On Texas Football - State of the Program: New running back offers, Savion Red and more
In the latest episode of On Texas Football’s State of the Program, Inside Texas’ Bobby Burton and Eric Nahlin discuss several new running back offers, Savion Red’s move to running back, the professionalism in the wide receiver room and other things about Texas sports.
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Over the past week the Longhorns have offered running backs Caden Durham from Duncanville and Kedren Young from Lufkin to add to the players they offered for the class of 2024.
“You got to cover all the bases in recruiting because there’s so many twists and turns,” Nahlin said. “Texas already has a really good board, but you know, we’ve seen in the past where things don’t play out necessarily how you thought they would go. And, you know, staff are wishing that they had more options to pursue and this just seems like they’re doing all their homework.
“The one thing that we know their board is never fully set, and they’re also willing to play the long game on a lot of guys.”
Burton commented that Young (at 5-foot-11, 207 pounds) is a “big” back. Durham is more of a speed back, like Keilan Robinson.
“Well, it’s like my kid with monster trucks – he wants one of each,” Nahlin added. “You know, he’s got to have one of everything. I think that’s what Texas wants because that gives you schematic versatility, and they definitely need a bigger back.”
Both insiders believe Red will be a force at running back. Inside Texas broke the news last week that Red has been switched from wide receiver.
“I think Red can be a three-down back, and also one that you would use sparingly as a receiver, you know, as a change of pace,” Nahlin opined. “You might still want him out there on third down and you know he’s going to be physical as a blocker. He’s going to be a good quality receiver. It gives you the flexibility to run more two back sets if Sark wants to do that.”
Nahlin compared Red to Roschon Johnson who he believes will go earlier in the NFL Draft than some insiders predict.
“I do like some of the similarities to his attributes to Roschon,” Nahlin said. “He can be a no-nonsense downhill runner. He’s a little more fluid than Roschon, who’s about to get drafted a little higher than some people expected because he just gets downhill so fast and runs so hard, but I think Savion’s got a little more wiggle than Johnson. I do think there’s a physical toughness to him that profiles well to the position.”
Burton said Red would give Texas options when it wants to go with an empty backfield.
“Red’s gonna find contact – he’s that kind of guy. Some guys are those kind of football players, and he strikes me that way,” Burton said. “The other thing is obviously they can go five-wide or four-wide with him and motion him out and all of a sudden you have a true receiver type in the game plan.”
There’s plenty more on the video, including some comments about the Mannings and about an addition to the Inside Texas staff. Go and check out the YouTube piece in its entirety.
