We have made it to the final regular season game of the year, and it’s time to talk about which Longhorns will define the game. Whenever rivalry week comes up, there’s something outside of the white lines that takes hold of the team: Hate. Hate will be all over the place on Friday night, but the older players on both teams tend to feel it more than the younger group.
Last week was about the kids, but this week is about the vets:
Texas RB Tre Wisner
If Texas has no semblance of a run game on Friday, this is going down as a loss. Now, that’s not saying Wisner needs to go for 100+ yards. I thought last week, Wisner gave the Longhorns enough. He needs to give the Texas A&M defense something to worry about in the run game, even if it is just a few strong 1st down runs. Wisner put together an incredible performance a year ago in this game, and the Longhorns are hoping he can put together something similar Friday night.
Texas WR DeAndre Moore Jr.
Moore is coming off his best game of the year, a 3 TD performance against Arkansas, and he is needed on Friday as well. Mosley and Wingo have found their specific roles within the offense, but they don’t work as well without Moore’s ability to work from the slot. Among a group that has struggled with drops throughout the year, Moore has been as sure-handed as they come. That is an absolute must on Friday in high pressure moments against some elite coverage corners for A&M.
Texas WR Ryan Niblett
In every single game, Ryan Niblett is the Longhorns’ chance at a trump card. He’s the player that can touch the ball once and change the game, whether it’s a screen, end around or punt return. In a game like this one, the margins are always going to be thin, which means special teams become that much more important. Niblett will be put in positions to make plays on Friday, but can he change the game the way he has all year?
Texas DT Cole Brevard
The Texas defense HAS to win the line of scrimmage in this game. If Texas A&M is able to run the ball early in this game, it’s going to be incredibly hard to slow down their slew of pass catchers. Cole Brevard has done an incredible job all year of plugging up the middle and in his final game of his college career, I think he wants to make an impact. He’s new to this rivalry, but the Longhorns need the nastiness from big #99 in this game.
Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr.
This goes without saying in some respects. Anthony Hill Jr. has been one of the most important players in the Steve Sarkisian turnaround and this will be his last one at DKR. It’s hard to believe he will be 100% in this game, but it’s harder to believe that regardless of his health, Hill won’t make massive plays in this one. Marcel Reed is an incredibly talented QB when he is given run lanes. Hill was massive in throwing Reed off his game a year ago and he will be even more important this time around.
Texas Safety Michael Taaffe
Another one that goes without saying. Michael Taaffe chose to come back to Austin this season, and despite the team likely falling short of their ultimate goals, this one means the world to #16. Texas-native that understands what this game is all about, and I’d bet he will play like that on Friday. He was able to snag an INT a year ago in College Station, and if he’s able to again this time around, he’ll cement his legacy in this game. You will be hard pressed to find a Longhorn more hyped up for this matchup than Michael Taaffe.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns to watch vs. Texas A&M – Veterans have to lead the way
Reporting by Tommy Bresee, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
