The Texas offense has seen 12 different players find their way into the endzone this season.
That includes seven wide receivers, three running backs, one tight end and one quarterback.
Having this amount of depth on the roster has proven to be one of the most influential factors in the Longhorns’ dominance across their four early-season matchups, as they’ve been able to outscore their four opponents 190-22.
Since a physical showing from UTSA in week three, the program has seen multiple parts of its offense injured, most notably starting quarterback Quinn Ewers and running backs Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner. More recently, wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. took a hit against Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday.
Despite these individual absences on the field, there’s been no absence in scoring production from Texas.
Having the ability to play at a high level of football under less-than-ideal circumstances will be necessary to match the competition that awaits them over the next eight weeks of conference play, according to senior offensive lineman Jake Majors.
“When it comes to the trenches, like people getting banged up, that’s the nature of the game. And when you can have guys roll in and there’s no drop off in the level of play, that’s kind of what allows you to play in these tough conferences like the SEC,” Majors said.
The fifth-year specifically highlighted the fact that second-string redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning stepped in for Ewers against UTSA and ULM and managed to secure two blowout victories.
In his starting debut for Texas against the Warhawks, Manning connected with 11 teammates for 15 receptions and aided five players in the team’s 52 rush attempts, capitalizing on the return of Blue after he suffered an ankle sprain against the Roadrunners the weekend prior.
“To have a quality backup quarterback who can come in and perform at the level that he has, just helps support what Sark’s saying about having depth,” Majors said.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian has preached about the extent of the talent within his team since the beginning of the year, especially surrounding the wide receiver room. The departures of now-professional athletes Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell and Jordan Whittington left questions as to who Sarkisian would promote to take their place. The answers came in the forms of transfers Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden and Silas Bolden, who have all risen to the occasion of efficiently adapting to the NFL-caliber offense Sarkisian has developed.
Combined with these additions from the transfer portal, Sarkisian sees major potential in freshman Ryan Wingo and sophomore Johntay Cook Ⅱ, who stand in the top five for most receiving yards on the team. The two underclassmen have a combined 345 yards on just 16 receptions and had some opportunities with the ball against ULM when Moore went down early in the first half.
“We’re playing all those guys, and each week, you don’t know which one’s going to be the guy that’s going to have that impact,” Sarkisian said. “DeAndre Moore gets a hip pointer. I don’t have to force him back out there, because we’ve got these five other guys that can play at a high level. So it’s a really good luxury to have.”
That luxury will surely be emphasized against Mississippi State, which lost its starting quarterback Blake Shapen ahead of its matchup against Texas this upcoming Saturday.
While it’s still unclear whether or not Ewers will make his return at the helm, his teammates can rest assured knowing they have talented assets at all positions to make the Longhorns’ first SEC game another stunning victory, with or without some key playmakers.
