Looking for silver lining
AUSTIN — All the talk of Texas challenging for a Big 12 title feels like a lifetime ago. The luster that accompanied the university’s hiring of Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian as head coach already has started to rust. Six straight losses, the program’s longest skid since 1956, will do that.
All that’s really left to play for in Friday’s game against Kansas State (7-4, 4-4 Big 12) at Royal-Memorial Stadium is pride. Well, that and trying to avoid losing seven straight for the first
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
Who starts at QB?
1
Sarkisian said he expects junior Casey Thompson (thumb) to start. His health will be paramount with redshirt freshman Hudson Card (ankle) considered a game-time decision.
But even if Thompson, who exited last week’s loss to West Virginia in extreme pain, is cleared, Texas remains dangerously thin at quarterback. If Card is ruled out and Thompson has to be pulled, the Longhorns would turn to third-year walk-on Ben Ballard.
The 5-11 Ballard hasn’t thrown a pass in a regular season game since 2018, his senior season at Austin Hyde Park Baptist. That year, he completed 51.9 percent of his passes for 2,059 yards with 19 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also rushed for six touchdowns.
Will Deuce run wild?
2
At 5-foot-6, Wildcats sophomore running back Deuce Vaughn looks like a David weaving between a tangle of Goliaths on the field. And like the legend itself, the little guy tends to win these skirmishes.
Vaughn is averaging 143.6 total yards per game (101.3 rushing) and leads K-State with 17 touchdowns (14 rushing). He also has a teambest 45 receptions, a mark buoyed by a 10-catch outing in a 37-31 loss to Oklahoma on Oct. 2.
Texas beat the Wildcats 69-31 in last year’s regular-season finale, but Vaughn still feasted, rushing for 125 yards and two scores while adding 45 yards on four catches.
Who will fill in at linebacker?
3
Starting middle linebacker and second-leading tackler Luke Brockermeyer (knee) has been ruled out. And starting weakside linebacker and leading tackler DeMarvion Overshown (foot) could miss his second straight game.
Sophomore Jaylan Ford will play a key role regardless of Overshown’s game-time status. He’s flashed this season, growing into a larger role after recording a career-best 12 tackles with one quarterback hurry Oct. 16 against Oklahoma State.
But if Overshown is limited or fully sidelined, there would be enhanced opportunities for sophomore David Gbenda, among others. A former All-American four-star recruit, Gbenda has produced 20 tackles, 1½ for loss and two pass breakups in 10 games.
Will Worthy set more records?
4
Xavier Worthy already owns Texas’ freshman records for receptions (56), receiving yards (916) and receiving touchdowns (12). Now he can set his sights higher.
With just 70 more yards, Worthy can climb into the Longhorns’ all-time single-season top 10.
Worthy needs 84 more yards to time since, of course, that dreadful ’56 campaign.
Texas (4-7, 2-6) also could “earn” its first last-place Big 12 finish if it losses to the Wildcats and Kansas upsets West Virginia. In other words, it’s been a tumultuous debut for Sarkisian.
“I’m built for this,” Sarkisian said Monday. “Ultimately, a lot of the things we’ve been through this year I think are actually going to be really good for us. I can’t envision that we’re going to have another year exactly like this.” record the 11th 1,000-yard season in program history. And he’s just one touchdown short of matching Jordan Shipley’s single-season record of 13 touchdown receptions.
The electric freshman also has an outside shot of shooting up into the top 10 in single-season receptions, needing 12 to tie John Harris and Collin Johnson at No. 10. Worthy is capable — he caught 14 balls against Kansas and nine against Oklahoma.
Which seniors will go out in style?
5
This isn’t the Senior Day anyone on Texas envisioned. Still, the program will recognize 29 graduating seniors before Friday’s game, and a few could leave a big imprint on their final game in burnt orange.
Kicker/punter Cameron Dicker has made 57 career field goals and needs to hit just two to match Phil Dawson’s program record. And Dicker, currently averaging 47.26 yards per punt, also has a chance to surpass Michael Dickson’s program record for single-season punting average (47.43) set back in 2017.
Other notable senior starters to watch include right tackle Derek Kerstetter, right guard Tope Imade, tight end Cade Brewer, nose tackle Keondre Coburn and safety Brenden Schooler.
“This week is about celebrating our seniors,” Sarkisian said. “They’ve given a lot to the university; they’ve given a lot to this program. They’ve been through a lot. We gotta make sure we do a great job for them.”