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On Texas Football: The move from 12 personnel to 11, and how the Longhorns offense will change because of it

Steve Habelby: Steve Habel07/22/23stevehabel
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Isaiah Neyor (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

On the latest video episode On Texas Football’s Saturday Conversations with Paul, Inside Texas’ Bobby Burton and Paul Wadlington discuss the Longhorns’ change in offensive strategy from 12 personnel to 11, effectively adding another wide receiver on the field in lieu of a second tight end.

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Wadlington explained that Texas played in 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) last year because it had to. The offense was employed to help a relatively inexperienced offensive line, the failure of a third wide receiver to step up, and to allow quarterback Quinn Ewers to have another blocker to help fend off the opposing defense’s rush.

“It became in Sark’s opinion and I think for some justification the No. 2 tight end was more valuable on the field than our No. 3 three wide receiver because no one stepped up,” Wadlington said. “You didn’t have that big extra on the outside to really help open up that three wide receiver set.

“The second reason was that Texas had, effectively, a freshman quarterback, and it was starting two true freshman offensive lineman and a true sophomore guard. There’s a lack of experience there. And what you’re able to do with two tight ends is create more Max Protection scenarios, you’re creating harder run fits for the defense, you’re creating easier run blocking for the offense.”

Burton said that the Longhorns are making the move because their personnel is changing and that the personnel Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has is different this year than last year.

“This year you add A.D. Mitchell to the mix, Isaiah Neyor is ostensibly coming back and will be a full-go as well,” Burton said. “Then you have Xavier Worthy, who’s healthy, and Jordan Whittington and some young guys – Johntay Cook and DeAndre Moore, who also have shown well. Casey Cain returns. It’s a different receiver room now.”

Wadlington said the Longhorns’ receiver room is stacked and complementary, with lots of variety and option.

“There are distinct body types and skill sets that offer the diversity in the passing game that you want,” he said. “A lot of people will liken your receiving corps to trying to create a basketball team, right? You want to a shifty point guard. You want a change of direction, small forward, and then you want the big you want your power for who’s going to control the boards.”

The move to 11 personnel will also impact Texas’ running backs, a position that in flux this season with the move to the NFL by Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. 

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You’ll have to go watch the video to get that info. There’s plenty more to glean from the video so you owe it to yourself to go watch it in its entirety.

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