The three biggest storylines of Texas football spring practice

The opportunity ahead of Texas this offseason is plainly obvious. This team is making a last run at a Big 12 which has been depleted of several COVID seniors and overall talent and the Longhorns will do so as a heavy favorite. When you return the quarterback, the offensive line, and all of your receivers plus a few more back from injury or the portal, the program will tend to draw big expectations.

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It’s a good place for the Longhorns to be, facing realistic expectations for serious winning is pretty new in Austin. The team has had some pressure and expectations in the last 13 seasons since the 2009 National Championship runner-up team, but this will be something different.

Consequently some of the biggest storylines for the spring relate to how Texas is going to match up to the moment this offseason and whether they find success in the crucial areas to build a championship team for next fall.

Storyline 1: Can Quinn Ewers make “the leap?”

This could mean a lot of different things and all of them are significant.

Texas needs leadership on offense after graduating Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, they need playmaking in the passing game to maximize all of their weapons on the perimeter, and Ewers needs to grow substantially in understanding both his own playbook and those of his opponents.

He made a nice presentation choice by cutting off the gangly mullet which had defined his image previously in exchange for a more business-like presentation. Thus far offseason reports have him embracing a more vocal, encouraging role within the offense. Getting another spring, summer, and fall to learn from what he did wrong or right in 2022 is going to make a sizable difference as well.

The proof will be in the pudding. In terms of specifics, Ewers needs to grow in the following areas:

• Recognizing coverages from the Big 12’s complicated defensive presentations.

• Footwork in the pocket. Ewers CAN throw from weird angles but a lot of times when he tries to throw wonky footwork the results are weak. If they go heavy RPO next season it’s essential that his perimeter tosses are consistently accurate.

• A much greater command of the passing progressions and protections in the Texas offense.

• Developed timing and chemistry with the receiving corps, new and old.

He was basically at the level of a true freshman in 2022, a fish out of water trying to execute a demanding college offense at a high level, but he got by on talent and with generous help from Steve Sarkisian and the run game. A productive offseason could make a massive difference because of how little he had in his tool belt a year ago.

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Storyline 2: Can the defense find a new playmaker in the box?

Texas is looking for a new Buck Edge to replace Ovie Oghoufo and a new Will linebacker to replace DeMarvion Overshown. Replacing the lost production is one thing, Oghoufo wasn’t a playmaker but he was at least a steady presence, Overshown did have a knack for making some plays with his range.

We don’t know who will start at either position, although Justice Finkley is probably a comfortable favorite at Buck, but ultimately what matters is improving the playmaking. Particularly on 3rd downs when both of those positions become important in the pass-rush.

In terms of counting stats, Oghoufo and Overshown combined for 150 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, 5.5 sacks, and eight pass break-ups. Their counterparts at Jack Edge (Barryn Sorrell) and Mike linebacker (Jaylan Ford) combined to make 163 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, nine quarterback hurries, 7.5 sacks, three pass break-ups, and four interceptions. Texas could see further growth from both Ford and Sorrell in 2023 but the defense would really benefit from getting one more dangerous pass rusher in the mix from one of these two positions.

Opposing teams will try and set their protections to block Sorrell and their run schemes to take out Ford, can anyone emerge to make them pay?

Storyline 3: The emerging star

Championship teams who put together stacked rosters year after year in college football do so because they find new stars every offseason from the ranks of talented youngsters who are developing in the offseason.

There’s a lot of candidates for this among the Longhorns’ current roster. Jonathon Brooks has a chance to become a star, three different transfers may own impact starting roles, the offensive line is going to be featuring competitions between some back-ups, the list goes on and on.

There are also established veterans who could put together big time seasons as “the guy” now they might finally have their chance at lots of snaps and opportunities. Jordan Whittington could explode as a 5th year senior who has a chance to play more in the slot, Alfred Collins could put it all together as a starting 3-technique, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Xavier Worthy also have more juice left as third-year talents.

Who will emerge this spring? The answer to that question could define the coming season.