Texas-Kansas snapshot: players to watch, key matchup against Jayhawks

By Steve Habel, Senior Contributing Writer

AUSTIN, Texas — No. 15 Texas (4-2 overall, 2-1 in Big 12 play) returns home for the first time in nearly a month to host Kansas (2-4 overall, 0-2 in games against Big 12 teams) Saturday in a huge attempt to bounce back for the Longhorns. Kickoff is at 6 CDT at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Here are a few of the players and the game strategy that we will be watching for against the Jayhawks, who have never beaten Texas in Austin:

Players to watch
Center Zach Shackelford: UT’s offensive line was[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] porous in last week’s loss to Oklahoma, surrendering nine sacks, the most it has allowed in a game since 2009. Plenty of those sacks came at the expense of Shackelford, the Longhorns’ preseason all-conference lineman, making Saturday against Kansas a huge game to show that the Sooners’ pressure was an anomaly and not the norm. “There’s always a couple wrinkles here and there, but for the most part what we saw (in film) against Oklahoma was what we got,” Shackelford said. “They’re just super-athletic, and they execute really well. I have to do a better job of recognizing the stunts and blitzes that are coming from the defense and get us in the right protection.”

Wide receiver Brennan Eagles: Eagles caught just two passes for 12 yards in the loss to OU and after grabbing just one pass for three yards the previous week in a win at West Virginia. UT’s outside wide receivers have been all but shut down in those two games, and they need to rise up against Kansas to allow some room on the inside for its slot receivers and running backs. The thing going for Eagles is that he has had his best games this season at home, snagging nine passes for 248 yards (27.6 yards per catch) for four touchdowns when playing in Austin this season. Eagles has logged touchdown receptions of 55 yards and 73 yards inside DKR, the two longest catches by a Longhorn in 2019.

Linebacker Joseph Ossai: the Longhorns need to get some pressure on the quarterback and Ossai, who is the most complete player of the Texas linebacking corps, has to make something happen. Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando said Ossai, a sophomore, is ready to break through because of his intelligence and work ethic. “To me, that’s probably the biggest thing,” Orlando said. “After this practice is over, Joe will go downstairs and get better at his craft. That’s the stuff you look for in recruiting.” Texas has gone three games without a sack and has just 10 all season. Here’s thinking Ossai is the player to help the Longhorns open those floodgates.

Safety DeMarvion Overshown: with the Longhorns down three safeties now (Chris Brown, who broke his right forearm in the loss to Oklahoma, won’t play for the next six weeks), it’s Overshown’s time to shine as “the next man up.” Overshown missed three games with a back infection but was back, on a limited basis, against the Sooners. He will need to step up and he has the combination of size, length and quickness that will carry him through his overall inexperience.

Key matchup
The Texas defensive front six versus the Kansas offensive line: the Longhorns are starving for sacks and putting pressure on Kansas quarterback Carter Stanley will create turnovers, but they will be challenged to do so again this week. The Jayhawks’ newly installed offensive attack has been likened to “fast-break basketball” by Stanley. “I almost kind of feel like a point guard at times. Based off a defender, I’m putting the ball here or here. It feels like you can’t really be wrong, which is a really good feeling.” If the Longhorns can’t get to the quarterback, they need to hurry him into bad decisions.

Wild card
The battle for the top running back: both starter Keaontay Ingram and former backup quarterback Roschon Johnson have had big games for the Longhorns this season, but Johnson, who ran for 95 yards in the loss to Oklahoma, has pulled himself into a spot to get even more playing time and carries. Ingram needs a big game against the Jayhawks to hold on to the starting spot; it would not be a surprise to see both Ingram and Johnson rush for 100 yards this week.
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