Texas unranked and hoping to ride Robinson to turnaround

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Bijan Robinson and his Lamborghini sum up what most consider Texas soccer ought to be: flashy, enjoyable to look at and sooner than anyone else on the market.

Far too typically, nevertheless, the Longhorns discover a technique to run themselves right into a ditch.

Texas begins the season unranked after a 5-7 end in 2021 with no bowl sport and the longest dropping streak since 1956 in coach Steve Sarkisian’s debut. Years of legacy votes that presumed Texas was deserving of preseason rankings have lastly vanished after too many seasons of unmet expectations.

And but, there’s optimism in Austin. No less than the sort that assumes final season was so unhealthy, this one must be higher.

For starters, there’s expertise on campus within the type of a few of faculty soccer’s greatest playmakers. The fluid and highly effective Robinson (out and in of that Lamborghini courtesy of a reputation, picture and likeness sponsorship deal) is without doubt one of the high backs within the nation. Large receiver Xavier Worthy had an explosive freshman season in 2021 and ought to be among the many favorites for the Biletnikoff Award.

The remaining is anybody’s guess.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 23: Head coach Steve Sarkisian of Texas Longhorns stands Bijan Robinson #5 through the Eyes of Texas after the Orange-White Spring Recreation at Darrell Okay Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on April 23, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photograph by Tim W

Sarkisian mined the switch portal about in addition to anyone, and even landed a beginning quarterback in freshman Quinn Ewers, who beat out Hudson Card for the job. However that highway has been bumpy with one switch receiver (Isaiah Neyor from Wyoming) misplaced for the season to a knee harm and one other (Agiye Corridor from Alabama) suspended indefinitely.

And an offensive line already strapped for depth additionally misplaced starter Junior Angilou, who may play a number of positions, for the season to a knee harm.

Texas hasn’t received the Huge 12 since 2009 and most decide the Longhorns for the center of the pack once more. Nonetheless, that might be a step up from final 12 months.

QUARTERBACK

Ewers is a large arm expertise, he simply lacks faculty expertise. He was the quarterback everybody needed out of highschool close to Dallas and Ohio State signed him. However a freshman season of sitting round Columbus prompted a switch. That put him in a combat for the job with Card, who began the primary two video games in 2021 earlier than getting benched. Sarkisian had a fast hook on his QB final 12 months with struggles, so is Card nonetheless in play or would he take into account a switch?

SECOND HALF FOLLIES

The Longhorns misplaced 5 video games final season they led at halftime. Texas has to shake off a nasty mixture of second-half changes and suspect conditioning in the event that they don’t need to get dominated within the third and fourth quarters once more. Hiring former TCU head coach and defensive guru Gary Patterson as a particular assistant could show to be Sarkisian’s shrewdest transfer of the offseason.

’Having Coach Patterson on board has most likely been one thing that has excited me essentially the most out of a variety of issues we’ve accomplished this low season,” Sarkisian stated. “I’ve at all times admired his defensive thoughts.”

ROBINSON & CO.

Sarkisian will lean closely on his reliable run sport whereas he kinds issues out at quarterback. Robinson is the star after dashing for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns in a season lower quick by a dislocated elbow. Behind him are workhorse Roschon Johnson and speedy Keilan Robinson.

MORGANTOWN, WV – NOVEMBER 20: Texas Longhorns working again Keilan Robinson (7) carries the soccer through the fourth quarter of the school soccer sport between the Texas Longhorns and the West Virginia Mountaineers on November 20, 2021, at Mountai

HOT SEAT

Sarkisian could have felt some warmth from Texas followers throughout that dismal debut season, however not a lot from the administration and Board of Regents that accredited his unique six-year, $34.2 million assured contract. However Texas doubtless received’t abide one other years-long skid prefer it endured beneath Charlie Robust from 2014-2016.

LOOKING AHEAD

A blockbuster matchup with No. 1 Alabama on Sept. 10 will decide if Texas is prepared for prime time. Then comes a matchup with rising UTSA, the place coach Jeff Traylor, a former Longhorns assistant, may snag an enormous assertion win. The Huge 12 schedule begins Sept. 24 at Texas Tech and the annual Purple River Rivalry sport with Oklahoma is Oct. 8 in Dallas.

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