AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas football program is rolling right now. The mojo around the program continues to rise as the Longhorns just took control of the game against Michigan to move to 2-0.
All coaches will mention how important it is to win in the trenches with offensive and defensive lineman. For Texas, they’ve had a focus on recruiting ‘Big Humans’ as they like to call them to sure up the line.
That physicality the Longhorns play with up front has improved under head coach Steve Sarkisian. But Sarkisian knows that physical nature extends beyond lineman.
“I think physical, most people think the runners and the line of scrimmage. We try to look at it in totality.”
A prime example of that came in Saturday’s win over Michigan. Quinn Ewers threw a swing pass to running back Quintrevion Wisner in the first half. Wisner gained about 15 yards and had a lane to move out of bounds.
With Michigan defensive back Will Johns on bearing down on him, Wisner elected to run through Johnson instead. The Wolverines defender spun around to the turf while the Longhorns running back moved out of bounds on his feet with an 18 yard gain.
“[Running Backs] Coach [Tashard] Choice is real big on sideline courage,” said the sophomore running back. “I know anytime I’m by the sideline before I go out of bounds, I better lean in to somebody and give them that hat.”
That play led to Texas’ second touchdown of the game where freshman running back Jerrick Gibson put the Longhorns up 14-3. The veteran presence in the running back room Jaydon Blue knows how big a play like that can be.
“First, it gives us a lot of confidence in us as running backs,” said Blue. “It brings juice to the team. With Tre doing that, that changes a lot in a game.”
The Texas defense, which has looked outstanding in their first two games, also took notice of the Wisner play and what it meant for the team.
“That just turns me up,” said Longhorns senior linebacker David Gbenda. “Tre Wisner, he’s a dog. Wherever you got him on the field, he’s going to be a dog. That just sort of sets the tone for us.”
“It kind of gives us a spark on the sideline,” said Longhorns senior EDGE Barryn Sorrell. “Even from the defense just looking at that, seeing our guys over there being physical and doing what we talked about before throughout the week, it excites all of us.”
Wisner and the Longhorns now return home for three games, the first of which is 6:00 p.m. Saturday against UTSA. Texas Gameday is the official pregame show of Texas football and airs Saturday at 5:00 p.m. on KBVO.