The Texas Longhorns are starting over in 2017, Tom Herman in charge of rebooting the program. Expectations will always be high in Texas, even for a new head coach. Winning a Big 12 title might not be in the cards, but a bowl game needs to be. To get back to the Texas of old, the Longhorns need these three players to step up and have breakout seasons.
1) QB Shane Buechele
Shane Buechele is going to be Texas' starting quarterback next season, no matter what Herman refuses to say. He was dynamite early in the season but fell apart late, throwing two touchdowns and five interceptions in the last three games of the year (all losses). Some of that can be blamed on him being a true freshman, but the Longhorns can't afford him to have any kind of a drop off. Luckily, it looks like that won't happen.
Now that Tom Herman is in town, Buechele is expected to take another (big) leap forward by becoming more consistent in his decision-making. If Herman can get him to play like some of his other pupils (J.T. Barrett, Greg Ward), the Texas offense will shine.
2) LB Malik Jefferson
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Jefferson was named the 2016 preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as everyone expected a breakout and massive season from the talented. At the end of the year, Jefferson didn't even make honorable mention. His tackles dropped from 61 to 60, although he had nine tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. The hope is that new defensive coordinator Todd Orlando can maximize Jefferson's ability in the way Charlie Strong and Co. failed to. If that happens, Jefferson will be one of the best linebackers in college football. Texas' defense needs a leader they can follow, and the onus is on Jefferson to be that guy.
3) RB Chris Warren III
Quite literally, D'Onta Foreman carried the Texas offense last year. He racked up over 2,000 yards on the ground and had nearly 70 percent of the team's rushing yards. But with Foreman (and Tyrone Swoopes) off to the NFL, Texas must replace 71 percent of the team's carries, 75 percent of the rushing yards and all but five rushing touchdowns. The bulk of that burden will far on Warren, who had 62 carries for 366 yards and three touchdowns before an injury cut his year short.
He showed great promise his freshman year and Herman was impressed with him in workouts. If Warren can stay healthy, he'll be in for a big year - even if he doesn't match Foreman's monster numbers.
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