Keilan Robinson, Jonathon Brooks look to take over the rushing workload versus Washington
During the 2022 season, Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson accounted for 78 percent of the Texas Longhorns’ total carries and 89 percent of the yardage. But both are expected to sit out the Longhorns’ upcoming matchup in the Valero Alamo Bowl with the Washington Huskies.
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Without their top two backs, UT head coach Steve Sarkisian and running backs coach Tashard Choice will have to prepare Keilan Robinson and Jonathon Brooks for a conventional workload against the nation’s No. 33 rushing defense.
Neither Keilan Robinson, in his second year in Austin following a transfer from Alabama, nor Brooks, a second-year back from Hallettsville (Texas), have been asked to do much regular rushing during contests with the result still in question this season.
Robinson has played plenty but only had 17 rushes for 59 yards. His three scoring contributions in 2022 were all receiving touchdowns. Of his 17 rushes only seven were between the tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. Those seven accounted for 39 yards, with 26 of them coming on one rush.
Brooks, whose 2022 carries came late in games the Longhorns controlled versus Louisiana-Monroe, Oklahoma, and Kansas, had 24 rushes for 179 yards and four touchdowns this season. Versus the Jayhawks alone, Brooks rushed 11 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
Using similar PFF data, Brooks had 13 carries for 139 yards on runs between the tackles, including his 70-yard jaunt. Without that run, he had 12 carries for 69 yards, good for 5.75 yards per carry and three scores.
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Despite limited opportunity during close games this season, Brooks does have some experience in those situations from last year. He had six touches for 45 total yards in the Longhorns’ 2021 loss to Kansas before he was forced to leave due to injury.
If Sarkisian and Choice need to go even further down the depth chart for rushing production, true freshman Jaydon Blue is not completely without experience. He’s rushed 15 times this year for 33 yards, with his heaviest workload coming on the road versus the Jayhawks in a seven-carry performance.
While Texas is expected to be without Johnson and Bijan Robinson during the Alamo Bowl, those two haven’t completely removed themselves from the program in anticipation of their likely professional future. Inside Texas reported Sunday both have served as “quasi-position coaches” and have remained involved with the team.
That duo, along with the coaching duo of Sarkisian and Choice, will need to get Brooks and Keilan Robinson fully up to speed before 8 p.m. on December 29 so they can successfully execute against the Huskies’ best defenders.
