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Texas

Tre Wisner's game-saving block shouldn't go unnoticed

by: Evan Vieth13 hours ago
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Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) celebrates after the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Every observer of the Texas Longhorns has a take on this offense. You’d struggle to find one that was positive.

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That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. They rank in the 80s in key offensive yardage and scoring stats, and the Longhorns gained just 179 yards on 3.3 yards per play against Kentucky on Saturday. The Longhorns couldn’t run the ball, couldn’t block either the run or the pass, and their quarterback was ineffective when not pressured.

A lot has been made of what head coach Steve Sarkisian has done with his team as both a CEO and a play caller in Austin. The Longhorns clearly needed more help at offensive line and running back, both in recruiting years ago and in the transfer portal this offseason.

With a lot of negatives circling this unit, and an absolutely abysmal game having been played through the very last minutes of the fourth quarter, you wouldn’t be surprised to see exhausted players continuing to make mistakes.

But if there was one player you could count on to uphold the cultural standards Sarkisian has implemented over his five years in Austin, it was Quintrevion Wisner.

The running back exemplifies everything Sarkisian asks of his players. An underrated three-star who spent much of his early career playing special teams, Wisner has built his way up to being the starting running back for the Longhorns. Despite struggling to rush the ball all game, Wisner came up biggest not on the ground, but as a blocker.

Pay close attention to No. 5 in the backfield on this key play. Third and seven, tie game, 1:44 left—a first down all but wins Texas the game.

The cameraman did this article a favor and kept the shot right on Wisner, who stands up Alex Afari, a veteran LB screaming free through the gap left by DJ Campbell on his double team.

“I’ve got the utmost respect for Tre,” Arch Manning said. “He’s a great teammate and a great player. I’m glad to have him. He made a hell of a play at that time in the game.”

The play was so effective that it earned a high honor among players in Sarkisian’s team: being highlighted at the top of the Good, Bad, Ugly segment of the team’s meetings.

“When you slow the game down, you see things differently. I’m not looking all over the field. I’m looking at my guy,” Wisner said. “I know who the O-linemen have. I’m listening to Arch make his call.”

Wisner was ready for the blitz, claiming he expected to meet the defender in that hole. Despite having played over 35 snaps in the game to that point, and attempting 22 carries just a week before in Dallas, Wisner stepped into the free rusher to give his QB just enough time to make the most important throw of the game.

In a season where the culture and leadership have been questioned on the offensive side of the ball, Wisner, DeAndre Moore (who caught the pass on the first down play), and fellow RB CJ Baxter continue to uphold the standards Sarkisian expects of his players.

This offense is flawed—the worst of the Sarkisian era—but there are pillars still holding the group strong. No play exemplifies this more than Wisner and Moore’s big conversion when it was needed most.

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