The Texas Longhorns' top 10 plays midway through the 2023 season
The 2023 season has already produced a number of memorable moments for the Texas Longhorns. Fantastic plays in all three phases have been made at critical junctures both in the friendly confines of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and in hostile environments like Bryant-Denny Stadium.
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Six games into the season, Inside Texas looks at the top 10 plays (in no particular order) at the midway point of the 2023 campaign.
Alabama: Jahdae Barron‘s interception of Jalen Milroe
Barron’s interception was one of two of Milroe by the Horns in Tuscaloosa. To make it happen, Barron baited the Crimson Tide quarterback into making the throw with his pre-snap alignment.
“The route is a sit route, he can take the sit route and he can sit, but once he sees the linebacker he’s going to keep going,” Barron said. “If he doesn’t keep going, Jaylan Ford is always going to be there. They thought we were in man because he sees Jaylan Ford, so he keeps going out. I was able to come back and get it.”
Alabama: Quinn Ewers‘ 44-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Worthy
Long had the long throw been a problem for the Longhorns. Ewers’ connection with Worthy to give Texas an early 10-3 lead in Tuscaloosa was the first of several big-time plays made downfield by Ewers that night.
Alabama: Jerrin Thompson‘s interception of Jalen Milroe
Thompson’s job isn’t difficult here but he does it well. Thompson covers the only receiver on his side of the field, reads Milroe’s eyes, and takes the ball and returns it inside the Bama 10.
Alabama: Quinn Ewers’ 39-yard touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell
“Remember me?” – Mitchell to the crowd.
The final score in a win Texas fans will remember for some time.
Wyoming: Quinn Ewers’ one-yard touchdown pass to Byron Murphy
The Cowboys forgot about the big D-tackle from DeSoto, who joined Derek Lokey, Samuel Cosmi, and Luke Poehlmann as Texas linemen to score on offense.
Wyoming: Jerrin Thompson’s interception of Evan Svoboda returned for a touchdown
The Cowboys dinked and dunked versus the Longhorns all game, and Thompson finally decided enough was enough. His pre-snap read told him where to be, and it was right where the quarterback threw the ball.
Baylor: Jonathon Brooks‘ 40-yard touchdown run
Brooks has several long runs on the year, but this score versus Baylor saw him elude one tackler with quickness then outrun several other Bear defenders for six.
Baylor: Quinn Ewers’ 29-yard touchdown run
Ewers gave Texas fans license to start some “Quince Young” jokes after this run that sprung loose thanks to his own athleticism and a great block from Ja’Tavion Sanders. This is one of five rushing touchdowns on the year for the sophomore.
Kansas: Jonathon Brooks’ 54-yard rushing touchdown
Brooks turns on the jets to run untouched through the defense, part of a 200-yard day for the current leader among Power 5 backs in rushing.
Oklahoma: Kitan Crawford‘s blocked punt returned for a touchdown by Malik Muhammad
Texas made on impact play on special teams earlier with a fake punt conversion. They made another here with Crawford bursting up the middle to knock the ball right off the punter’s foot. Muhammad was there to scoop the it for the easy score.
