Bijan Robinson, Texas Longhorns. (Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Look for the Texas football team to be so much better under new head coach Steve Sarkisian.
While the Texas football program will probably not be contending for a College Football Playoff berth this season, the Longhorns will be making great strides under their new head coach Steve Sarkisian.
After spending the last two seasons coordinating the Alabama Crimson Tide’s offense, Sarkisian plans to make the most of his last chance as a Power Five head coach down in Texas. By year two in Austin, he could have the Longhorns contending for a playoff berth coming out of the Big 12. For now, it is all about getting the most out of the high-end talent he inherited from Tom Herman.
Here are two potential breakout stars on the Texas roster that are ready for the national stage.
Bijan Robinson can be the biggest breakout star for Texas football
Bijan Robinson will help usher in a new offensive era of Texas football
With longtime starting quarterback Sam Ehlinger having turned pro, this means a new signal-caller will be under center in Austin. Whether that guy is Hudson Card or Casey Thompson, he will be getting a huge boost by way of the emerging star Texas has in the backfield. Of course, we are talking about former five-star running back in sophomore Bijan Robinson. He will be breaking out.
As a true freshman a season ago, Robinson had 86 carries for 703 yards and four rushing touchdowns. He also had 15 receptions out of the backfield for 196 yards and two additional trips to pay dirt. Keep in mind that Robinson did all this in only nine games in his first year away from his native Tucson, Arizona. Assuming he plays in 12 games this year, he could eclipse 1,000 yards.
Overall, Robinson has the potential to not only leapfrog Iowa State’s Breece Hall as the best running back in the Big 12, but he could potentially be the third Longhorns back to win the Heisman Trophy. While that may not happen this fall, Robinson is the most gifted player the Longhorns have offensively this season. Everyone will know his name after this year.
Even if Robinson explodes out of the backfield, the Longhorns do need a defensive star to emerge.