Looking at how Savion Red has run the Wildcat this season
Savion Red‘s offseason move to running back opened the door for a return to a role familiar to the Grand Prairie product. Red was the quarterback for the Gophers, doing everything for GPHS on the ground and through the air. A next-level passer he wasn’t, but he was undoubtedly the kind of football player who needed the ball in his hands.
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With Roschon Johnson NFL bound, Red quickly became option No. 1 to replace him as the Wildcat back in the offseason. Johnson, a former quarterback in high school himself, was a fit for the role not only because of his passing ability but also because he understood the paths certain runs required from the quarterback position. Red has that too, and his move to running back only gave him more opportunities to sharpen that part of his game.
Texas has utilized the personnel package a handful of times this year, but there has not been as much variety in the play calls as when Johnson was the Wildcat quarterback.
Likely the most memorable instance of Wildcat quarterback play from last year was one of a number of different options for Johnson.
This year, Red has utilized a more limited number of plays effectively. Steve Sarkisian even utilized Red early in the season to set up an explosive play versus Oklahoma.
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Each play so far has looked the same. Two tight ends plus Malik Agbo are on the field, Quinn Ewers is split wide, and a running back is lined up alongside Red. The tight end motions in to get a running start for a kickout block, and Red follows the back. Each of the first two times, it picked up a needed fourth-down conversion.
Wyoming – Q1: 4th and 1 (+38)
Wyoming – Q2: 4th and 1 (+22)
Then, against Oklahoma, Sarkisian used the two plays he put on film to fool the Sooners.
Oklahoma – Q1: 4th and 1 (+39)
Hello, Gunnar Helm! All the Sooner defenders take a few steps forward and Helm slips behind the second level. Red runs his fake and then delivers a great pass to Helm, who rumbles 25 yards and maintains just enough possession to set up the Longhorns in the red zone.
Later in the half, Texas would go right back to quarterback follow.
Oklahoma – Q2: 3rd and 1 (+26)
RedCat has been effective so far this season. While K.I.S.S. has been Sarkisian’s preferred way of utilizing Red this season, history with Johnson and Red’s ability from high school hints at there being more to the formation than just QB follow.
