College Football Rankings: Top 25 after spring practice
Texas Longhorns
2016: 5-7,
There’s no pastime in college football like overrating the Texas Longhorns in the preseason. After a 5-7 season, firing Charlie Strong and failing to live up to the absurd expectations, it goes to figure that there’s now plenty of optimism about what Tom Herman and the Longhorns can accomplish in the 2017 season. Following the spring game, though, that optimism might not be as unfounded as it has been in recent years.
Herman has a proven track record of establishing star quarterbacks that are highly productive in college throughout his time at Ohio State as an offensive coordinator and then as a head coach at Houston. That seems to already be happening with the starter from a year ago, Shane Buechele. The rising sophomore looked to have nothing but positive qualities on display this spring for Texas. He threw the ball with zip and accuracy while still remaining dynamic and able to create plays with his legs.
Even with the task of replacing D’Onta Foreman at running back still unsolved definitively, Herman has the offense heading in the right and more consistent direction heading into 2017. The biggest question, though, is another that remains unanswered in regard to the defense. However, there’s always a reason for hope when a new head coach joins a program and Herman is one of the best. Texas is trending in a decisively positive direction and should continue to do so heading into the fall and throughout the season.