Double Coverage 2017-10-29

THE DAILY TEXAN PRESENTS

DOUBLE COVERAGE VOLUME 12 ISSUE 08 | 27 OCT 2017

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

TEXAN

STAFF PICKS

photos by gabriel lopez daily texan staff ALEX BRISEÑO

TRENTON DAESCHNER

STEVE HELWICK

DREW KING

MORGAN KUEHLER

WILLS LAYTON

VANESSA LE

DALTON PHILLIPS

KESHAV PRATHIVADI

MICHAEL SHAPIRO

COIN FLIP

Last Week's Record

9–1

8–2

9–1

8–2

10–0

5–5

7–3

7–3

8–2

8–2

4–6

Texas vs.

Baylor

Texas 28-21

Texas 27-14

Texas 31-21

Texas 31-17

Texas 45-10

Texas 42-14

Texas 28-14

Texas 56-0

Texas 24-17

Texas 28-13

Texas

No. 2 Penn State vs.

No. 6 Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Penn State

Ohio State

Penn State

Penn State

Penn State

Ohio State

Penn State

Ohio State

No. 4 TCU vs.

No. 25 Iowa State

TCU

TCU

TCU

TCU

TCU

TCU

TCU

TCU

TCU

TCU

TCU

Georgia Tech vs.

No. 7 Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

No. 11 Oklahoma State vs.

No. 22 West Virginia

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State

West Virginia

No. 14 NC State vs.

No. 9 Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

NC State

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

NC State

Notre Dame

Texas A&M vs.

Mississippi State

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Mississippi State

Mississippi State

Mississippi State

Mississippi State

Texas A&M

Mississippi State

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas Tech vs.

No. 10 Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Texas Tech

Louisville vs.

Wake Forest

Louisville

Louisville

Wake Forest

Louisville

Louisville

Louisville

Louisville

Louisville

Wake Forest

Louisville

Louisville

Houston vs.

No. 17 South Florida

South Florida

South Florida

Houston

South Florida

South Florida

South Florida

South Florida

Houston

South Florida

South Florida

South Florida

Overall Record

51–19

51–19

53–17

53–17

49–21

45–25

49–21

45–25

51–19

52–18

38–32

EDITOR’S Last Saturday, Texas held then-No. 10 Oklahoma State to 10 points in regulation, forcing yet another game into overtime for the third time this season. But then freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger threw an interception into the waiting arms of an Oklahoma State de e der e di g the ga e ith the fi al score o 10. The loss to the Cowboys was déjà vu for Longhorn a s ho had ash acks o disappoi ti g overti e losses to ranked USC and Oklahoma programs earlier this season. However, Texas will head to Waco this weekend to face Baylor, a team that is still looking for its first i o the seaso aturda s ga e is a ideal opportunity for Texas to recover from its close losses.

The Daily Texan presents

DOUBLE COVERAGE VOLUME 12 ISSUE 08 | OCTOBER 27, 2017 DOUBLE COVERAGE EDITOR .............................. Vanessa Le DESIGN EDITOR ............................... Maya Haws-Shaddock PHOTO EDITOR ............................................. Gabriel Lopez COPY EDITOR ............................................ Morgan Kuehler COVER PHOTO ............................................... Juan Figueroa WRITERS Alex Briseño Trenton Daeschner Steve Helwick Drew King Wills Layton Dalton Phillips Keshav Prathivadi Michael Shapiro

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

TEXAS WINS IF

TEXAS LOSES IF

By Drew King @drewking0222

Though the show ended before he was born, Sam Ehlinger is still showing “Growing Pains” every week.

The freshman quarterback has shown some promise. He’s completed 55.7 percent of his passes and thrown for six touchdowns this year. However, his decision making has been questionable at times.

Ehlinger has five fumbles and four interceptions in just five games this year. His inability to keep possession of the ball often causes the Texas offense to sputter and lack a consistent flow. This was especially evident in the Longhorns’ 13-10 loss to Oklahoma State last Saturday.

On a drive during the second quarter, Ehlinger led Texas into field goal range on Oklahoma State’s 27-yard line. Following the snap on second-and-10, Oklahoma State redshirt junior defensive end Trey Carter made his way into the Longhorn backfield. Ehlinger backpedaled away, but was sacked and lost the ball on contact. The ball was recovered by the quarterback, but Texas lost 34 yards on the play and ultimately was forced to punt.

Later in overtime, on the last play of the game, Ehlinger rolled to his left and threw a lob intended for junior wide receiver Jerrod Heard. The ball sailed past Heard into the hands of Oklahoma State senior safety Ramon Richards, effectively ending the game.

The Longhorns win against Baylor if Ehlinger can cut down on his mistakes. The Bears’ defense averages 39.7 points allowed per game. Ehlinger doesn’t need to be perfect — freshman quarterbacks rarely are.

But if he can keep the offense on the field and make smart decisions rather than mental errors, Texas is bound to score more than 10 points. carlos garcia | daily texan staff

HEISMAN SAQUON BARKLEY PENN STATE RUNNING BACK, #26

Barkley caught, juggled and caught yet another touchdown to add to his monster year so far. In a convincing display, Barkley added 161 total yards and three touchdowns in a 42-13 win over then-No. 19 Michigan as he continues to be a leading contender for this year’s hardware.

In what is shaping up to be a game with big College Football Playoff ramifications, Barkley and the Nittany Lions will travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on No. 6 Ohio State. The Buckeyes will be hungry for revenge following last year’s loss at the hands of Penn State, so expect a closely contested game this time around.

BRYCE LOVE STANFORD RUNNING BACK, #20

A bye week prevented the junior back from gaining any yards this past weekend, but it didn’t stop him from falling out of the Heisman conversation either.

As long as Love, the nation’s leading

rusher, can keep up his torrid pace on the ground, he’ll be receiving an invite to New York in December.

The Cardinal will play at Oregon State this weekend in what looks to be a favorable matchup for Stanford.

BAKER MAYFIELD OKLAHOMA QUARTERBACK, #6

After an emotional win over Texas, Mayfield and the Sooners engaged in an old-fashioned Big 12 shootout at Kansas State. The redshirt senior passed for 410 yards and two touchdowns en route to a 42-35 win over the Wildcats.

Mayfield led his team from behind in the Sooners’ win over Kansas State, helping the team score 22 points to complete the fourth quarter comeback.

He has proven his mettle this season in close games as well, throwing 11 of his 19 touchdowns on the year in games that are decided by seven or fewer points.

The No. 10 Sooners will host a reeling Texas Tech team which has lost consecutive games. As 20-point

Though Baylor has yet to when a game this season, the offense has had its moments. In Baylor’s game against then-No. 23 West Virginia last week, the Bears nearly pulled off an upset thanks to a 23-point fourth quarter by the high-scoring unit.

Freshman running back Tristan Ebner led the charge both on the ground and through the air. Ebner rushed just three times, but picked up 54 yards and a score. He also caught five passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Still, the Mountaineers were able to hold off the rally, edging out Baylor, 38-36.

Texas loses this game if the defense allows big performances such as Ebner’s. Unlike West Virginia, the Longhorn offense doesn’t have the firepower to simply outscore an opposing team.

The defense has stepped up to the challenge for the most part, but has also shown that it’s capable of unraveling. The unit that picked off opposing quarterbacks in six straight games is the same one that gave up 51 points to Maryland in Week 1. If Texas plays like it did against the Terrapins, Baylor could pick up its first win at the Longhorns’ expense. juan figueroa | daily texan staff

By Keshav Prathivadi @kpthefirst

favorites, the Sooners should not have trouble putting the Red Raiders away.

JOSH ADAMS NOTRE DAME RUNNING BACK, #33

Just like Bryce Love, Josh Adams has run his way up the Heisman rankings.

His 191-yard, three-touchdown effort on the ground against USC last week not only established Notre Dame as a legitimate College Football Playoff contender, but Adams as a premier running back as well.

The junior back has accumulated 967 rushing yards this season and has rushed for over 100 yards in three straight games. Another reason for Adams’ emergence as a Heisman contender is his penchant for creating big plays — the junior back has a run of 60 yards or more in all but two games this year.

The Fighting Irish will host No. 14 NC State in South Bend, Indiana this weekend. The Wolfpack sport a tough run defense which allows only 91 yards per game, so expect a tough battle at the line of scrimmage between the two sides.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

gabriel lopez| daily texan staff

Senior wide receiver Armanti Foreman runs with the football at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The senior has been sidelined for the past two games, as head coach Tom Herman cited poor practices as the reason for Foreman’s benching.

COLUMN

Muddled offensive depth chart raises questions for Texas

By Michael Shapiro @mshap2

As quarterback Sam Ehlinger rolled to his left on Texas’ final play against now No. 11 Oklahoma State on Saturday, he had three receivers to find in the endzone. The freshman could have flung the ball to senior Lorenzo Joe or junior Jerrod Heard on the left side of the formation, or hauled a prayer to sophomore Devin Duvernay streaking across the back of the endzone from the right sideline.

Ehlinger ultimately chose none of the three options, instead floating an ill-advised interception to an Oklahoma State defender, ending the contest 13-10 in overtime. But as puzzling as Ehlinger’s decision-making was in the redzone, equally as perplexing were his options at wideout before the play started. The Longhorns’ catch leader Reggie HemphillMapps stood on the sidelines as the ball was snapped, as did 6-foot-6-inch standout Collin Johnson.

With third down and the game on the line, the Longhorn offense attacked the endzone with its two top targets out of action. Joe, Heard and Duvernay failed to create separation, and seconds later the Longhorns dropped under .500 for the second time this season, losing their second-straight contest against a ranked opponent.

The overtime blunder wasn’t an isolated incident. As the Longhorns head into Week 9 with goals of a winning

season now seriously in doubt, questions persist regarding the offense’s depth chart — starting at wide receiver.

While just a sophomore, Johnson has established himself as one of the more imposing wide receivers in the Big 12.

He uses his large frame to sky above opposing defenders for contested catches and isn’t afraid to go over the middle. Enter the red zone, and there are few targets more dangerous for opposing defenses. After tallying 125 yards in the season opener against Maryland and 191 yards two weeks later against USC, it looked as though Texas would target Johnson early and often each week.

But over the past two games, that’s been far from the case.

The San Jose, California native compiled just five receptions over the past two weeks, and now, he sits below senior Dorian Leonard — who has 11 catches this season — on the depth chart.

“Dorian practiced and played better in the Oklahoma game, and we’ll evaluate how they played and practiced,” head coach Tom Herman said. “ Each game and each week of practice is an independent event.”

Leonard is a quality contributor, and a net plus to the Longhorn receiving corps. However, it doesn’t take a seasoned offensive coordinator to see the boost Johnson

provides Texas’ offense. Keeping him on the sideline, especially in red zone situations, significantly hampers the Longhorn attack.

Then there’s the case of senior Armanti Foreman. The Longhorns’ leading receiver in 2016, Foreman has been relegated to the bench for much of this season, missing each of the past two games. And not due to injury, either. Herman cited poor practices as the reason for Foreman’s benching, stressing practice’s importance in determining who sees the field each Saturday. “(Foreman’s) got to practice better and play better than Jerrod (Heard) and Reggie (Hemphill-Mapps), just like anywhere,” Herman said. “At certain positions, you need to prod guys to go a little bit because there may not be as much competition, but at (wide receiver) you’ve got to go. It’s extremely competitive.”

After registering just 13 points against Oklahoma State, it’s now clear that the Longhorns need to revitalize their offense. But benching two of the team’s most potent weapons is far from the answer. To keep track with opposing Big 12 offenses in the season’s final five weeks, Herman must look past Texas’ practice bubble and get his playmakers onto the field when Texas’ offense needs them most.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

KEYS TO THE GAME

@willsdebeast

the final five games, starting with their match against Baylor this weekend.

The Longhorns have been able to rebound from disappointment already this season, winning San Jose State after their loss to Maryland and rattling off two Big 12 victories following the USC loss. In order for the team to move forward and collect the three wins necessary for a bowl game, shaking off the disappointment is a must.

GET THE RUNNING GAME BACK ON TRACK

Aside from the one screen pass that junior John Burt took 90 yards, the offense was quite frankly offensive to watch versus Oklahoma State. Freshman Sam Ehlinger could not get it going through the air or on the ground, and the running back duo of freshman Toneil Carter and junior Chris Warren III could not generate any more than 36 yards combined.

Ehlinger ran for over 100 yards against both Oklahoma and Kansas State, but without that kind of production on the ground, the offense stalls. Passing lanes close up because there is no run game to keep the defense honest.

Baylor does not have a lot going for them at the moment, but the one thing they do have is a decent run defense. Last week, the Bears held a ranked West Virginia team to 118 rushing yards. While the matchup favors the Longhorns, the run offense will have to get on track to put the game away.

CONTINUE THE DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE

SHAKE OFF THE DISAPPOINTMENT

Texas has suffered a handful of disappointing losses this season, from losing in double overtime to USC to the gut-wrenching overtime loss to Oklahoma State last weekend.

A loss to the Bears would be almost as catastrophic

By Wills Layton

brooke crim | daily texan staff

as last year’s loss to Kansas. In order for the Longhorns to make a bowl game, they will have to win three out of

Prior to last Saturday’s game, Oklahoma State had scored over 41 points in each of its victories. Holding the Cowboys to 10 points in regular time and 13 overall was quite a feat.

Throughout the entire season, Texas has shown elite defensive ability. The USC game was the first glimpse — the Longhorns controlled the run game and limited Heisman candidate Sam Darnold’s effectiveness. In both the Iowa State and Oklahoma State games, the defense limited the opposing offenses to a combined 20 points.

While Baylor may not pose as much of a challenge to the Texas defense, the team needs to keep up the pace and maintain the strong performance regardless of its opponent.

GAMES TO WATCH

eNO. 11 OKLAHOMA STATE AT NO. 22 WEST VIRGINIA SATURDAY, 11 A.M., ABC

e The offenses should be alive and well in Morgantown, West Virginia on Saturday -morning. Mountaineer quarterback Will Grier leads the FBS in passing touchdowns with f26 and Cowboy quarterback Mason Rudolph checks in at first nationally with 2,650 passing nyards. Rudolph and Oklahoma State escaped Austin with a 13-10 victory, thanks to an over,time interception by senior safety Ramon Richards, and the offense will hope to get back on etrack during the road trip. West Virginia has lost two close games to ranked teams, but the Mountaineers remain undefeated on their home turf this season. The winner will avoid its nsecond conference loss and keep its Big 12 Championship Game hopes alive. e oNO. 2 PENN STATE AT NO. 6 OHIO STATE hSATURDAY, 2:30 P.M., FOX s This matchup for Big Ten East supremacy serves as a revenge game for both parties involved. Ohio State looks to avenge its 24-21 loss to the Nittany Lions last October, when ,Penn State cornerback Grant Haley scooped up a blocked field goal for a touchdown to pro-pel his team back to national prominence. For Penn State, the Nittany Lions were snubbed sfrom the College Football Playoff despite winning the Big Ten, thanks to Ohio State’s bet2ter overall record. The stars will show up in Columbus, Ohio, with the nation’s all-purpose kyard leader Saquon Barkley — who scored three touchdowns last week in a whited-out eBeaver Stadium in a 42-13 win over Michigan — taking on senior quarterback J.T. Barrett (18-straight touchdown passes without an interception) and his one-loss Buckeyes.

By Steve Helwick @s_helwick

NO. 4 TCU AT NO. 25 IOWA STATE SATURDAY, 2:30 P.M., ABC

Who would have thought Iowa State would find a ranking next to its name over halfway through the season? The Cyclones have been the surprise team of 2017, rattling off two consecutive wins to boost themselves to second place in the Big 12. And with a victory over head coach Gary Patterson and the Horned Frogs, Iowa State can leap into first. But TCU has also served as a surprise team this season after a 6–7 down year in 2016. The re-emergence of senior quarterback Kenny Hill is one of the reasons TCU sports a top-4 ranking, as he has passed for 1,728 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Countering for the Cyclones will be former starting quarterback-turned-inside linebacker Joel Lanning, the team’s leading tackler.

NO. 14 NC STATE AT NO. 9 NOTRE DAME SATURDAY, 2:30 P.M., NBC

NC State is positioned atop the ACC Atlantic Division, and the Wolfpack can add another quality win to their résumé by taking down Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. The Wolfpack are led by defensive end Bradley Chubb, who has registered 6.5 sacks this season. But head coach Brian Kelly’s Fighting Irish will bring their dynamic rushing attack to the contest Saturday. Quarterback Brandon Wimbush and running back Josh Adams (who combine for 1,475 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns) tore apart preseason playoff contender USC in Week 8 with a 49-14 victory. If Notre Dame defeats another ranked team, consider the Irish as a dark-horse candidate for the College Football Playoff.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

KEY MATCHUPS

By Dalton Phillips @Dalton_Tweets

QUARTERBACK ADVANTAGE: TEXAS

Despite a costly fourth quarter turnover against Oklahoma State, freshman Sam Ehlinger’s progress has been encouraging for Texas fans. The young quarterback threw for 241 yards and kept the Longhorns in the game against one of the nation’s top teams. Unfortunately, as soon as it seemed Texas’ quarterback question had been answered, Ehlinger’s head injury made him questionable for Saturday’s matchup. Whether it’s him or sophomore quarterback Shane Buechele under center, the Longhorn offense ought to thrive this week against an opponent at the bottom of the conference standings.

Sophomore quarterback Zach Smith has more interceptions than touchdowns in his last three games. The Bears starter

was replaced last week at the end of the third quarter against West Virginia, and freshman quarterback Charlie Brewer rattled off 23 unanswered points and almost clinched the win at home for his team. If the coaching staff liked what they saw last Saturday, Brewer may get the nod this weekend against Texas.

RUNNING BACK ADVANTAGE: BAYLOR

Texas’ offense is painfully limited — a fact on full display Saturday as the defense provided every opportunity to clinch the win at home. Sophomore running back Chris Warren III saw an uptick in touches in the contest, but produced a team-high 33 yards on 12 carries. Luckily for the Longhorns, the lack of a run game won’t hurt the team much against a porous Baylor defense.

The Bears’ offense has shown glimpses of

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promise. Freshman running back John Lovett has churned out 403 yards and four touchdowns this season, while classmate Trestan Ebner doubled his rushing totals for the season on Saturday and added two touchdowns to help orchestrate a comeback that was a 2-point conversion away from sending the West Virginia game into overtime. If Baylor is going to stun Texas, it’ll start with the run.

WIDE RECEIVER ADVANTAGE: TEXAS

Texas’ receivers provide welcome depth to an otherwise thin offense. Seven Texas players already have 10 or more catches this season, with junior John Burt tallying 99 yards on just two touches against Oklahoma State. A beatup offensive line and limited pass game have hurt the productivity of this explosive group, but Baylor shouldn’t put up much resistance with as many weapons as Texas has.

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Sophomore Denzel Mims has had no trouble producing through a winless record, earning 685 yards and 7 touchdowns this season. He and the rest of the receivers will likely struggle to find openings in the face of one of the nation’s top defenses.

DEFENSE ADVANTAGE: TEXAS

Texas’ defense held the best offense in the country to 10 points in regulation and three in overtime — that’s 35 points below the Cowboy’s season average. Moving straight from Mason Rudolph and company to Baylor, Texas may be primed for a shutout.

Baylor’s defense sits at the opposite end of the conference spectrum, allowing 39 points per contest and 514 yards. Texas fans can expect an offensive onslaught reminiscent of Week 2 against San Jose State as the Longhorns look to run away with this one on the road.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017 TEXAS FEATURE

Texas offense still searching for fluidity under Tim Beck

By Trenton Daeschner @TrentDaeschner

In the week after a game where Texas’ struggles on offense finally boiled over and came to the forefront of conversation, offensive coordinator Tim Beck was asked if he feels players are pressing.

But Beck also didn’t refrain from a self-assessment.

“I think they are. I’m pressing,” Beck said on Wednesday. “If I am, they are. I’m trying to call the perfect play every time, and I think they’re trying to execute perfectly every time.”

The struggles of the Texas offense have been no secret this season, and the numbers show it.

The Longhorns rank 49th in the country in total offense, averaging 433 yards per game. More importantly, Texas is near the very bottom in the country in red zone offense, ranking 112th. In 30 trips to the red zone this season, Texas has failed to score eight times.

But the running game in particular has been where Texas has staggered the most. The Longhorns are tied for 75th in rushing offense, averaging 151.4 yards per game on the ground.

Texas is averaging a measly 3.67 yards per carry.

Following Texas’ 13-10 overtime loss to then-No. 10 Oklahoma State last Saturday, junior running back Chris Warren III, who has had nowhere near the breakout year that some anticipated coming into the season, offered his own blunt assessment as to why

the Longhorns’ offense is struggling.

“Because we don’t have a running game,” Warren said. “I think that we’re too one-dimensional and that’s easy to predict, so that’s why we’re not helping the defense.”

Much of the struggles in the running game could be attributed to Texas’ makeshift offensive line, which has experienced numerous injuries this season, including the loss of both starting tackles in juniors Connor Williams and Elijah Rodriguez.

What’s more, Texas’ unsettled running game has largely been dependent on the legs of freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who is currently second on the team in rushing behind Warren.

“I think it’s a combination of things,” Beck said. “We are trying to be committed to the run. We also want to take what the defense gives us at those times. … As a play-caller, you’re trying to find that rhythm. It got to a point (against Oklahoma State) where sometimes you’re not even looking to try to score, you’re just trying to get a first down.”

And much of the criticism for Texas’ struggles on offense this season has been directed solely toward Beck.

After the loss to the Cowboys, head coach Tom Herman was asked point-blank if he feels that Beck is doing enough on that side of the ball.

Herman proceeded to ardently defend his play-caller and offensive staff.

“Tim’s doing fine. I hired Tim because he’s very, very capable of doing this job,” Herman said. “And he’s got a big task ahead of him.

We do. We’ve got a big task ahead of us to right the ship on that side of the ball.

And there’s no doubt in my mind that him and the offensive staff that’s in that room, along with myself, are the right guys to get that done.”

The Longhorns’ defenses the past two seasons were two of the worst in school history statistically. For much of last season, it was the offense who kept the Longhorns in games while the defense faltered.

This season, that narrative has flipped on its head. Texas’ defense, which is coming off a game where it held Oklahoma State’s topranked offense in the country to just 10 points in regulation, has experienced a revival this season.

But for the Longhorns to salvage this 3–4 season and make a bowl game, the offense will need to experience its own revival.

“We’re not losing faith,” Beck said. “We believe in what we’re doing.”

joshua guerra| daily texan staff

Offensive coordinator Tim Beck discusses a drill with sophomore quarterback Shane Buechele during practice at the Indoor Practice Facility. Beck joined Texas as the offensive coordinator alongside head coach Tom Herman in 2017.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

OPPONENTS TO WATCH

By Steve Helwick @s_helwick

CHARLIE BREWER QUARTERBACK, #13

With an 0–6 record on display and down 38-13 to West Virginia, Baylor looked positioned for another lopsided defeat. But inserted into the game was quarterback Charlie Brewer, who spurred an unlikely comeback in Waco. The freshman from Lake Travis High School in Austin led the offense to 23 unanswered points and was a two-point conversion away from sending the game into overtime.

Head coach Matt Rhule and the Bears entered their locker room with a loss, but the fight Brewer demonstrated in his 8-of-13, 109yard passing display was nothing short of impressive. The freshman also added in two touchdowns and 48 rushing yards. Brewer is still in a quarterback battle against sophomore Zach Smith, but with bowl eligibility out of the question, Baylor may be open to testing both passers at this point.

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JOHN LOVETT RUNNING BACK, #7

Lovett adds more young talent to the offense, which has shown life against several formidable opponents this season including Oklahoma and West Virginia. The freshman running back leads the team with 403 rushing yards although he is still in search of his first 100-yard game. Lovett has reached the end zone on four occasions this season, including a 7-yard run against West Virginia in the third quarter last week.

Unlike many Big 12 players, Lovett hails from New Jersey. He was one of the most talented high school prospects in the state last year and has shown just flashes of his potential through seven games this season.

CLAY JOHNSTON INSIDE LINEBACKER, #44

Johnston been the star of the Bears’ defensive unit through the first half of the 2017 season. The sophomore inside linebacker has tallied a team-high 52 tackles. He also has recorded nine tackles for loss and forced one fumble.

Johnston, the Abilene, Texas native, achieved career-highs in tackles and tackles for loss during Baylor’s Week 3 loss to Duke with 13 and three, respectively. Johnston has demonstrated impressive athleticism from the heart of the defense and comes from athletic bloodlines. His father played football at Texas A&M and his mother played basketball at Alabama.

CONNOR MARTIN KICKER, #96

Kickers play crucial roles in college football games. Many teams struggle to escape close games because of an unreliable kicking game. But Baylor, although winless, possesses a confident kicker who could potentially do damage in tightly-contested matchups.

Martin is 14 of 16 on field goals this season, ranking fifth in the FBS in field goals made. His percentage of 87.5 percent falls in the top 20 of the category and he has connected on 4 of 5 field goals of 40 yards or greater. Martin also earned punting duties lately, so he’ll play the most crucial role in Baylor’s special teams game going forward. Last week, he averaged 45.8 yards on four punts.

photos courtesy of baylor university athletics