Between the Hashes: Numbers Inside Week 5
Texas dominated the Jayhawks on the ground last season, but can they replicate that success this year.? Photo: Texas Athletics
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Starting off with a sore spot for all of Longhorn nation. The last time Texas welcomed KU to Austin, the Jayhawks put up 57 points on Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense - including 49 in regulation. You have to think on some level, the Longhorn coaches are still thinking about that game and the manner in which it was lost. We have not seen a Texas defense get torched like that ever since - not even close. While Texas did exact some revenge with a 55-14 drubbing at Kansas last year, there are still residual effects for what happened that night in Austin, and home fans would love nothing more than to pay back the Jayhawks once more over.
Fast forward two years later, and 2023 represents a much different time for the Horns’ defense - one that is dominating its opponents to this point. Texas ranks in the top 20 in the nation in points allowed, rush yards allowed, 3rd down defense, and sacks. By almost every metric, this is a top tier, elite defense in all of college football. Don’t expect to see 57 points on the board by the other side this time around.
Jonathon Brooks has logged back-to-back games with 100+ yards on the ground, and looks to be only getting started. Photo: Tim Warner, Getty Images
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It’s the number of broken tackles by Texas running back Jonathon Brooks through just 4 games. It also happens to be his jersey number. Brooks has been showing true Mamba mentality this season by never giving up on a run and fighting for every yard. You can tell he has worked hard at his craft and in the weight room. Averaging 6 broken tackles per game is pretty crazy and it’s that kind of toughness and physicality that has earned him the starting job.
For Kansas, they’ve got a guy in Devin Neal at running back that’s a proven commodity and a real problem - the good kind, if you’re a Jayhawk fan. Neal averages a whopping 6.9 yards per carry and that is good for 8th in the entire nation, among qualified runners. Not so nice if you are the Longhorns defense trying to slow him down. Luckily for Texas, they have what I previously mentioned in a stout run defense, but one that will face its biggest test yet against this Jayhawk rushing attack. Whichever team is able to get their lead back going and establish the run is going to be able to control the flow and tempo of this game, in a matchup where the number of possessions are going to be crucial.
Xavier Worthy’s constant threat is opening up the field for other receivers. Photo: Unknown
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He still needs 7 more yards!!
I referenced in last week’s column that Texas WR Xavier Worthy needed 38 yards to surpass 2,000 for his career with the Longhorns. Well, he got 31 in the win at Baylor. He did add on a 35-yard pass, however, so he earned some style points. I guess we will get to see him hit the milestone in front of the home crowd of 100,000+ on Saturday (surely this time, right??).
Worthy’s down receiving totals in certain games can be a product of defenses paying him more attention by double covering him or offering safety help over to his side. This has opened up the field for the Horns’ other pass catchers to have big performances - such as the one by Ja’Tavion Sanders vs. Baylor. Just the threat of Worthy has become a huge weapon for this Texas offense. The ability of Quinn Ewers to spread the ball around efficiently in the upcoming game with Kansas will be a key to the game, and it all starts with Xavier Worthy.
This is the second consecutive week I have put a spotlight on X to deliver the goods and eclipse 2K career yards - I will not stop until he does!
Hook ‘em
