Players to Watch: Texas Tech

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes

 Sophomore Patrick Mahomes has turned into one of the nation’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. Mahomes is third in the nation and second in the Big 12 in total offense with 4,325 total yards. He’s the top passer in the Big 12 with 3,911 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also has 414 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Mahomes threw 13 picks over 11 games — his worst was a four-interception, 233-yard effort in a 63-27 Texas Tech loss to Oklahoma. He came back the next week and put up 480 yards and four touchdowns against Oklahoma State, in addition to running for 47 yards and one score.

Mahomes is at the top of the conference with an average of 355.5 passing yards per game. The Longhorn pass defense gives up an average of 234.5 yards per game — these numbers don’t look good for the notoriously weak Texas secondary.

Then-freshman quarterback Patrick Mahomes sets back to pass in the Red Raiders’ 34-13 loss to the Longhorns on November 1, 2014.

Running back DeAndre Washington

Senior DeAndre Washington is the Red Raiders’ top running back. He’s the No. 3 rusher in the Big 12 with 1,282 yards and 12 touchdowns. Washington also ranks No. 2 in the conference with 1,572 all-purpose yards. He picked up a season-high 248 rush yards in a 59-44 Texas Tech win over Kansas State. He ran in three scores and averaged 9.2 yards per carry in one of his best performances this season.

The Longhorn defense has allowed opponents to run for 687 yards over the past three games. Texas will have to tighten up its coverage and make key tackles to stop Washington and the Red Raider offense.

 Wide receiver Jakeem Grant

 Texas Tech runs a true air-raid offense, and senior receiver Jakeem Grant is a big factor to its success. Grant is Texas Tech’s leading receiver with 1,038 yards and six touchdowns. He’s averaging
94.4 yards per game and 13.3 yards per reception. Grant is a threat as a receiver and on special teams as a kick returner. He’s accumulated 896 kick return yards and averages 26.4 yards per return. Grant gashed Oklahoma State on Halloween with a 100-yard return for a touchdown — he racked up 210 all-purpose yards against the Cowboys in the first quarter alone. Texas’ special teams play has struggled this season, and the secondary isn’t the strongest facet of the team, either. Containing Grant could be one of the toughest tasks the Texas defense has faced this season.

Linebacker Pete Robertson

 Senior linebacker Pete Robertson anchors the Texas Tech defense. He leads the Red Raiders with 13 tackles for loss for total losses of 40 yards — good for a No. 4 ranking in the Big 12. He’s also registered five sacks for a loss of 23 yards. Texas quarterbacks have been sacked 27 times so far this season. The Longhorn offensive line has been inconsistent at best, and Robertson will look to take advantage of that to get at redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard.

http://dailytexanonline.com/2015/11/24/players-to-watch-texas-tech

Players to Watch: West Virginia

Running back Wendell Smallwood

Earlier in the season, head coach Dana Holgorsen called junior running back Wendell Smallwood the Mountaineers’ best offensive player. Smallwood has lived up the title, running for 954 yards on 143 attempts. He’s the No. 2 rusher in the Big 12 behind Baylor star running back Shock Linwood. Smallwood is consistent, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. He played a large role in West Virginia’s 31-26 win over usually high-scoring Texas Tech last week. Smallwood picked up 163 yards – to put that in perspective, the Red Raiders had 179 total rush yards that day. Smallwood is one of the reasons West Virginia’s offense is tabbed the “ground raid” attack. Texas’ defense needs to be in top form Saturday to keep Smallwood from finding holes and breaking through.

Quarterback Skyler Howard

Junior quarterback Skyler Howard is a consistent dual threat, despite the Mountaineers’ 1-4 record against Big 12 teams. Howard passed for at least 140 yards in every game this season and has 256 rushing yards so far. Surprisingly, his worst showing of the season came last week in a 31-26 win over Texas Tech. He completed just 12 passes for 149 yards and no touchdowns. But those underwhelming numbers aren’t the norm for Howard. He threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns against No. 4 Baylor on Oct. 17. Texas faces West Virginia in Morgantown, where the Mountaineers are 4-1 this season. Texas needs to limit Howard’s pass options and contain his run potential if the Longhorns hope to walk away with a win.

 Wide receiver Shelton Gibson

Redshirt sophomore Shelton Gibson is West Virginia’s leading receiver. He’s averaging 23 yards per catch and has seven touchdowns so far this season. He’s put up big numbers sporadically but struggles with consistency week-to-week. Gibson is a dangerous playmaker when he finds his groove. He scored a 70-yard touchdown in the first quarter against Baylor several weeks ago but barely played last week against Texas Tech. Gibson has the potential to make big plays, and Texas’ secondary needs to be prepared for that.

Safety KJ Dillon

Senior safety KJ Dillon is a big reason the Mountaineers defeated the Red Raiders. He was assigned to Texas Tech stud receiver Jakeem Grant – one of the top 15 receivers in the country. But Dillon shut him down, holding Grant to only five catches for eight yards. Texas Tech’s No. 5 scoring offense only managed 26 points and 378 yards of total offense without Grant’s usual level of production. Dillon has 40 total tackles on the season and is a positive aspect of an injury-riddled Mountaineer defense. Texas has struggled with its passing game all season, and taking chances against Dillon and West Virginia could be deadly.

Senior safety KJ Dillon waits for a play call during the Baylor vs. West Virginia game. Photo courtesy of Kyle Monroe

http://dailytexanonline.com/2015/11/12/players-to-watch-west-virginia

Players to Watch: Kansas

Safety Fish Smithson

Junior safety Fish Smithson is a bright light in Kansas’ 0-8 season. He leads the Jayhawk defense with 75 total tackles, which is No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 27 in the nation out of FBS defenders. He recorded a personal-best 13 tackles against Iowa State despite a 38-13 Jayhawks loss. Smithson turned in one of his best performances in a 30-20 Kansas loss to Texas Tech three weeks ago. The Jayhawk defense held Texas Tech’s high-scoring offense to 30 points, and Smithson recorded 10 tackles. He also snagged his first career interception and picked up a 66-yard fumble return. After Iowa State’s defense smothered Texas 24-0 last week, Smithson and the Kansas defense shouldn’t be underestimated either.

Then-sophomore Fish Smithson gathers himself during Kansas’ 23-0 loss to Texas in 2014. Photo credit: Amy Zhang

Quarterback Ryan Willis

Freshman quarterback Ryan Willis was thrown to the wolves for his first career start against Baylor in Week 5. A slew of early-season injuries to then-starter Montell Cozart and backup Deondre Ford placed Willis in the starting position. He’s fared well despite the circumstances, completing 95-of-169 passes and throwing four interceptions through five starts. He passed for 158 yards and one touchdown in his first start against Baylor and continues to improve each week. Willis put up career numbers against Texas Tech, completing 35-of-50 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Willis is not a dual threat — he’s totaled -87 rushing yards and averages -3.1 yards per carry. Texas’ defense should have the upper hand if it can limit Willis’ passing options and force him to use his feet and get out of his comfort zone.

Running back Ke’aun Kinner

Junior Ke’aun Kinner has been the Jayhawks’ primary rusher this season. Kinner transferred to Kansas after playing two seasons at Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas, where he ranks third all-time in rushing yards. He made a strong statement in his first game as a Jayhawk, rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns against South Dakota State. However, Kinner’s recent issues with a hamstring injury limited him against Baylor in Week 5, and he’s struggled since. Texas’ defense has a potentially explosive running back on its hands if Kinner comes back healthy Saturday.

Wide receiver Tre’ Parmalee

Senior Tre’ Parmalee is one of Kansas’ most consistent receivers. He has 464 yards on 29 catches with two touchdowns. His average of 16 yards per reception is the best of the Jayhawks. Parmalee sat out against Baylor with a concussion, but came back the next week against Texas Tech and caught five passes for 84 yards and one touchdown. He then posted a career-best 115-yard game against Oklahoma State. Kansas has relied mostly on its passing game this season, and after Iowa State manhandled the Texas defense last week, Parmalee could add some yards to his stat column Saturday.

https://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/11/05/players-to-watch-kansas

Players to Watch: Iowa State

Running back Mike Warren

Texas faces the top freshman rusher in the country in Iowa State running back Mike Warren. The redshirt freshman began the season quietly with only nine carries for 28 yards in his first two games. Warren had a breakout game in Week 3 against Toledo, putting up 126 yards on 21 carries. He’s been rolling since then and is the No. 2 rusher in the Big 12. Warren’s 153.8 average rush yards per game is third in the nation. Warren was also added to the Doak Walker Award watch list earlier this week. He is the only freshman candidate for the award, which is given to the nation’s top running back. The Longhorn defense needs to be prepared for Iowa State to utilize Warren heavily in its running game.

Defensive end Dale Pierson 

Warren isn’t the only Cyclone receiving national attention. Senior defensive end Dale Pierson was named to the Ted Hendricks Award midseason watch list this week, which honors the top defensive end in the country. Pierson is 11th in the nation in sacks per game with 0.93 and has 6.5 total sacks on the season. He also recorded a tackle-for-loss in every game he’s played this season for a total of 10 for a loss of 57 yards. Pierson has 27 total tackles this year, and he’ll likely be a key part of the Cyclone defense as it looks to stop Texas’ tough run game Saturday.

 Receiver Allen Lazard 

Sophomore Allen Lazard is making an impact for Iowa State as a wide receiver and on special teams. Lazard is currently the Cyclones’ top receiver with 406 yards and three touchdowns on 29 catches. He’s averaging 16.9 punt return yards per game – the most in the Big 12 — and has 152 yards as a punt returner. Lazard could be dangerous for the lackluster Longhorn special teams and secondary.

Quarterback Joel Lanning 

Redshirt sophomore Joel Lanning just found out this week he would start for the Cyclones. Redshirt senior quarterback Sam Richardson struggled against Baylor, completing 3-of-11 passes for 12 yards. Lanning took over for Richardson in the second quarter and led a Cyclones comeback in the second half. He completed 12-of-17 for 144 yards to cut Iowa State’s deficit from 35-0 to 45-27. Lanning’s solid performance in the loss to Baylor landed him the starting job against the Longhorns. Texas’ defense will need to capitalize on Lanning’s inexperience and put pressure on him to force mistakes.

Photo courtesy of Korrie Bysted

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/10/29/players-to-watch-iowa-state

Players to Watch: Kansas State

Defensive back Morgan Burns

Senior defensive back Morgan Burns is a key contributor to the Wildcats’ defense and special teams. He totaled 55 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups last season as a cornerback and averaged 30.7 yards per kickoff return – third in the Big 12. He’s regarded as one of Kansas State’s  fastest players and is building a strong 2015 season. Burns has played in five games and racked up 17 total tackles and five pass breakups. His biggest impact is on special teams. He leads the Wildcats with 341 all-purpose yards, all from kick returns. Burns is averaging 31 yards per kickoff return, the most in the Big 12. Texas’ kickoff-return defense is ranked No. 122 out of 127 FBS teams, allowing opponents to average a little more than 27 yards per return. Burns’ speed and agility could rip through one of the weaker areas of the Texas team Saturday.

Defensive tackle Will Geary

Former high school wrestler and Kansas State walk-on Will Geary is a force to be reckoned with. The redshirt sophomore defensive tackle is a stout 6-foot, 297 pounds and totaled 30 tackles in his debut season last year. He should well surpass that number this season, as he already has 27 tackles through six games. Geary was named to FoxSports’ Bruce Feldman’s preseason ‘Top 25 Freaks in College Football’ list, which spotlights “those guys who are the top workout warriors in the sport or the guys who possess some rare physical abilities that wow folks inside their programs.” Geary could show off those ‘freaky’ physical abilities against a Texas offensive line that’s had some struggles this season.

 Quarterback Joe Hubener

Junior quarterback Joe Hubener stepped into the starting role after then-starter Jesse Ertz injured his knee in Kansas State’s season opener against South Dakota. Ertz left the game after only two snaps, and Hubener led the Wildcats to a 34-0 win with 147 yards and one touchdown pass. Hubener has settled in as a starter, amassing 866 yards and throwing four touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 240 yards and six touchdowns. Hubener still shows signs of inexperience, however. He’s thrown four interceptions and cost Kansas State a potential upset when he fumbled in the final minute of a 52-45 loss to No. 4 TCU. He was benched in the second half of a 55-0 blowout loss to Oklahoma last weekend. Senior receiver Kody Cook took over under center and both quarterbacks combined to throw for 45 yards and three interceptions, completing just 5-of-22 passes. Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder is “not sure yet” who will start against Texas. Hubener put up 268 yards of total offense and four touchdowns against the same TCU team that embarrassed the Longhorns 50-7. Hubener poses a threat if Texas’ defense performs the way it did against TCU three weeks ago.

Photo courtesy of George Walker

Running back Justin Silmon

Freshman running back Justin Silmon began the season at the No. 2 spot on the Kansas State depth chart. He’s now the Wildcats’ leading rusher and top running back since making his debut in Week 1 against South Dakota with 51 yards on six carries. He’s rushed for 285 yards this season with two touchdowns. Silmon ran for a season-high 119 yards on 24 attempts in a 39-33 triple-overtime win against Louisiana Tech. Texas’ defense continues to improve each week and will need to be on its A-game to prevent Silmon from breaking through.

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/10/22/players-to-watch-kansas-state

Players to Watch: Oklahoma

Running back Samaje Perine

Sophomore running back Samaje Perine is already building a strong follow-up season to a dazzling freshman year. Perine ran for 1,713 yards as a freshman with 21 touchdowns, and he also racked up 15 receptions for 108 yards. He already has 328 yards on 72 carries this year for the No. 10 Sooners. Perine broke the school-record 2,000 career-yard mark in a 44-24 win over West Virginia in Week 4, making him the fastest Sooner to hit 2,000 career yards in the Bob Stoops era. After a quiet 65-yard performance against the Mountaineers, Perine could have a heyday Saturday against a Texas defense that allowed TCU’s offense to take control of the field and run up 604 yards of total offense last week.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield

The junior from Austin made an impact for Texas Tech before transferring to Oklahoma his sophomore year. Mayfield started seven games for the Red Raiders in 2013, completing 218-of-340 passes for 2,315 yards and 12 touchdowns. He sat out his sophomore season at Oklahoma due to NCAA transfer rules, but has proved himself an asset to the Sooners’ offense through four games this season. Mayfield has already passed for 1,382 yards and 13 touchdowns, completing 88-of-135 throws. He also has 138 yards on the ground and ran for four touchdowns. TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin gashed Texas’ defense for 332 yards and five touchdowns last week, and Mayfield could do the same in the Cotton Bowl after putting up Boykin-like numbers all season for the Sooners.

Wide receiver Sterling Shepard

Senior receiver Sterling Shepard has been a consistent piece in the Sooners’ offense with 2,515 career yards and 18 touchdowns. Shepard won the game for Oklahoma in double overtime against Tennessee in Week 2, as he caught the game-winning touchdown pass and burst through two defenders into the end zone to seal the win at 31-24. He is averaging 16 yards per reception with 321 yards on 20 catches. Expected to be one of the top wide receiver prospects for the 2016 NFL draft, Shepard is rated No. 9 out of 401 wide receivers, according to NFL Draft Scout. As Shepard looks to finish his final collegiate season strong, he’ll likely take advantage of a Texas defense that allowed TCU receivers 376 yards and six touchdowns last week.

Photo courtesy of Tyler Woodward

Linebacker Eric Striker

Texas redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard could be in big trouble as he tries to avoid Oklahoma senior linebacker Eric Striker – one of the most feared pass rushers in the country, according to Gabriel Baumgaertner of Sports Illustrated. Striker forced a fourth quarter fumble last week against West Virginia that allowed Oklahoma junior linebacker Jordan Evans to run the ball back 40 yards for the Sooners’ final touchdown of the game. Striker finished the game with 13 tackles and two sacks and has 29 tackles on the season – bad news for a Texas offensive line that has struggled to protect the quarterback all season.

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/10/06/players-to-watch-oklahoma

Players to Watch: TCU

Quarterback Trevone Boykin

Senior quarterback Trevone Boykin enters Week 5 as the Big 12’s leading passer and a top candidate for the Heisman trophy. His 1,470 passing yards are third in the nation, and he’s thrown for 14 touchdowns and only three interceptions so far. Boykin put up career numbers last week as No. 4 TCU narrowly avoided an upset at Texas Tech. He threw the game-winning touchdown pass from the 4-yard line with 23 seconds left in the game to seal the win 55-52. Boykin completed 63 percent of his passes and finished the night with a career-high 485 yards and four touchdowns through the air. The Longhorn defense will have its hands full Saturday with Boykin and the No. 5 scoring offense in the country.

Photo Credit: Ethan Black

Wide receiver Josh Doctson

One of Boykin’s favorite targets and the No. 1 wide receiver in the country, senior Josh Doctson is a central cog in the Horned Frogs’ explosive offense. Doctson put up 267 yards on a conference record-tying 18 catches against Texas Tech last weekend. He has 593 yards on 35 catches and has hauled in six touchdown grabs this season. Doctson set a TCU single-season record in 2014 with 1,018 receiving yards, and he should finish 2015 well over that number if he continues at this level of play. Doctson tagged Texas’ defense for 115 yards last year in a 48-10 TCU win and could easily do the same this year against a struggling Texas pass defense.

Running back Aaron Green

The Horned Frogs might be 3-1 instead of 4-0 if it hadn’t been for senior tailback Aaron Green’s heroics last weekend. As TCU trailed Texas Tech with 23 seconds left to play, Green caught the game-winning touchdown just barely in-bounds after Boykin’s high pass was tipped off Doctson’s hands. He recorded three touchdowns and 162 rushing yards on 28 carries. Green amassed 922 yards in 2014 as TCU’s leading rusher and also leads the Frogs with 434 yards so far this season. As TCU looks to continue proving its case for a playoff bid, Green has a chance to pad that number by taking advantage of a Texas defense that’s given up 825 rushing yards this season.

Defensive end Josh Carraway

Texas’ offensive line crumbled last week when junior right tackle Kent Perkins left the game with a knee injury. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard was sacked five times, once for a loss of 22 yards, without Perkins on the line. Perkins is day-to-day and there is a good chance he’ll play Saturday, and Texas’ offensive line will need all the reinforcement it can get against TCU junior defensive end Josh Carraway. He wreaked havoc on the Longhorns last year in a 48-10 Horned Frogs blowout, returning an interception 33 yards for a touchdown in the final minutes of the game. Carraway also forced a Longhorn fumble in the first quarter, which led to TCU’s first touchdown. If Perkins isn’t in the Texas lineup Saturday or isn’t 100 percent healthy, Carraway could exploit the weak Texas line and force turnovers from the hands of young Heard.

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/10/01/players-to-watch-tcu

Players to Watch: Oklahoma State

Quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and J.W. Walsh

Texas faces two offensive weapons in No. 24 Oklahoma State’s quarterbacks – sophomore starter Mason Rudolph and senior backup J.W. Walsh. Rudolph was named the Cowboys’ starting quarterback last season after Walsh suffered a foot injury and then-backup senior Daxx Garman developed concussion symptoms. Rudolph threw for 853 yards and six touchdowns in the last three games of 2014. He’s already put up big numbers this year for the Cowboys with 947 yards in the air on 62 completions and five touchdowns.

Expect Walsh to take some reps Saturday as well, as he’s seen action in the fourth quarters of Oklahoma State’s last two games. Walsh passed for nearly 2,900 yards and 22 touchdowns in his first two seasons as the Cowboys’ starter in 2012 and 2013. Texas’ defense has given up 815 pass yards this season, and that number could rise considerably against Oklahoma State’s heavily armed duo.

Running back Chris Carson

Carson was ranked the No. 4 junior college running back prospect by 247Sports prior to his transfer to Oklahoma State this spring. The junior is already making an impact on the Cowboys’ offense, tallying up 235 yards in three games. He cruised to 104 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 69-14 win over UTSA. Earlier this summer, Carson told Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World that he wants to be one of the top-three running backs in the Big 12 and rush for at least 1,000 yards. The match-up against Texas on Saturday could be a key turning point for Carson as he works toward those goals.

Wide receiver David Glidden

Redshirt senior David Glidden is emerging as one of the most consistent Oklahoma State receivers this season. Glidden is fifth in the Big 12 and No. 12 in the nation with an average of 23.6 yards per catch. One of Rudolph’s favorite targets, Glidden is the Cowboys’ leading receiver with 12 catches for 283 yards and three touchdowns. He hauled in a career-high 145 yards on just four receptions in Oklahoma State’s 32-8 win over Central Arkansas in Week 2. Rudolph and Glidden will be a dangerous combination against a weak Texas secondary.

Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah

Texas’ offensive line is one of the weakest areas of the squad, and Cowboys redshirt junior defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah will look to exploit it. The 2014 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year racked up 49 total tackles last season with 17 for a loss. He already has 13 total tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2015. Fairly inexperienced Texas redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard will be a prime target for Ogbah as he looks to force turnovers and take advantage of a shaky Texas offensive line, as well as contain Heard’s speed and run potential.

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/09/24/players-to-watch-oklahoma-state

Players to Watch: California

Quarterback Jared Goff

Predicted to be one of the top quarterbacks in the 2016 NFL draft, Jared Goff could break this game wide open for California. The junior quarterback boasts more than 8,000 passing yards and 59 touchdowns in his three seasons with the Bears. Goff ranked fifth in the nation in 2014 with 3,973 yards through the air, and he put up a career­-high 527 yards in a 60­-59 win over Washington State. He’s already thrown for 630 yards in two games this year, with 321 yards and three touchdowns in last weekend’s 35­-7 win over San Diego State. Goff and California’s air raid attack could put up big numbers against a Texas defense that’s given up 547 pass yards and 989 yards of total offense in two games this season.

Wide receiver Kenny Lawler

California’s core group of receivers is led by junior Kenny Lawler, who accumulated 701 yards on 54 receptions in 2014, putting up a career­-high 138 yards in a California loss to BYU last season. Lawler is poised to have another strong season, as he had 69 yards on six receptions with three touchdowns in a Week 1 route of Grambling State. With Goff behind center and a stable of talented receivers such as Lawler at their disposal, the pass-­happy Bears offense will look to take advantage of a weak Longhorn secondary.

Running back Daniel Lasco

California also poses a threat on the ground with its leading rusher, senior running back Daniel Lasco. He rushed for 1,115 yards in a breakout 2014 season with a career-high 188 yards in a 45-­31 win over Oregon State. Lasco is off to a hot start in 2015, running for 123 yards on nine carries last weekend as California cruised to a 35­-7 victory over San Diego State. However, he left the game in the fourth quarter with a hip strain after colliding with an Aztecs defender. Bears head coach Sonny Dykes said in a conference call Sunday night that Lasco is expected to play Saturday, which could spell bad news for a Texas defense who’s struggled to contain the run game.

Photo courtesy of Kare Chan

Wide receiver Trevor Davis

Senior Trevor Davis is making an impact for the Bears at receiver and on special teams as kick returner. One of the top kick returners in the country in 2014, he racked up 424 kickoff return yards and two kick return touchdowns, both coming back­-to-­back in the third quarter of a 60-­59 California win over Washington State. Davis is already adding to his 1,170 career receiving yards, bringing in a 75-­yard touchdown reception from Goff for a career­-high 138­-yard game en route to a win over San Diego State last Saturday. The Longhorns will need to stay on their toes to keep Davis from breaking through for explosive returns.

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/09/17/players-to-watch-california

Players to Watch: Rice

Quarterback Driphus Jackson
Texas faces a dangerous offensive weapon in Owls quarterback Driphus Jackson. The redshirt senior had a breakout 2014 season, passing for 2,842 yards and leading Rice to an 8-5 record including a 30-6 win over Fresno State in the Hawai’i Bowl. Jackson ranked third in the nation with an average 14.88 yards per completion, and he also had 401 rushing yards on the season. Jackson is on track to repeat last year’s success, as Rice blew past Wagner 56-16 in its season opener in Houston. Jackson threw for 123 yards and a touchdown and added a 43-yard touchdown on the ground with 79 rushing yards. After the Texas defense’s inability to contain quarterback Malik Zaire and the Notre Dame offense, dual-threat Jackson could pose problems for a sleepy Texas secondary.

Running back Darik Dillard
Rice returns its leading scorer in redshirt junior Darik Dillard, who amassed 12 touchdowns and ran for 652 yards in 2014 with a team-high 4.9 yards per carry. He ran for a career-best 141 yards in a 28-14 win over Hawai’i last season. Rice continued to utilize Dillard in the running game last week against Wagner, as he rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns, adding to Rice’s 401 yards on the ground. While Rice’s offensive line isn’t near the caliber of Notre Dame’s, Texas’ defense needs to be prepared for the Owls’ run game and prevent the talented backs such as Dillard from breaking through and doing some serious damage.

Running back Austin Walter
Redshirt freshman Austin Walter had a collegiate debut to remember. Walter rushed for a game-high 107 yards and scored his first career touchdown with a 32-yard run en route to Rice’s blowout win over Wagner. The redshirt freshman averaged 8.9 yards per carry and could be a key part of Rice’s offense if star running back Jowan Davis is not healthy enough to play this weekend after injuring his ankle in the season opener.

Photo courtesy of Sean Chu

Linebacker Alex Lyons
Redshirt junior Alex Lyons leads a fairly young Rice defense in rebuild mode this year. Lyons anchored the Owls’ defense in 2014 with a team-leading 71 tackles, 44 of which were solo. Lyons registered seven tackles last week against Wagner as the Rice defense held the Seahawks to only 86 rushing yards and 16 points. Texas’ weak offense will need to work around Lyons and take advantage of a Rice defense that lacks experience.

Running back Jowan Davis
Junior Jowan Davis led the Owls in 2014 with 956 rushing yards, averaging 73.5 yards per game and exceeding the 100-yard mark in three games. A consistent piece in Rice’s offense, Davis’ career-best 150 yards came in a 45-42 loss to Old Dominion last season. However, Davis suffered an ankle sprain in the first half of last week’s game against Wagner. There is no word on whether he’ll play against Texas.

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/09/11/players-to-watch-rice