The Daily Texan's Double Coverage 2021-10-15 by The Daily Texan

T H E D A I LY TEXAN PRESENTS

Double Coverage VOL. 16 ISSUE 6 | Oct. 15, 2021

jack myer

/ the daily texan file

friday, october 15, 2021

TEXAN

STAFF PICKS

Myah Taylor

Kaitlyn Harmon

Nathan Han

Matthew Boncosky

Payne Williams

Christina Huang

Jenny DeVico

Blaine Young

Angelina Braese

Cal @ No. 9 Oregon

Oregon

No. 12 Oklahoma State @ No. 25 Texas

Texas

Oklahoma State

Texas

Oklahoma State

Auburn @ No. 17 Arkansas

Arkansas

Auburn

Arkansas

Auburn

Arkansas

Auburn

Arkansas

No. 20 Florida @ LSU

Florida

LSU

Florida

LSU

Florida

No. 11 Kentucky @ No. 1 Georgia

Georgia

No. 19 BYU @ Baylor

BYU

Baylor

BYU

Baylor

BYU

Baylor

BYU

Baylor

No. 5 Alabama @ Mississippi State

Alabama

TCU @ No. 4 Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Purdue @ No. 2 Iowa

Iowa

UCF @ No. 3 Cincinnati

Cincinnati

UCF

Cincinnati

UCF

Cincinnati

Week 5 Results

8–2

5–5

7–3

8–2

6–4

7–3

6–4

8–2

6–4

5–5

Overall Record

46–14

40–20

38–22

42–18

37–23

44–16

39–21

41–19

42–18

37–23

EDITOR’S NOTE

overall STANDINGS

Saturday’s matchup against the No. 12-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys will be telling to the remainder of Texas’ season. After the Red River Rivalry over the past five years, Texas has finished 17–13 in the regular season while the Oklahoma Sooners have finished 29–1. How the Longhorns reestablish the offensive line, hone in on the defense and cover the back of the field will be monumental to a Texas victory. Can the Longhorn offensive line defend against a Cowboys defense with 308 tackles on the season? Texas is in need of a win and is searching for a sweet victory following a heartbreaking loss in Week 6.

Kaitlyn Harmon

1. T-2.

Christina Huang, Matthew Boncosky, Blaine Young

Jenny DeVico

Kaitlyn Harmon

Vicente Montalvo

Nathan Han

T-8.

Vicente Montalvo

DOUBLE COVERAGE Double Coverage Editor Kaitlyn Harmon

Myah Taylor Hannah Williford

T-3.

Hannah Williford

Angelina Braese, Payne Williams

Design Editor

Jenny DeVico

Photo Editor

Blaine Young

Copy Editor

Angelina Braese

Writers Nathan Han

Matthew Boncosky

Vicente Montalvo

Christina Huang

Hannah Williford

Payne Williams

Designers Isabella Waltz

Sally Parampottil Managing Editor Myah Taylor

GAMEs By Hannah Williford

@howdy_itshannah

DOUBLE COVERAGE

WATCH

No. 11 Kentucky at No. 1 Georgia Oct. 16, 2:30 p.m. CT, CBS

SEC East powerhouse Georgia has worked its tail off this season to get ahead of the pack, and Saturday’s game against No. 11 Kentucky will be a test of just how elite the team truly is. In Week 5, Kentucky knocked off No. 10 Florida and continues to rise in the ranks. The Bulldogs have held their opponents to an average of 5.5 points per game, while the offense hasn’t scored below 30 points since the season opener against Clemson. Undefeated Kentucky has proved to be a force to be reckoned with this season, averaging 31 points per game. This SEC showdown will either prove the Wildcats’ legitimacy and undermine No. 1 ranked Georgia’s power or will amplify the SEC’s continued possession of the No. 1 spot.

No. 12 Oklahoma State at No. 25 Texas Oct. 16, 11 a.m. CT, FOX The Longhorns could not ask for a better matchup in a week where they are searching for redemption. After Texas’ narrow loss to Oklahoma at Red River, all eyes will be on head coach Steve Sarkisian and team to see how they respond. Undefeated Oklahoma State has found itself in close calls with unranked teams, including scraping by a 28-23 win against Tulsa in Week 2. Saturday’s morning matchup will be an opportunity for both teams to prove themselves as candidates for the Big 12 Championship in December.

TCU at No. 4 Oklahoma Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m. CT, ABC The two-loss Horned Frogs have shown promise this season. After losing a narrow game to Texas in Week 5, TCU rallied back with a triumphant victory over Texas Tech in Week 6. While the Horned Frogs have struggled on defense, their offense has averaged 38.4 points per game. No. 4 ranked Oklahoma will look to see if freshman quarterback Caleb Williams was a one-hit wonder last week against Texas, or if Williams will become the new heartbeat of the Sooners offense. Oklahoma has all the momentum in the world after a thrilling win over their biggest rival and is in the hunt for the College Football Playoffs.

California at No. 9 Oregon Oct. 15, 9:30 p.m. CT, ESPN The Pac-12 often gets left behind in top 10 rankings, but Oregon has found its way in. The Ducks fell to Stanford in Week 5 with an overtime thriller and dropped five spots to No. 9. A strong victory is essential for the Ducks this weekend against the unranked Golden Bears, who haven’t been able to come up with a conference win all season. Yet as Week 6 and recent history have it, it doesn’t take much for a ranked, top-10 team to fall apart to the underdog mentality of unranked teams.

No. 5 Alabama at Mississippi State Oct. 16, 6 p.m. CT, ESPN Alabama shocked college football fans nationwide in Week 6 when the Tide fell to an unranked Texas A&M team on the road. Head coach Nick Saban and team’s last loss before last Saturday came to Auburn in 2019. The Tide fell to No. 5 in the AP Poll and relinquished their No. 1 position for the first time in two years to the Georgia Bulldogs. Saban does not take kindly to a team following a weak Alabama performance, but Mississippi State beat out the Aggies in Week 5, breathing hope into the Bulldogs’ effort.

DOUBLE COVERAGE

blaine young

By Matthew Boncosky @mboncosky

/ the daily texan

bijan’s rise to the top

friday, october 15, 2021

n file

Texas’ star running back reflects on growth since first Texas start.

ijan Robinson ran for just 59 yards on 13 carries against Oklahoma State last year. It was his first-ever start at the running back

position for Texas. Almost a year later, the workhorse running back often finds himself rushing for that many yards in a single quarter. Robinson is also a name to watch in the Heisman race as the face of a new era in Longhorn football. “I’ve come a long way since then,” Robinson said, reflecting on how nervous he was in his first career start. It’s hard to imagine a bruising running back like Robinson being nervous to start a football game, especially given his status as the best running back recruit from the 2020 class. His jitters speak to just how much pressure has been placed on the sophomore’s shoulders at Texas. Ever since Robinson arrived on the Forty Acres, the Tucson, Arizona, product has been open about wanting to be the guy that helps turn Texas football back into the juggernaut it once was. After a decade with only one 10-win season and three head coaching changes, Robinson strives to jump start the change. But as the past decade has shown,

nothing comes that easily for the Longhorns. Robinson could have gone to any school in the country and benefitted from the starting job right away with the freakish talent he has. As former Texas head coach Tom Herman recruited the now highly esteemed running back, Robinson knew that there were two running backs were ahead of him on the depth chart. He chose to become a Longhorn anyway. Then came a freshman season that saw Robinson receive limited playing time as part of Herman’s infamous running back rotation. Splitting snaps with Roschon Johnson and Keaontay Ingram, Robinson received a fraction of the touches someone of his caliber would typically get. “It was actually really good for me to get that slow (start) because I did have Roschon and Keaontay in front of me that I had to learn from,” Robinson said on Oct. 4. “They taught me a lot about just the ins and outs of reading holes, different zones and defenses.” Heading into this season, Robinson could not be contained like he had been during his freshman campaign. Robinson quickly surpassed his 2020 total of 86 carries in just the fifth game of the year, when he carried the rock 35 times for 216 yards against TCU. Head coach Steve Sarkisian clearly understands the value of

having one of college football’s premier running backs. He’s going to feed him touches as many times as possible. “I can handle as many (carries) as he needs, it doesn’t matter,” Robinson said after the TCU game on Oct. 2. “When you start getting involved more and more, you start seeing different things, different weaknesses in the defense.” Robinson has become extremely adept at attacking those weak areas he spots in opposing defenses. He even works on bouncing off defenders as he’s stumbling to the ground in practice. That skill – he calls it contact balance – separates him from the rest. His blissful speed and elusiveness were on display against Oklahoma last Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. Robinson had fans “oohing” and “aahing” as he bounced from one sideline to the other, making numerous Sooner defenders miss on his 50-yard run that nearly ended in a touchdown. But as fate would have it, Robinson gained just 35 yards on nine carries in the second half. Oklahoma came storming back into the game, and the Sooners left Dallas with the Golden Hat for the fifth time in the last six years. The Longhorns, once again, face a familiar conundrum – how to respond to a heartbreaking loss. Robinson’s quest to bring Texas football back from the grave received another momentary pause.

“It can be hard for some people, but you can’t let that cloud your mind at all,” Robinson said. “In life, if you let a bad thing deter you, it’s just hard to move on from it.” Despite all the noise and setbacks, Robinson remains focused on the bigger picture – the same picture he’s had since day one. He recalled losing two straight state championship high school games to the same team. Those losses made Robinson realize the presence of a larger plan greater than himself. As Robinson continues to take the college football world by storm, Texas’ success remains the number one priority in his mind. Robinson doesn’t need to be reminded about Texas’ past struggles or what he got himself into by choosing to play for the Longhorns. All that matters at this point is getting back on the right foot. “We haven’t won anything and we need to understand that,” Robinson said. “We’re still trying to be a great team, and we can’t let up for anything.” As Robinson and the Longhorns head into the weekend to face off against No. 12 Oklahoma State, the parallels to last year are striking. The Cowboys were undefeated then just as they are now, and the matchup represented a pivotal fight in the Longhorns’ Big 12 championship hopes. Only this time around, expect a much larger output from Robinson.

TEXAS 8

loses IF....

By Vicente Montalvo | @VMont20

… Malcolm Rodriguez has a big game Senior Malcolm Rodriguez is the undisputed leader of the Cowboys defense. Rodriguez has led the team in total tackles the previous two seasons and is on pace to run it back this year. In his previous four games against the Longhorns, the linebacker is credited with 26 total tackles. This season, Rodriguez leads the team in forced fumbles and solo, assisted and total tackles. Look to see if Rodriguez can close the gaps that Bijan Robinson looks to run through. The Texas offensive line needs to be on its toes against Rodriguez because the Wagoner, Oklahoma, native and seasoned Cowboy senior will try to shoot the gaps and tackle anyone wearing burnt orange and carrying pigskin. … Longhorns get caught up in last week In Week 6, Texas had Oklahoma on the ropes with a large lead before ultimately struggling in the second half to contain the Sooner offense and find its own momentum. With all the attention that the Red River Shootout produces, the Longhorns will have to quickly focus on how they can improve upon their performance while still looking to Oklahoma State. The season is far from over for a deeply talented Texas team as the Longhorns are still in control of their own destiny. Come December, Texas could find its way back to Dallas for the Big 12 Championship Game. If head coach Steve Sarkisian and team wish to make those realistic goals happen, Texas can’t make the same, sloppy mistakes it did last week and needs to come out on the gridiron swinging, making a clear and unified statement that the past is in the rearview mirror and the Longhorns are back in control.

Hey,

Austin!

WINS IF....

DOUBLE COVERAGE

… Marcus Washington steps up Last Saturday’s matchup in Dallas resulted in an injury for Jordan Whittington. The sophomore wide out will be out for surgery with no timetable to return after suffering a clavicle injury. Junior Marcus Washington is set to replace Whittington in his absence. This season, Washington has only seen action in two games, gaining 23 yards in two catches. It is also worth noting that Washington will be pivoting from being starter Joshua Moore’s backup. Whittington has been reliable for Texas with his hands and was utilized in short yardage plays with the jet sweep option. Look to see how Washington fits into his new role on the Longhorns offense and how his chemistry with junior quarterback Casey Thompson unravels. … the offensive line adjustment works After a preferably forgettable outing for Longhorn fans against the Sooners in Dallas, offensive line coach Kyle Flood has decided to rework the offensive line. Only fourth-year left tackle Christian Jones and redshirt freshman center Jake Majors will continue to play the same position as they have all season. Right guard Tope Imade will make his way into the starting lineup, and will look to work with right tackle Derek Kerstetter. Junior Angilau will move from his familiar right guard position to the left guard position and will help to defend against the Oklahoma State front seven –– a line that is fast and strong on a No. 12 ranked Oklahoma State team. Look to see how Texas’ reworked offensive line creates lanes for running backs and tries to protect Thompson in the pocket. … Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense comes alive Under defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, the Texas defense had some strong plays last Saturday, but couldn’t contain a fast-paced Oklahoma Sooner offense. Oklahoma State’s offense prefers to get its receivers out in space for opportunities against man-on-man coverage by cornerbacks. The Cowboys have consistently produced great wide outs, and this year is no different with freshmen standouts Rashod Owens and Blaine Green. The Texas defense needs to be ready to keep up with the Cowboy offense and make big plays, especially on third downs.

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friday, October 15, 2021

By Nathan Han | @NathanHan13 The Daily Texan spoke with Dean Ruhl, sports editor at The O’Colly, Oklahoma State’s student newspaper, ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the No. 12 Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Daily Texan: What’s your general impression of where the Cowboys program is at this season? Dean Ruhl: I think it’s interesting because it almost feels like OSU doesn’t have its own identity just yet. I guess the true identity, if you want to boil it down to one sentence, is the OSU defense. They’ve flipped the script — it’s no longer about high powered offense, it’s about a defense that just continues to stymie the opposition. DT: OSU running back Jaylen Warren transferred in from Utah State and took over the starting job. How would you describe the way he runs?

NOTES FROM THE OPPONENT

see where the weakness of the defense is. I’d probably have to say it comes down to (quarterback) Spencer Sanders and how he performs. He’s done fairly well with the ball this year protecting it. But, in the Baylor game, he did have three interceptions.

DT: What’s your prediction for Saturday’s showdown? DR: I’m gonna go (with) 31-30. I think regardless of who wins, it’s going to be a close game. I’m not expecting a blowout. I will say if the game turns into a shootout, Texas is going to win. If points are pretty scarce to come by, I think Oklahoma State is going to come up big once again and walk out of Austin with the win.

DR: I’m gonna use a quote that you hear from just about every player you ask about Warren: ‘He is like a bowling ball out of the backfield.’ If you got a linebacker or a D-lineman trying to get him, he’ll power through that initial hit. That’s where he’s really special — the yards after contact. He can turn what’s looking like a two-yard gain into an eight-yard gain. DT: A lot of Texas players have talked about how they’ve seen this Oklahoma State defense before and know what they’re going to run. Given the same scheme and a hefty amount of returning players, is there anything different about the Cowboy defense this year? DR: Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has been running (the defense) since 2018. Each year you just see those numbers — yards per game, points per game, keep going down and down. It’s taken a couple of years for him to get his players in there, and (for) him to kind of really hammer this philosophy into these guys who ventured (in) as freshmen (and) are now starting. I think now they’re picking it up, they understand his system and I think what you’re seeing now is the product of his mentality. He’s got his guys in there now, and I think everybody’s just bought in. DT: Are there any weaknesses to this Cowboys team? What would go wrong for OSU if Texas wins on Saturday? DR: Through five games, I don’t copyright the o’colly, and reproduced with permission

friday, october 15, 2021

BIG 12

POWER RANKINGS By Kaitlyn Harmon

1. OKLAHOMA SOONERS Ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll, the Sooners have found their way to the top 4 in search of a College Football Playoff bid by the end of the regular season. Oklahoma proved its dominance against a talented 4–2 Texas team at the Red River Rivalry with a 55-48 win over the Longhorns. Head coach Lincoln Riley has outcoached opposing unranked offenses by heading a defense that has recorded 381 total tackles and an offense that averaged approximately 471 yards per game. The Sooners’ win against Texas was the first ranked opponent they faced in the season, and Riley and team could face a rude awakening against potential playoff teams if they continue on the same trajectory.

2. OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS Like the Sooners, the Cowboys are undefeated heading into Week 7 against Texas. Head coach Mike Gundy has coordinated a run-pass option offense that has recorded 1,096 yards in the air and 796 yards on the ground. Oklahoma State’s defense has come up with 308 total tackles throughout five games and will look to improve upon that performance against a high-powered Texas offense come Saturday.

3. TEXAS LONGHORNS With maybe one of the toughest schedules in the Big 12 this season, the Longhorns’ Week 2 matchup against Arkansas tested a new Texas team early. The Longhorn offense only produced 256 yards against the Razorbacks, but quickly turned around their performance with back-to-back 600-plus-yard offensive performances against Rice and Texas Tech. On the road, the Longhorns defeated TCU, where newly named starting quarterback Casey Thompson took on his first Big 12 road matchup of his career. In Week 6, Texas dueled it out against the Sooners with an impressive performance, almost securing a win but ultimately being outcoached by Oklahoma’s Riley.

4. BAYLOR BEARS Baylor is 5–1 on the season with one loss to Oklahoma State in Week 5. Junior quarterback Gerry Bohanon has recorded 1,332 yards through six games and has a 66.2% completion percentage rating. The Bears creatively exercise the run-pass option, as they have 1,372 yards on the ground this season and almost 1,400 yards in the air. On the other side of the ball, the Baylor defense has a combined 375 total sacks. The Bears’ performance against No. 19 BYU on Saturday will provide clarity to the legitimacy of the team this season.

5. TCU HORNED FROGS In two close losses to both Texas and SMU at home, the Horned Frogs are 3–2 on the season. Junior quarterback Max Duggan has produced over 1,000 yards in the air with nine touchdowns and only two interceptions. The defense has a combined 18 interceptions heading into Week 7 and 282 total tackles. Like Baylor, the Horned Frogs enjoy exercising the run-pass option and also have almost equal yards on the ground as they do in the air. TCU’s Saturday matchup against powerhouse Oklahoma will further solidify the 2021 Horned Frogs’ reputation.

@kait_harmon

6. IOWA STATE CYCLONES The Cyclones prepare to face the hardest stretch of their schedule in Weeks 7, 9 and 11 against Oklahoma State, Texas and Oklahoma, respectively. Senior Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy’s 71.2% completed passing rating and 1,133 yards in the air gives the Cyclones a leg up against opposing defenses, but the program struggled against the Iowa Hawkeyes in a Week 2 loss – the Hawkeyes only accounted for 173 yards and won, comparable to the Cyclones’ 339 yards.

7. TEXAS TECH RAIDERS A demoralizing 70-35 loss to Texas could define the Red Raiders’ season. Against the Longhorns, Texas Tech put up 520 offensive yards and gave up 639 yards to a Texas offense with a new man under center. In Week 6, the Red Raiders faced TCU in a 21-point loss and gave up 558 yards, 394 of which were on the ground.

8. WEST VIRGINiA MOUNTAINEERS The Mountaineers are 2–4 heading into Week 7, with an 0–3 conference record. With three back-to-back losses against Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Baylor, the Mountaineers look ahead to TCU after a Week 7 bye week in an attempt to find themselves in a better conference position. West Virginia has one of the most total team tackles across all Big 12 teams, and came seconds close to beating No. 4 ranked Oklahoma in Week 4.

9. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS With zero wins in conference play, the Wildcats are searching for their first conference win against the Cyclones, who are 1–1 in the Big 12. Kansas State’s most impressive win came in Week 1 against Stanford with a 24-7 win, 344 total yards and 53 total tackles. The Wildcats are just shy of 1,000 passing yards and are under 900 yards while rushing.

10. KANSAS JAYHAWKS Both Kansas programs are winless in conference play, and the Jayhawks look to find only their second win of the season against the Red Raiders on Saturday. Kansas begins to gear up for its hardest stretch of the season with future opponents in Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and TCU. Kansas quarterback Jason Bean leads the team in both passing and rushing yards, and has been sacked seven times over the course of five games.

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friday, October 15, 2021

HEISMAN WATCH As college football officially enters the second part of the regular season in Week 7, the Heisman Trophy race is heating up after a historic weekend. Two quarterbacks — Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ole Miss’ Matt Corral — lead the pack of Heisman candidates, but impressive Week 6 performances from Michigan State and Texas running backs Kenneth Walker and Bijan Robinson are keeping the battle competitive.

bryce young - quarterback

By Christina Huang | @stina_huang

Bryce Young has been nothing short of spectacular this season, but a single failed conversion ultimately cost the Alabama Crimson Tide their 19-game winning streak. The successor of current New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, Young threw for 369 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the Tide’s historic loss to unranked Texas A&M. Despite costing Nick Saban his first loss since 2019, Young is still the Heisman frontrunner. Young’s Heisman stock slightly dipped after the Aggies sent Saban and team back to Alabama with broken hearts, but the sophomore quarterback arrived in College Station as the favorite by a large margin. Young recorded his season-best performance with 369 yards against an A&M defense, and he is still on track to be the Heisman winner despite Saturday’s unfortunate ending.

kenneth walker -running back Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker’s Heisman odds greatly improved after a dominant performance against Rutgers. Walker recorded 29 carries for 233 yards and a touchdown. Former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III listed Walker as his Heisman favorite in a Twitter post on Oct. 10. Walker currently leads the nation in rushing yards with 912 yards, and he also has 10 touchdowns this season, nine of which are rushing touchdowns. The junior enters Week 7 with better Heisman odds than in Week 6 as the Spartans pay a visit to the Indiana Hoosiers. If Walker beats out Young and Corral for the Heisman in December, he would become the first player from Michigan State to win the coveted Heisman Trophy.

Matt Corral - Quarterback After Ole Miss’ miracle win against No. 1 Arkansas, Matt Corral’s Heisman stock remains the same. Corral trails behind Young in the Heisman race as the second-favored Heisman Trophy candidate. Although Corral and the Rebels lost to Young and the Crimson Tide back in Week 5, Corral continues to enhance his performance. Corral has played exceptionally well this season with zero interceptions and has recorded two 300-yard passing performances. Against Louisville and Tulane, the junior put up a collective 716 yards. Corral opened the season with poorer Heisman Trophy odds, but his stock has greatly increased as the season continues week-by-week. If Corral can continue to keep his current performance level up for the remainder of the regular season, then the Ole Miss quarterback stands a good chance at dethroning current Heisman favorite Bryce Young and making an appearance in New York come December.

Bijan Robinson -Running back Even though the two frontrunners for the Heisman are quarterbacks, both Walker and Texas’ Bijan Robinson are keeping the race to New York competitive. According to PFF, 126 of Robinson’s 137 touches at the Red River Showdown came after contact. Robinson managed to pick apart Oklahoma’s defense despite Texas’ loss with a 50-yard run. The sophomore successfully broke 10 tackles on 20 carries, and continues to be a problem for opposing defenses as his Heisman stock improves each week. After Saturday’s loss and Robinson’s 137-yard performance, the running back’s Heisman odds doubled. Robinson’s stock could continue to become more valuable if he shows out against Oklahoma State on Saturday back in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

rocky higine / the daily texan staff

OPPONENTS TO WATCH

DOUBLE COVERAGE

By Ethan Ferguson | @ethan_ferguson6 The Oklahoma State Cowboys are currently ranked No. 12 in the nation and are on a seven-game win streak. Here are four Oklahoma State players the Longhorns should be on the lookout for if they wish to bounce back from an Oklahoma loss:

Jaylen Warren #7 - RB

Spencer Sanders #3 - QB

attempts going into Week 7. A product of Salt Lake City, the redshirt senior transferred from Utah State and immediately attracted attention from his arrival in the spring offseason. Up until Week 6, Warren has recorded six rushing touchdowns, two of which came from the Cowboys’ win over Baylor. Warren is a reliable option in the Cowboy’s passing game and has brought in nine receptions for 122 yards on the season. Prior to last season’s late start, Warcopyright the o’colly, and reproduced with ren was named to the Doak permission Walker Award watch list, an award presented to the nation’s premier running back. Jaylen Warren is a menace in the backfield and the starting running back Expect to see the Cowboys heavily use Warfor the Cowboys. Warren currently leads ren in the run-pass option against Texas the team with 512 rushing yards on 115 on Saturday.

Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2019. Two seasons later, Sanders leads the team in passing yards with 781 yards through 56 completions and a completion rate of 58.3%, where he has nearly the same amount of turnovers as touchdowns this season with five touchdown passes and four interceptions. Oklahoma State’s offensive line has allowed Sanders to be sacked six times this season, which the Texas defense will look to expose come Saturday. copyright the o’colly, and reproduced with permission Sanders earned the title of second-most passing yards for an Oklahoma State sophomore, and coming The man under center has shown immense promise since his fresh- off a season high in rushing yards in man year. Sanders, now a redshirt ju- Week 6, Sanders will look to extend nior, was the recipient of the Big 12 plays on his feet by running the ball.

Tay Martin #1 - WR

The senior wide receiver has been a dangerous threat downfield all season long. Tay Martin leads the Cowboys in total receiving yards with 317 yards and 21 receptions. The Houma, Louisiana product was one of six Cowboys who chose to stay for an additional season thanks to COVID-19 eligibility. Of the team’s six receiving touchdowns, Martin has two to his name. With an average reception distance of 15.1 yards – his longest being 27 yards – Texas’ defense needs to be cautious of the Cowboys’ impressive play maker.

Malcolm Rodriguez #20 - LB

Oklahoma product Malcolm Rodriguez stayed beside Martin as two of six players to use their additional year of COVID-19 eligibility. Martin leads the Cowboy’s defense in total tackles by a large margin. With 54 tackles on the season – 31 of which were solo tackles – Rodriguez leads the pack. The senior has forced two fumbles this season and has recovered one where he returned it downfield for a touchdown. Rodriguez started his career at safety, but has shown his abilities as a linebacker to stop the run, defend the pass and pressure the quarterback.

LONGHORNS IN THE NFL

friday, october 15, 2021

By Payne Williams | @paynewilliams5

elisabeth dillon

/ the daily texan file

QUANDRE DIGGS Seattle Seahawks

Quandre Diggs made his presence evident in the Seattle Seahawks’ secondary on Thursday night. The former Texas cornerback continues to be a playmaker on a struggling Seattle defense, having a recent interception in the endzone against the highly touted Los Angeles Rams. Diggs brought life to a slow-starting Thursday Night Football matchup with a much-needed turnover in the first quarter. After a quick 68-yard drive by the Rams and on the 8-yard line, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford rolled out on what looked to be a throw-away or miscommunication. Stafford ended up throwing an interception that landed in Diggs’ hands in the corner of the endzone. Diggs also recorded five solo tackles and a pass deflection. While Seattle wound up with a loss, Diggs flew around the field giving it his all in this NFC West rivalry game.

gabby lanza

/ the daily texan file

MICHAEL DICKSON

Seattle Seahawks

With perhaps one of the most bizarre special teams sequences in recent memory, former Longhorn punter Michael Dickson displayed his football IQ and his massive leg. The fourth-year punter – and one of the best in the NFL – made the most out of a blocked punt between the Rams and the Seahawks. In the third quarter, a regular punt turned to chaos on the field and confusion among fans when Dickison’s punt was blocked and the former Texas punter chased after the ball, scooped it up on the run and booted a monster 68-yard punt in traffic. The punt pinned the Rams back at their own 10-yard line instead of opting for points on the board.

SAM COSMI

joshua guerra

/ the daily texan file

Washington Football Team

CONNER WILLIAMS

Sam Cosmi continues to prove on Sundays why he’s one of the best rookies of the 2021 draft class. Coming into this week, the rookie out of Texas was PFF’s ninth-highest graded rookie, ahead of players like New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore. Selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Washington Football Team offensive tackle solidified himself as one of the top run-blockers in the league when he plowed the way for an Antonio Gibson touchdown. Cosmi cleared two layers of defenders, leaving a clear path for Gibson to score. This season, Cosmi has established himself as a reliable run-blocker and one of the brightest rookies in the league.

Another former Texas offensive lineman showed out in the trenches on Sunday. Dallas Cowboys’ Connor Williams played a crucial role on the Cowboys’ offensive line in a matchup against their division rival, the New York Giants, in Arlington. Williams faced the daunting task of facing a stout Giants defensive line, but the big man up front didn’t waiver. Behind Williams and the Dallas line, the Cowboys rushed for 201 yards against the G-Men to put America’s Team at more than 800 rushing yards over the past four weeks. Williams’ pulling ability allowed Dallas to stretch out the offense and clear second-level defenders on the way to the Cowboys’ dominant 44-20 victory over the Giants.

Dallas Cowboys