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College football 2018: Biggest X-factor on every Top 25 team

By Derek Grochowski

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Miles Sanders (24) of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs for a gain in the game between the Washington Huskies and the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 30, 2017 at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Miles Sanders (24) of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs for a gain in the game between the Washington Huskies and the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 30, 2017 at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 24: Calvin Anderson #66 of the Rice Owls locks up with Brandon Jackson #28 of the Army Black Knights at Rice Stadium on October 24, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 24: Calvin Anderson #66 of the Rice Owls locks up with Brandon Jackson #28 of the Army Black Knights at Rice Stadium on October 24, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

24. Calvin Anderson, Texas Longhorns

College football fans have been waiting a long time for the Texas Longhorns all the way back. 2018 is not the year they declare themselves back, but Tom Herman has the program moving in the right direction. If you just look at the record a team sitting at seven wins would seem like a bad season. But for Texas, it really was not that bad. Yes, the losses to Maryland and Texas Tech were not great but the other four were respectable. A three-point loss on the road at USC, five-point loss to Oklahoma, and a three-point loss to Oklahoma State derailed the Longhorns in the middle of their season but they were all close games.

The defense is going to be improved this season. The offense still has some question marks at quarterback and running back but their true X Factor is an offensive lineman. Calvin Anderson will be joining the Texas Longhorns and will make a major impact on the entire offense. After choosing Texas over Michigan Anderson will slide into the starting lineup and add experience and leadership. He was one of the top grad transfers on the market and Texas won.

Anderson is set to start at the left tackle position to improve the pass protection. No matter what quarterback the Longhorns choose to work with this season Anderson’s role will be crucial. It will take time for Anderson to get up to full speed. The pass rushers he faced at Temple in the American Athletic Conference are going to be much different than the ones in the Big 12.

Hopefully, Anderson will be a boost in run blocking too. Even though running backs are the weakness of the offense they could get help from the arrival of Anderson. Texas will be one of the Big 12’s most improved teams this season.