Longhorns get second chance at making a first impression
A year after Herman’s embarrassing debut, UT can make amends
LANDOVER, Md. — Rock bottom was heralded by a downpour of debris.
The passing torrent of cardboard fans and miscellaneous trash, made more jarring against the pristine skies above Royal-Memorial Stadium, signaled the conclusion of coach Tom Herman’s honeymoon. By game’s end, when Texas floated off the field 51-41 losers to Maryland, it was clear this program restoration was going to be more incremental than instantaneous.
“We’re our own worst enemy right now,” Herman said last September following his gloomy Texas debut. “And I think —what I told them, I wish I hadn’t prophesied as much, but we knew there would be adversity and we knew the key to the adversity would be how we responded to it.
“Just, why can’t we get out of our own way?”
Texas has mostly tried to wipe last year’s season opener from its collective memory. The Longhorns, after all, never really resembled the group ambushed and vanquished by Maryland in Week 1. There were missteps aplenty, but nothing quite like that debacle.
Herman and Co. are wary not to put too much stock in “momentum” gained from a Texas Bowl victory over Missouri, but the 33-16 win felt, at the least, like a small step in the right direction.
“We went 7-and-6 last year, and until we step out on the field and play a game, everything from our last game until now says that, you know, we are the last iteration of what you saw us,” Herman said.
“Do I feel confident in the fact that we've improved and developed, our kids, our players, our coaches? Do the people in that building feel confident that we have developed? Absolutely.”
Sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger won the right to start Saturday’s opener at FedEx Field after a prolonged battle with junior Shane Buechele. The offensive line is fully healthy and received a welcome addition in Rice graduate transfer Calvin Anderson, who will take over at left tackle. Cal graduate transfer Tre Watson, freshman Keaontay Ingram, and sophomore Daniel Young are primed to lead a multi-pronged rushing attack. Receivers Collin Johnson, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and Devin Duvernay have drawn raves all offseason.
The defense is again expected to be this team’s strength despite losing three would-be senior starters to the NFL — Malik Jefferson, Holton Hill, DeShon Elliott — in addition to havocwreaking nose tackle Poona Ford. And this group, at least at linebacker, is battered.
Senior Anthony Wheeler is suspended for the first half due to a targeting ejection during last year’s bowl win. Sophomore Demarco Boyd remains barred from engaging in all team activates following a charge of misdemeanor assault during a July 4 traffic accident. Freshmen Demarvion Overshown (knee) and Ayodele Adeoye (knee) are out indefinitely. Senior Jeffrey McCulloch (pectoral) is a game-time decision.
Still, defensive coordinator Todd Orlando says this group should be better prepared this time around. His defense touts 10 upperclassmen starters plus wunderkind freshman safety Caden Sterns. Linemen Breckyn Hanger, Chris Nelson, Charles Omenihu have the potential to transform UT’s pass rush, while speedy senior linebacker Gary Johnson spearheads the attack at linebacker.
That experience will be vital. Maryland’s starting offensive line remains fully intact from last season. It returned 97 percent of its total rushing yards. Both redshirt sophomore Tyrrell Pigrome and redshirt freshman Kasim Hill – interim coach Matt Candada has kept his starter under wraps – are dangerous on the move.
“They’re experienced upfront and they knocked us around last year,” Orlando said. “And their backs are legit. I mean when you look at them collectively, almost 1,900 yards last year in a league that prides themselves on stopping the run. You’re playing some legitimate run defenses up there. Those are legit guys.”
While Herman has found himself drawn into the ongoing controversy at Ohio State, Maryland spent this summer mourning 19-year-old offensive lineman Jordan McNair, who died on June 13 two weeks after suffering a heatstroke during practice. Thirdyear coach D.J. Durkin remains away from the team on paid administrative leave as an external investigation into the program’s health and safety procedures continues.
Texas, ranked No. 23 in the Associated Preseason poll for a second consecutive season, hasn’t had full blinders on. It’s aware of everything the Terrapins have endured this offseason, but the focus since fall practice began has been squarely internal.
The motto they’ve rallied around: “Prove us right, that’s it,” senior cornerback Kris Boyd said. “We want to prove us right. Nobody else matters. We ain’t trying to prove no point to nobody else but each other.”