Texas fielded the No. 1 special teams unit in the country according to one advanced analytical measure
The Texas Longhorns’ 12-2 season was bolstered by Steve Sarkisian‘s team finishing in the top 10 in a number of regular and advanced statistical categories, but there was only one area where Texas finished No. 1 in the nation.
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According to Brien Fremeau’s FEI, the Longhorns fielded the top special teams unit in the nation. Jeff Banks‘ efforts, which were assisted by special assistant to the head coach Joe DeCamillis and senior special teams analyst Jeff Crosby, earned the top spot in Fremeau’s FEI special teams ratings.
Defining terms
Here’s what FEI special teams is, according to Fremeau.
FEI Special Teams Ratings (SFEI) are opponent-adjusted data representing the scoring advantage per special teams event a team would be expected to have on a neutral field against an average opponent, calculated from the results of non-garbage, regulation possessions in FBS vs. FBS games. Special teams efficiency (STE) is special teams value generated per special teams event. Kickoff return efficiency (KRE) is value generated per kickoff return, kickoff efficiency (KE) is value generated per opponent kickoff return, punt return efficiency (PRE) is value generated per punt return, punt efficiency (PE) is value generated per opponent punt return, and field goal efficiency (FGE) is value generated per field goal attempt. Starting field position is the average distance in yards measured from the start of drives to the end zone on offensive drives (OFP) and opponent offensive drives (DFP); net field position (NFP) is the difference between these values.
The only two categories in which Texas was not within the top 20 were DFP, where it ranked No. 22, and kickoff efficiency, where it was No. 40.
The rankings
Special Teams FEI: 0.25 – No. 1
- No other team had a 0.25. UNLV and Baylor checked in at No. 2 and 3, respectively, with marks of 0.24. That’s all to say, the Longhorns special teams were crucial and above the rest in Texas’ 12-2 season.
Special teams efficiency: 0.13 – No. 3
- Texas was only behind Miami (Ohio) at 0.16 and Baylor at 0.13. Not only were Texas’ special teams of a high quality, they were conducive to winning.
Kick return efficiency: 0.12 – No. 19
- The Longhorns ranked No. 53 nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 20.52 yards per return. Keilan Robinson led the way in Texas’ return efforts, averaging 22.5 yards per return on his 22 returns with one going all the way back for a touchdown.
- Return is a polarizing topic in the modern game, especially when rules allow for a player to signal fair catch and have his team start at the 25-yard line. The common teaching point for returners, if kick return is on, is to stand 1-2 yards deep in the end zone and take the ball out if the place where the kick is caught is in-line with where the return set up and if momentum is carrying the player upfield.
- Despite a pedestrian ranking in kick return, Texas often had good field position thanks in part to the kick return game (more on the field position aspect later).
Kickoff efficiency: -0.01 – No. 40
- Texas kicked off 97 times this year with 50 touchbacks, which was No. 26 in the country. When opponents didn’t take the free start at the 25 they tallied 19.8 yards per return. That placed Texas at No. 68 in the nation (North Texas was No. 1, allowing 11.20 yards per return).
- Will Stone has the leg to kick it out of the back of the end zone, or at least far enough to force opponents to take the start at the 25. There were times when Banks wanted the Longhorns coverage team to keep opposing players from reaching the 20, let alone the 25. More often than not they were successful, but the sheer volume of returns meant that some would reach the 25 if not the 30.
- All in all, this was still a successful area for the Longhorns but not the most successful area compared to other measures like…
Punt return efficiency: 0.4 – No. 9
- Xavier Worthy was one of the top punt returners in the nation this season, earning several All-America honors for his efforts on fourth down. He had 22 returns for 371 yards and one score, and was part of the effort that placed Texas No. 11 nationally in punt returns. Texas reaped the benefit of having one of its top playmakers being on punt return and the often strong blocking from the other 10 players on the field.
Punt efficiency: 0.24 – No. 17
- Ryan Sanborn wasn’t an award candidate but he was a significant reason behind Texas seemingly having consistent control of the field position battle. Sanborn averaged 45.7 yards per punt on 40 punts, including 15 in the 20 and just two finding the end zone for a touchback. He was a field-flipper who landed a punt inside the 20 in all but three games: dominant wins over Kansas and Oklahoma State and the nail-biter versus TCU.
Field goal efficiency: 0.59 – No. 17
- Hat tip to Bert Auburn for this stat. Auburn hit 29-of-35 field goals, missing just one after the calendar turned to October. His season was one of the best for a school that can realistically claim Kicker U.
Offensive starting field position: 67.7 – No. 17
Defensive starting field position: 72.9 – No. 22
Net field position: 5.2 – No. 8
- Texas had to drive an average of 67.7 yards to reach the end zone, a full 5.2 yards further for opponents. For a Texas team that surrendered 5.2 yards per play, that difference altered the course of a number of opponent drives that typically ended in three points as opposed to six thanks to the Longhorns’ stout red zone defense.
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The offense and defense did their part for 2023 Texas, too. The Longhorns were No. 7 overall in FEI, bolstered by an offensive FEI ranking of No. 17 and a defensive FEI ranking of No. 7.
But special teams FEI was the only statistical category, regular or advanced, where the Longhorns were No. 1 in the country
