PFF's highest graded Longhorns at each position from the Ohio State game

For the second straight year, the Texas Longhorns had their season end in the College Football Playoff semifinals, this season falling at the hands of the powerhouse Ohio State Buckeyes 28-14.

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Against the Washington Huskies last season, players like Quinn Ewers, Byron Murphy and Alfred Collins were some of Pro Football Focus’ highest rated players from the Texas sideline, with Ewers specifically scoring his third-best start of the season in 2023.

In the 2024 Cotton Bowl, Texas’ overall team grade was over 12 points lower than the Sugar Bowl performance a season prior, with the team’s pass blocking performance reaching its lowest rating over the last two seasons. Still, a few players on both sides of the ball against the Buckeyes had notable performances that allowed the Longhorns to stay in the game up until Jack Sawyer‘s fumble-six to ice it in Arlington.

QB: Quinn Ewers, 60.7 grade

Ewers had almost as average of a game as possible in PFF’s eyes, as the site uses 60.0 as a benchmark average number for performances at every position. Arch Manning technically did reach a higher grade than Ewers, but you really can’t qualify a player who took one snap. Ewers posted 283 yards on 39 attempts with two touchdowns over one interception.

RB: Quintrevion Wisner, 67.8 grade

Wisner, despite both scores coming via the hands of Jaydon Blue, was the Longhorn’s third-highest-graded offensive player and the best running back overall. His 46 yards rushing were the most in the entire contest, but at 2.7 yards per carry his efficiency held much to be desired. Adding 42 yards on six catches did help his case, however, but most of his performance will be overshadowed by the head-scratching RB Sweep play call on 2nd and 1 at the goal line that ultimately led to Sawyer’s game-winning play.

WR: Matthew Golden, 75.8 grade.

Golden played just 26 snaps but made the most of it despite playing with an ankle injury throughout most of the game. Each of Golden’s two catches was impressive, a one-hander that extended the first drive of the game and a clutch deep ball to set up a goal-to-go situation for the Longhorns late in the fourth. Silas Bolden was the only other receiver to receive a grade north of 60.

TE: Juan Davis, 47.2 grade.

If there was one position that struggled throughout the Cotton Bowl, it was definitely the Longhorn tight ends. Davis and Gunnar Helm combined for 46 receiving yards, the majority of which came in the fourth quarter, but both of the big targets were liabilities in the blocking game. The OSU EDGEs, linebackers and safeties were manhandling both Davis and Helm, which is why they each received grades in the mid-forties.

Offensive Line: Kelvin Banks, 75.8 grade.

Banks was the Longhorn’s best offensive player in the eyes of PFF on Friday, with the future first-rounder allowing just one pressure on 20 true pass block snaps against a formidable duo of Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau. Jake Majors was the best interior lineman but was the only other blocker to surpass the 60.0 grade mark. Cam Williams and the guard trio did not have the game that was expected of one of the nation’s best offensive lines.

Defensive Line: Vernon Broughton, 86.8 grade.

Broughton being the team’s highest-graded player should come as no surprise to those who watched the game. The defensive tackle was a menace in the passing game, forcing a fumble and recording a sack on three pressures. His strip sack on Will Howard could have been a true momentum play if Howard hadn’t fallen directly on the ball. Either way, Broughton has earned himself a ton of credit in the NFL draft community after this one.

Edge Rusher: Colin Simmons, 75.6 grade.

What a year for the freshman pass rusher. At this time last year Colin Simmons was wrapping up high school to prepare to enroll at Texas, and now he is arguably the team’s most impactful defensive player. Simmons didn’t record a sack, but he lit up the stat sheet in other facets. He had three pressures, two batted passes, a QB hit and three stops in the run game. There was a ton of outrage from non-Texas fans about the lack of holding calls called on the youngster, especially on a critical third down that led to a fourth quarter score for the Buckeyes.

Linebacker: David Gbenda, 71.9 grade.

David Gbenda truly made the most of his final game in Texas colors. In just 15 snaps Gbenda made a giant impact on the game, forcing the only turnover of the game for Texas with an interception off Howard on the first drive of the second half to inject energy into the Texas side of the stadium. He was also a part of one of the biggest stops of the game on the very next drive, hitting Quinshon Judkins in the backfield for the 3rd and 1 stop.

Cornerback: Gavin Holmes, 66.1 grade.

It’s surprising that PFF was so low on the Texas cornerbacks in this game, especially Jahdae Barron and Malik Muhammad, after allowing just 141 yards to wide receivers throughout the game, including holding freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith to one catch. In fact, PFF only tasked the trio with 48 of Howard’s 289 passing yards, an impressive feat on the stat sheet. Each of them seemingly passed the eye test, especially Muhammad, but Holmes ended up being the one with a grade north of 63. Holmes did a great job as a passing down specialist in his 11 snaps, even adding two tackles, but Barron would’ve been the obvious pick just off of instant eye test.

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Safety: Jelani McDonald, 78.4 grade.

Another defensive back with under 15 snaps, McDonald seemed to be flying around the field when he had the ability to make an impact. McDonald actually lined up more in the slot than usual, subbing in for Jaylon Guilbeau on more run-specific sets. McDonald added a quarterback pressure and zero yards given up to his final season numbers, also holding PFF’s highest coverage grade among defensive backs.