establishing our goals for the Texas football season of 2024
The football season for the Texas Longhorns (12-2) is finished. Monday night’s 37-31 loss to Washington in New Orleans marked the conclusion of an unforgettable season.
Naturally, the loss has the Longhorns wondering about what may have happened if they had managed to prevail. Our attention is diverted to the team’s seeming bright future, even in light of unfavorable predictions from casual fans.
Let’s take a closer look at what we thought Texas would achieve in 2023 and what the team returns to before getting too deep into what to anticipate for 2024.
We made predictions in the offseason that Texas will defeat Alabama, win ten games, and take home the Big 12 title. Before the 2023 season, some of my other forecasts came to pass, but they remained firm. As optimistic as I was, I still thought Texas would miss the playoffs. My expectations were surpassed by the Longhorns.
There’s a chance that Texas won’t play with the same roster that we anticipate. Having said that, these are the players I believe will be returning in 2024.
Quinn Ewers, the starting quarterback, is the star of the group of possible returners. It may be said that he has unresolved matters. Having increased his completion rate from 58% to 69%, he could be on the verge of becoming a quarterback capable of winning a championship. Count me among the supporters of Ewers as a 2024 Heisman winner.
With Malik Muhammad and Terrance Brooks, two outstanding young cornerback prospects, emerging, the secondary should improve from its 2023 version. Jahdae Barron’s nickel job should be filled by Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba. Ryan Watts, a two-year starter at cornerback, might be moved to safety by the organization to join Michael Taaffe and Derek Williams Jr.
The team’s strength ought to be its edge position. Barryn Sorrell, Ethan Burke, and UTSA transfer Trey Moore are the three players who should start if they have accumulated five sacks or more in a season. Anthony Hill, who added five sacks in his rookie season, goes to linebacker.
After losing key players at every position, the positions on the roster with the most questions are wide receiver, defensive tackle, and linebacker. Still, gifted children
Texas’s next team travels to Georgia and Michigan. The Georgia game is scheduled one week after Oklahoma, and both of those games are expected to be tough. Still, the Longhorns have enough players on their roster to rival any team in the nation.
Quinn Ewers and the Texas offensive line should improve greatly in the offseason. In 2024, either Ryan Wingo or Johntay Cook, two five-star receiving weapons, should emerge. Stronger pass rushes from the edge position should help the defense, especially in games like the one Texas just lost in the Sugar Bowl.
The primary distinction between Washington and Texas was that the former had a quarterback eligible for the first round of the NFL draft, while the latter had a fantastic quarterback who might one day
