Then he transformed the defense and helped them level up again in 2024 moving to cornerback and helping the defense nail Match 3 coverage.

Joe Cook – While I echo much of what’s been said and will be said about Jahdae Barron, my pick is Alfred Collins. Rather than leaving when there were four NFL defensive tackles ahead of him, he elected to stay and learn from them and he’s used that to become a force for the Longhorn defense this year. Additionally, though not a senior, Kelvin Banks isn’t going to be a senior so his stellar career should be applauded. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him honored on Saturday.

Charlie Williams – The one, the only, Gunnar Helm. Felt he could be special when he came to Texas and he stayed the course. He worked hard and it’s paying off.

Paul Wadlington – I can’t pick one. Kelvin Banks and Jake Majors have been absolute pleasures to watch. Jahdae Barron and Alfred Collins grew tremendously to become the two best players on the Longhorn defense. I really appreciate leaders like David Gbenda who stuck with it.

James Hayden – I’d pick Michael Taaffe but he’s got another year of eligibility. I’ll pick another Austin defensive back in Jahdae Barron.

RT Young – It has to be Jahdae Barron for me. He checks the boxes of a fan favorite. Local kid who wanted to be a Longhorn, played through adversity, and became a star.

Evan Vieth – Jahdae Barron has really encapsulated what it means to be a Longhorn in his five years here, and his energy with the fans and on the field is second to none. Will receive one of the loudest cheers on Saturday.

How does Texas get off the field quickly against another ball-control offense?

Eric Nahlin – Well you have to stop the run. One thing that stood out to me the couple times I watched them was their QB can actually run. Throw his stats out. Texas has done well stopping the QB run game. This should be no different, just be sound.

Justin Wells – Don’t give up explosive plays, stuff the run, and get pressure on third downs.

Ian Boyd – This 3rd down package of the Horns with all the pass-rushing and Barron at linebacker tends to do the trick every week.

Joe Cook – Texas needs big games from Anthony Hill and Liona Lefau. They had some of their mistakes papered over by teammates in Fayetteville, but this should be a game where we look up and those two lead the team in tackles. If that’s the case, then the Wildcat offense isn’t getting very far and won’t be in many situations where the blue and white can grind out clock.

Charlie Williams – Limit the amount of yards gained on first down. Put them behind the chains and put them in passing situations which they aren’t good at.

Paul Wadlington – Stop the run game, specifically Kentucky’s QB run on 3rd and short. On 3rd and intermediate, it’s all about Dane Key and the Texas pass rush whipping a pair of bad tackles.

James Hayden – STOP THE RUN.

RT Young – Tee off against an immobile Kentucky quarterback and create third and longs.

Evan Vieth – Tackles for losses from the edge rushers. These teams with quarterbacks who threaten to keep the ball on RPOs and options have had fits when Trey Moore and Barryn Sorrell are playing at their best. Turn a 2nd and 5 into a 3rd and 7 and let the secondary do the rest.

How should Texas look to attack a Kentucky team that may test whether Quinn Ewers can convert downfield passes?

Eric Nahlin – This is dependent on how Kentucky defends the ball. There’s some sentiment this game could become the preferred Sark game of set up the run to throw it deep. Convert one or two and the game is probably over.

Justin Wells – Quick game, shallow crosses, Gunnar Helm, and running the dang ball.

Ian Boyd – The easiest answer would be to convert some downfield passes. Maybe Steve Sarkisian can find keep finding ways to help Ewers find some rhythm on throws down the field.

Joe Cook – Go deep, baby. There should be enough confidence in everything else working. It’s going to need to happen for remaining games.

Charlie Williams – Perimeter screens, plus some switch route concepts as Kentucky has not been good passing off receivers and communicating well this season

Paul Wadlington – I guess we’ll find out how Kentucky is at defending short perimeter balls, screens and the sideline.

James Hayden – Go deep, there’s no reason this game shouldn’t mirror the Florida one.

RT Young – I could see it being a repeat of the Vanderbilt gameplan at first, to the chagrin of ADOT drum bangers. But when the downfield shots are there, make the throws #3.

Evan Vieth – Don’t shoot yourself in the foot too early. Ewers’ missed pass to Matthew Golden was a great playcall to start a drive against Arkansas, but the 3rd and 9 it created does not fit into the gameplan of Ewers and Sarkisian. The first few drives should focus on Texas’ success rates, securing 5+ yards on as many plays as possible. Ewers will get his chances later in the game.

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Score prediction

Eric Nahlin – 24-10, Texas

Justin Wells – 33-10, Texas

Ian Boyd – 23-16, Texas

Joe Cook – 27-10, Texas

Charlie Williams – 34-12, Texas

Paul Wadlington – 27-9, Texas

James Hayden – 35-13, Texas

RT Young – 31-9, Texas

Evan Vieth – 23-9, Texas