We are officially on the eve of the Texas Longhorns lining up to play football. The Longhorns and Buckeyes are making final preparations to kick off tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT. We have gotten into matchups, players to watch, staff picks and more throughout this week, but now it’s time to peek behind the Scarlett and Grey curtain.
We are going Behind Enemy Lines today, with Buckeyes Wire contributor Phil Harrison. I asked Phil some of the questions at the top of my mind about the Buckeyes heading into this matchup. Here is what he had to say:
What does Julian Sayin bring to the table at the QB position?
Harrison: Sayin doesn’t have the running ability Will Howard had last year, but he can still pull it down and get yards if he absolutely has to. What he brings is a quick release and big arm, the type of skills that made him a five-star talent coming out of high school. If he’s able to process information like he needs to, the ball is going to come out on a rope and on time. He’s just a pure passer, similar to what C.J. Stroud brought to the position. He’s going to be really, really good. The question is, how long will it take for him to get acclimated?
Who’s an Ohio State player Texas fans don’t know now that will shine on Saturday?
Harrison: Look out for defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. He was behind the book-end duo of Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau last season and didn’t get a ton of time, but he’s long, quick, and rangy. He can get around the end quickly, but also has the power and leverage to stop up the running game. He has jumped out on the defensive line during the offseason and is poised for a breakout year.
Who is the Texas player that worries you the most in this matchup?
Harrison: Arch Manning is, of course, a concern if he lives up to the hype, but with a new quarterback calling the shots for Ohio State, I worry about the pass rush. For that reason, I think Anthony Hill Jr. is going to be a big part of the game plan in blitz packages for Texas. You can almost bank on the defensive staff dialing up pressure packages to speed up the clock in Sayin’s head, and if that’s the case, Hill’s going to be in the backfield a lot. How the offensive line and running backs pick him up either off the edge or up the middle to keep Sayin clean is going to be a big part of this game.
What is your confidence level around the new coordinators? Will Ryan Day help call the offense?
Harrison: Ryan Day will help only when he feels like he needs to veto something, or in very crucial situations. He has completely given the reins to Brian Hartline, who will be up in the press box for this one, calling things, but Day is a playcaller at heart, and if he feels like it’s a big spot, he’ll have the final say. That being said, the jury is out on Hartline because he’s not really called a game before. There’s less confidence in him and more in Matt Patricia. His NFL experience is going to be an asset for Ohio State this season. It’s so hard to get much better than Chip Kelly and Day bouncing things off each other on offense.
What position group for Ohio State concerns you the most this weekend?
Harrison: The running backs. Ohio State lost two 1,000-yard rushers when TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins left for the NFL. Those two got almost all the carries last season, so there’s a lack of experience. It’ll still be a 1:2 punch with James Peoples and CJ Donaldson, but there’s no way those two are going to be as dynamic as what we saw last season.
Check out @BuckeyesWire and @PhilHarrisonBW for more Ohio State coverage.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Behind Enemy Lines: Buckeyes expert previews Texas Football vs. Ohio State
Reporting by Tommy Bresee, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
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