Double Coverage 2017-11-17 by The Daily Texan

THE DAILY TEXAN PRESENTS

DOUBLE COVERAGE VOLUME 12 ISSUE 11 | 17 NOV 2017

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017

STAFF PICKS TRENTON DAESCHNER

STEVE HELWICK

DREW KING

MORGAN KUEHLER

WILLS LAYTON

VANESSA LE

DALTON PHILLIPS

KESHAV PRATHIVADI

MICHAEL SHAPIRO

COIN FLIP

Last Week's Record

6–4

7–3

6–4

7–3

8–2

7–3

8–2

2–8

Texas vs. No. 24 West Virginia

West Virginia 42-28

West Virginia 31-24

West Virginia 30-28

West Virginia 28-17

Texas 24-23

Texas 21-17

West Virginia 28-21

Texas 31-17

West Virginia 27-13

West Virginia 24-20

West Virginia

No. 19 Michigan vs. No. 5 Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Michigan

Wisconsin

California vs. No. 20 Stanford

Stanford

California

Texas A&M vs. Mississippi

Texas A&M

Mississippi

Texas A&M

Mississippi

Texas A&M

Mississippi

Texas A&M

No. 11 TCU vs. Texas Tech

TCU

Texas Tech

NC State vs. Wake Forest

Wake Forest

NC State

Louisville vs. Syracuse

Louisville

Syracuse

Louisville

Syracuse

Army West Point vs. North Texas

Army West Point

North Texas

Army West Point

North Texas

Army West Point

North Texas

No. 7 Georgia vs. Kentucky

Georgia

Kentucky

Arizona vs. Oregon

Arizona

Overall Record

68–32

71–29

74–26

72–28

69–31

63–37

67–33

64–36

73–27

71–29

49–51

The Daily Texan presents

EDITOR’S

VOLUME 12 ISSUE 11 | NOVEMBER 17, 2017

Although there are only two games left in Big 12 play, the Longhorns get to decide exactly when their 2017 season will end. In order to stretch the season by obtaining bowl eligibity for the first time since 2014, Texas must win one more game against a conference opponent. The next chance to do so will be against No. 24 West Virginia in Morgantown, West Virginia this weekend. Will the Longhorns take care of business on the road, or will bowl eligibility have to wait another week? Texas decides its fate this Saturday at 11 a.m.

DOUBLE COVERAGE DOUBLE COVERAGE EDITOR .............................. Vanessa Le DESIGN EDITOR ............................... Maya Haws-Shaddock PHOTO EDITOR ............................................. Gabriel Lopez COPY EDITOR ............................................ Morgan Kuehler COVER PHOTO ............................................... Gabriel Lopez WRITERS Alex Briseño

Trenton Daeschner

Steve Helwick

Drew King

Wills Layton

Dalton Phillips

Keshav Prathivadi

Michael Shapiro

photos by gabriel lopez daily texan staff

ALEX BRISEÑO

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017

W IN S IF

TEXAS

It’s become impossible to win in the Big 12 without a good quarterback. Oklahoma State senior Mason Rudolph leads the nation in passing yards, followed by Oklahoma redshirt senior Baker Mayfield, West Virginia redshirt junior Will Grier and Texas Tech senior Nic Shimonek. Grier has been nothing short of spectacular this season while leading the Mountaineers to a 7–3 record. In addition to his 3,440 passing yards, Grier has also thrown 34 touchdowns, second highest in the nation, and boasts a passer rating of 163.5. The Longhorns haven’t had the same amount success at the position. Sophomore Shane Buechele and freshman Sam Ehlinger have combined for 2,739 yards, 13 touchdowns, eight interceptions and have completed just 60.9% of their passes. The Longhorns have leaned on their quarterbacks all season, especially with head coach Tom Herman continuing to juggle running backs. However, the pair of passers might struggle more than usual against West Virginia. Against the pass, the Mountaineers have allowed just 245.3 passing yards per game, second best in the Big 12, and have picked off opponents 10 times as well, including two against Kansas State last week. Texas wins this game if it can overcome West Virginia’s stingy defense and produce through the air. juan figueroa | daily texan staff

LO S ES IF

By Drew King @drewking0222

The burnt orange defense seemed to lose its foothold on the Big 12 defense two weeks ago in a 24-7 loss against then-No. 10 TCU. Texas failed to force a turnover and did little to stop the Horned Frogs’ running game. TCU senior and sophomore running backs Kyle Hicks and Darius Anderson combined for 140 rushing yards on 29 carries and three touchdowns. However, things returned to status quo against Kansas last weekend, thanks to Antwuan Davis. The senior defensive back recovered a fumble and racked up two interceptions, one of which he returned 16 yards for a touchdown. Senior defensive back Jason Hall also chipped in a pick, helping the Longhorns in their 42-27 win over the Jayhawks. Texas will need to do more of the same against West Virginia. Grier has shown he has flaws and has been picked off 12 times. Four of them came in Week 9 against Oklahoma State during the Mountaineers’ worst loss of the season, 50-39. The Longhorns still have the No. 2 defense in the conference and have the ability to shut down some of the nation’s top offenses, even without junior cornerback Holton Hill. Texas loses this game if it can’t capitalize on West Virginia’s mistakes and continue making big plays on defense. juan figueroa | daily texan staff

HEISMAN WATCH By Keshav Prathivadi @kpthefirst

B A K E R M AY F I E L D OKLAHOMA QUARTERBACK, #6

If there was any doubt in critics’ minds, there shouldn’t be any now. Baker Mayfield carved up the best defense in the Big 12, throwing for 333 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-20 defeat of then-No. 6 TCU, leaving no doubt as to who the king of the conference is. In a conference dominated by the air-raid offense, TCU proved to be Oklahoma’s toughest test to date. With the win, the redshirt senior improved to 9–0 as a Sooner in November, further cementing his reputation as one of college football’s finest players. After a torrid stretch of games, Mayfield and the Sooners face a favorable matchup against the one-win Kansas Jayhawks. Coming into the matchup as 37-point favorites, there shouldn’t be too much competition in Lawrence, Kansas.

B RY C E L O V E S TA N F O R D R U N N I N G B A C K , # 2 0

It may have taken a week, but Bryce Love has found his stride again. The junior back ran wild against then-No. 12 Washington,

picking up 166 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-22 win. Love also showed off his workhorse capabilities, tallying 30 carries on the night. Love turned in his best output since his 301 yard outing against Arizona State in late September. In four games against AP-ranked opponents, Love has averaged 136.7 yards per game, and with just two games remaining, the Cardinal could use a heavy dose of his rushing to claim the Pac-12 North title. Awaiting the Cardinal this weekend is the California juggernaut. The Golden Bears, although a mediocre 5–5, can hang with and steal games from opponents, and Love and the Cardinal will be well aware of that come Saturday. K H A L I L TAT E ARIZONA QUARTERBACK, #14

Tate’s meteoric rise into the thick of the Heisman conversation continued for yet another week. The dynamic quarterback threw for 68 yards and rushed for 206 yards and two scores in a 49-28 win over Oregon State.

HEISMAN page 7

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 COLUMNS

Texas bowl eligibility so close, yet so far By Trenton Daeschner @TrentDaeschner Tom Herman was brought to Texas to win. It is as simple as that at the end of the day. After three years of frustration under former head coach Charlie Strong, Herman was sought after by burnt orange brass to be the man to bring the Longhorns back to the promised land. But 10 games into Herman’s tenure, the promised land still feels like some long-lost acreage out in the middle of nowhere. Texas is 5–5 and needs one win in its last two games to reach a bowl for the first time since Strong’s first season in 2014. The goal now is simple. A bowl berth, and win, in Herman’s first season on the 40 Acres would qualify as significant improvement, considering how things have gone in recent years. Texas’ next two games are by no means cake-walks, though. Saturday’s matchup against 7–3 West Virginia in Morgantown, led by star quarterback Will Grier, is a tall task for a team that has been in offensive turmoil for the better part of the past month. The weather is expected to be unkind, too. The Longhorns will host Texas Tech next Friday in what could be the deciding game for whether or not

Texas makes a bowl. It’ll feel like another long offseason if this team can’t get to the postseason. Any form of progress is all Texas fans can ask for right now. The Longhorns have knocked on the door all season long but haven’t been able to break through with a marquee victory. “We got to win one that we’re not supposed to,” Herman said. “I think right now, save for the very first game, we’ve won the ones that we’re supposed to and we haven’t (won) the ones that people said we weren’t supposed to. I think that’s got to be the next step. “Are we learning how to win? Certainly. But the biggest next step is we got to win one of these road games against a top-25 team that most people would think we don’t have a chance of doing.” And Saturday presents another one of those chances. Granted, West Virginia isn’t technically a top-25 team in the College Football Playoff rankings, but the Mountaineers do check in at No. 24 in the AP poll. What’s more, the clock is ticking on this senior class — a group that has had to endure one of the worst stretches in program history. The Longhorns want more than anything to send this group out with

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something to hang their hat on. “Ah, man it’s huge,” senior nickelback Antwuan Davis said. “These young guys genuinely love the seniors and will play for these seniors. You know, and that’s something I really appreciate. Not many times we find young guys who would do such a thing. So Naashon (Hughes), me and some of the other seniors really appreciate that.” Two games remain for this senior class, and there could be a third. But that third game is no guarantee. Senior wide receiver Lorenzo Joe recognizes that the hourglass is draining on his career. “It’s flown by fast. I honestly can’t believe it,” Joe said. “I was talking to the other seniors and they also feel like we just got here yesterday. I’ve enjoyed my whole career, and it’s been fun. I’m just trying to finish on a high note.”

By Michael Shapiro @mshap2 As Texas prepares for the penultimate contest of its 2017 regular season on Saturday, it’s become increasingly evident that the Longhorns won’t reach the heights they envisioned in the preseason. Sitting at 5–5 with two conference matchups remaining, Texas is out of contention for an appearance in the Big 12 title game, as well as its first eight-win season since the Mack Brown era. “Where we’re at is not where we had hoped to be,” head coach Tom Herman said on Monday. “There is nobody associated with the University of Texas that affects more than us.” It’s a testament to how far the Longhorns program has fallen over the past half decade that a seven-win regular season would be seen as a notable success. Texas hasn’t won a bowl game since 2012 and is currently in the midst of its fourth-consecutive .500-or-worse season. Two wins over middling

juan figueroa | daily texan staff

Head coach Tom Herman walks along the sideline of the field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Herman and the Longhorns will face No. 24 West Virginia on the road this Saturday in Morgantown, West Virginia.

conference opponents shouldn’t be particularly notable for a storied program, but on the 40 Acres, it could be cause for jubilation. The Longhorns will get another chance to creep over .500 this week with an early kickoff at West Virginia. The Mountaineers enter the matchup at No. 24 in the AP Poll, making them the fifth top-25 team Texas has faced this year. And escaping Morgantown, West Virginia with a victory is no easy task. West Virginia is 17–4 at home over the past three seasons. Saturday’s battle in Morgantown will provide Herman and company with a fifth opportunity to steal a win as underdogs. And aside from a Week 10 defeat at the hands of TCU, Texas has competed with each of its other three ranked opponents. The Longhorns’ best effort of the season came at then-No. 4 USC — ending in a 27-24 overtime defeat — and Texas held Oklahoma State to just 13 points on Oct. 21. Add in a hard-fought five-point loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown, and the Longhorns’ résumé looks stronger than a 5–5 record would indicate. “I think we are headed in a very, very healthy, good direction,” Herman said. “We’re playing with a tremendous amount of effort, tremendous amount of intensity, physicality and we have proven that when you can do those things ... you’ve got a chance to win.” And that’s not just hot air

from Herman. Yes, there are offensive deficiencies galore, most glaringly a plodding running game along with an injured, inexperienced and ineffective offensive line. Despite those issues, the 2017 Longhorns look to be a superior squad than their previous Charlie Strong-era iterations. The Longhorns’ perceived improvement has been most notable on the defensive end. After ranking No. 80 in the nation in points allowed in 2016, the Longhorns have shot up nearly 50 spots this season, coming in at No. 32, allowing just over 21.9 points per game. Texas has been staunch against the run, highlighted by the sideline-to-sideline speed of its linebackers, and turnover-forcing prowess in the secondary. This isn’t the same Longhorn team that existed during the Strong era. Texas is prepared to compete with the nation’s top teams, even with its holes on the offensive side of the ball. But to truly turn the page and begin a new era of Texas football, the Longhorns must close the season on a high note, and build toward a winning season in Herman’s first year. Pair a 7–5 regular season with what now stands as the nation’s No. 2 2018 recruiting class, and the Longhorns will be in contention for their first conference title game since 2009 a year from now. But a loss on Saturday and a sputtering finish could very well derail Herman’s progress and keep the Longhorns stuck in the middle of the Big 12 for years to come.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017 OPPONENT FEATURE

From tacos to touchdowns, Crawford’s effort on full display at West Virginia By Steve Helwick @s_helwick

Behind the smell of fresh quesadillas exiting the oven and the sound of a sizzling crunchwrap being placed in a paper bag for delivery, there is a worker that puts in the hours to create these culinary delights. But in one case, that same worker rushed for 1,184 yards for a Division I football team just months after working his final shift in the fast food industry. That employee would be West Virginia senior running back Justin Crawford, who has ensured hard work is a constant factor in his life, whether behind the counter at Taco Bell or in front of 60,000 fans at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. Crawford initiated his college career at Northwest Mississippi Community College, where he led the school to a national championship at the closure of the 2015 season. The running back’s successes in The Magnolia State were well documented. He rushed for over 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns at Northwest Mississippi, even earning recognition as a featured opponent in a popular Netflix documentary, “Last Chance U.” But although the athletic talent was always present in the agile running back, Crawford worked diligently to increase his grades to play at the Division I level. The effort once again paid off. “Grades are tremendously important, and class is also as important as grades,” Crawford said. “Without the grades, none of this football stuff really matters.” A senior at West Virginia, Crawford is currently nearing his degree in multidisciplinary studies, and he is set to graduate from the University in May.

His soon-to-be alma mater was one of several programs that recognized his talents and abilities at the running back position following his tenure in Mississippi. Upon arriving in Morgantown, Crawford immediately rushed to a Taco Bell, working long hours to earn cash on his newly acquainted campus. “I knew I had to do something, and I knew the best way to get money was to work for it,” Crawford said. “I don’t necessarily like asking people for stuff because I know I can get it on my own if I put myself up for it and put in the work.” Once the 2016 football season commenced, Crawford finally left Taco Bell and started suiting up in blue and gold for head coach Dana Holgorsen’s program. Through 23 games as a Mountaineer, Crawford has produced over 2,000 yards on the ground for a staple top 25 program, additionally reaching the end zone on 12 occasions. “It was different,” Crawford said on his recruitment to West Virginia. “I liked the vibes (Coach Holgorsen) gives off. I think he knows exactly what he’s doing and he knows the game of football very well. From the time I got here, he’s been very loyal to me.” The senior from Columbus, Georgia has posted numbers that will certainly draw eyes from NFL scouts. Crawford plans on testing the waters of professional football, and he will maintain the mentality on working for his goals, an outlook that has propelled him from a community college to a Taco Bell to Morgantown. “If you work hard enough and you are willing to sacrifice some things, the reward will outweigh the work,” Crawford said.

courtesy of chuck meyers

Senior running back Justin Crawford runs with the football at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia. Through 23 games as a Mountaineer, Crawford has produced over 2,000 yards on the ground for West Virginia.

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K E YS TO TH E GAME By Wills Layton @willsdebeast

LIMIT GRIER’S EFFECTIVENESS AT QUARTERBACK

gabriel lopez | daily texan staff

Sophomore running back Kyle Porter protects the football against the Kansas State defense at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Oct. 7. Porter collected 13 yards on seven carries against the Wildcats.

The Longhorns have done a decent job this season limiting talented quarterbacks. From forcing two interceptions against USC’s Sam Darnold to shutting down Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph, the defense has done a

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masterful job of containing these playmaking quarterbacks. The next challenge for the Texas defense presents itself in West Virginia redshirt junior quarterback Will Grier, who has thrown for over 300 passing yards per game to go along with 34 touchdowns. For comparison, Longhorn gunslingers sophomore Shane Buechele and freshman Sam Ehlinger have combined for only 13 passing touchdowns this season. In order to win this game in Morgantown, West Virginia, the Texas defense must continue its impressive play against talented quarterbacks. Last week versus Kansas, the defense collected a total of three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown. The Longhorns look to put up similar numbers against Grier this weekend.

RUN THE BALL EARLY

It is no secret that the Texas running attack has been uninspired and underwhelming for the past couple of weeks and was the main issue in the 24-7 loss to TCU in Week 10. When the offense can only muster nine rushing yards, not many points are going to be scored. The Longhorn roster boasts plenty of talent at the running back position, including freshmen Daniel Young and Toneil Carter and sophomore Kyle Porter. Texas ran for three touchdowns and collected 113 yards on the ground against Kansas last Saturday. Those numbers, while seemingly high, are not that impressive given the level of competition Texas faced. In order to make the offense more balanced heading into the West Virginia game, Texas’ rushing attack must emerge

PRAY THAT THE KICKER SWAP WORKS

In the lone field goal attempt of the night for the Longhorns, junior Joshua Rowland did not kick. Senior Mitchell Becker lined up for a 44-yard kick and came a couple of feet away from drilling it. Alas, the kick sailed wide left. While Becker missed the kick, it looked better than Rowland’s duck hook that burnt orange fans have become familiar with seeing in past games. The West Virginia game looks to go down to the wire, and the Longhorns are only one game away from being bowl eligible in head coach Tom Herman’s first season at Texas. If the game comes down to a single kick, hope thatG t Becker has what it takes. o 3 By Dalton Phillips a @Dalton_Tweets ( y games this season. The Mountaineers have usedt him well, forcing defenses to respect the runm enough to provide space for Grier to launch it deep. Expect the team to go to the run early andt often in the face of a talented Texas secondary. t t W I D E R E C E I V E R A D VA N TA G E : f WEST VIRGINIA Senior wide receiver Lorenzo Joe needed allV of nine seconds to get on the board last Satur-K day against Kansas. He finished with 98 yardsy on five touches and was part of the first-half on-7 slaught that helped Texas put the game away early at home. West Virginia has demonstrated the ability toH burn teams deep with its talented quarterbackc and receiving corps. Junior David Sills V and senior Ka’Raun White each had two touchdowns in the win against Kansas State, but struggled to create separation through most of the second half.

KEY MATCHUPS Q U A R T E R B A C K A D VA N TA G E : WEST VIRGINIA

Even against lowly Kansas, the Longhorns underwhelmed. Sophomore quarterback Shane Buechele threw for a respectable 249 yards and a touchdown, but Texas only had 10 more passing yards than the worst offense in the conference, as it once again leaned heavily on its defense to force turnovers and get stops. Junior quarterback Will Grier leads an offense capable of scoring in bursts — a fact on full display as the Mountaineers put up 28 points in the first half on four Grier touchdowns last Saturday against Kansas State. However, the team went scoreless after halftime, converting on only 3 of 12 first down opportunities. If the Longhorns can stall out the West Virginia offense, they may be able to scrape by with a win on the road.

R U N N I N G B A C K A D VA N TA G E : WEST VIRGINIA

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as an offensive threat on Saturday. If not, expect to see a lot of pressure on the pocket.

Texas was outgained on the ground against Kansas with freshman running back Daniel Young logging a team-high 67 yards on 21 carries. The long-awaited return of junior All-American offensive lineman Connor Williams to the lineup ought to help the offense’s productivity, but it is clear that the running game remains one of the team’s weakest areas. West Virginia’s senior running back Justin Crawford has eclipsed 100 yards in all but three

D E F E N S E A D VA N TA G E : T E X A S

Texas’ defense feasts on turnovers. The team has put up 79 points off its 18 turnovers this season, six of which have come from junior DeShon Elliott. It’s been a tale of two sides of the ball all season for the burnt orange. In five losses, the defense has been a liability in only one of them. West Virginia boasts the second-best passing defense in the conference. That doesn’t bode well for a Texas team that has shown an inabilityJ to get it done up the middle through 10 gamesW this season.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017

OPPONENTS TO WATCH

By Steve Helwick @s_helwick

remain in contention for the conference crown. But tearing apart Texas’ secondary on Saturday is a must if Grier hopes to win the Big 12 for the first time in program history.

with a statement in a close loss to Virginia Tech on Sept. 3. Against a typically strong Hokies defense, Jennings recorded 13 receptions and 189 yards. But the junior has kept his foot on the gas all season, and his 13 catches at Kansas State were a key factor in moving the chains and sealing the 28-23 victory late.

WILL GRIER QUARTERBACK, #7

A transfer from Florida, Grier’s first season in Morgantown, West Virginia is panning out nicely. He’s thrown for over 300 yards in all but one game and ranks third in the nation (and the Big 12) in passing yards. But there’s no place on the field where Grier succeeds more than near the end zone. The junior quarterback has tossed 34 passing touchdowns this season, good for second in the FBS. Grier was responsible for all four touchdowns West Virginia scored a week ago at Kansas State, throwing for 372 yards in the process. Sitting at 7–3, Grier’s Mountaineers still

G A RY J E N N I N G S WIDE RECEIVER, #12

Jennings is one of three Mountaineer wideouts with over 900 yards receiving this year. The breakout star leads the pack in both receptions and yards in 2017, checking in at fourth and 11th in the nation in those categories, respectively. Jennings opened the season

HEISMAN

continues from page 3 Last weekend’s game also marked Tate’s sixthstraight game with over 100 rushing yards, pushing him to 1,293 rushing yards on the season. Tate has breathed new life into an a Wildcat team that has otherwise struggled this season, keeping it in the hunt for a Pac-12 division title. Tate and the Wildcats will travel to Eugene, Oregon to take on the Ducks this weekend. Autzen Stadium is always a tough place to play for visiting teams, and Tate should be ready to take on — and run through — yet another test this season. J O H N AT H A N TAY L O R WISCONSIN RUNNING BACK, #23

Just as Love did earlier this season, Taylor

KYZIR WHITE S T R O N G S A F E T Y, # 8

Former West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White was a seventh overall pick by the Chicago Bears in 2015. Now, his younger brother Kyzir

has been quietly good for Wisconsin thus far. The freshman back carried the ball for 157 yards on 29 carries, pacing the Badgers to a 38-14 win over an upset-happy Iowa team. Out of nine games played this season, Taylor has failed to rush for over 100 yards in only two of them. His knack for being persistent on the ground — averaging almost 20 touches per game — has helped him have the third highest rushing total in the country and placed his team into the middle of the College Football Playoff picture. The Badgers will host No. 24 Michigan at Camp Randall, in what should prove to be an interesting matchup on both sides. Michigan comes into this game as winners of three straight, while Wisconsin looks to maintain its unblemished record.

White is making a name for himself as a strong safety. Kyzir ranks second on the team in tackles with 61. Kyzir has also been the team’s X factor in the turnover battle, tallying team-highs with three interceptions and two forced fumbles this season. He contributed heavily to West Virginia’s tough-fought defensive victory over Texas last season, accumulating two sacks and forcing a fumble in a 24-20 victory. In his final season in Morgantown, both Kyzir and his brother Ka’Raun (at wide receiver) are continuing the tradition of family excellence wearing blue and gold.

photos courtesy of west virginia university athletics

D AV I D S I L L S V WIDE RECEIVER, #13

Sills drew headlines years ago back when he was just in seventh grade. As a quarterback, he verbally

committed to USC under head coach Lane Kiffin when Kiffin offered him a scholarship. Although Sills’ college career wouldn’t be spent under center, he has still made an incredible mark on the sport. As a wide receiver, Sills has been as good as they come. The junior from Wilmington, Delaware has caught 18 touchdown receptions this year and leads the category by a mile — the next closest competitor has 11. Sills has recorded three “hat tricks” of touchdowns this season, propelling West Virginia to the 12th best scoring offense in college football.