A look at Texas’ RB room with transfer Velton Gardner

With the number of running backs thin, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and RB coach Tashard Choice signed Velton Gardner, a former fifth-year transfer from the SMU Mustangs and Kansas Jayhawks. That’s about the last time we saw Texas and Sarkisian make a move from the transfer portal at a key position.

Gardner announced his transfer to play the final year of his college eligibility for the 2024 season at Texas very late on the night of August 21st via social media.

Texas had only three healthy scholarship running backs on the roster toward the end of preseason training after two running backs were sidelined with season-ending lower-body injuries.

I’ll start by saying that I don’t think Gardner will immediately shake up the SEC, but he will provide depth as a player with valuable experience and will give the Longhorns additional exposure and opportunities in practice and in live play if needed this upcoming season.

One interesting aspect of this transfer is the impact it has on other potential position moves at the Longhorns’ emergency running backs this fall. Senior tight end Juan Davis and redshirt freshman wide receiver Ryan Niblett have been running backfield drills at running back over the last week or 10 days of fall practice.

Here’s a look at Texas’ running back corps following the Gardner signing and how the assignments are expected to be distributed this fall for Sarkisian and the Longhorns.

Junior running back Jaydon Blue made a splash for the Longhorns in the second half of last season. Last season, he was Texas’ third-leading runner, behind CJ Baxter Jr. and Jonathon Brooks, with over 500 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.

I firmly believe Blue will be a running back to watch in the SEC this fall, with the ability to get out there and make big gains with his impressive speed and underrated agility in the open field and in open space after getting the ball in his hands in the passing game out of the backfield.

Not only is Blue one of Texas’ fastest players at the skill positions, but he’s also someone who can use his speed and momentum to create explosive plays by running the football between the tackles, like he did last year against Texas Tech and even UW in the CFP.

In goal-line and third and fourth-and-short scenarios in the Longhorns offense, Blue probably won’t be the first choice in the backfield. His skills aren’t optimal for those short-yardage situations where you run through the middle.

But all of the ways Texas can use Blue in the zone and on outside attacks, along with the ability to get his hands on the ball in open space as a receiver and take advantage of his speed, will make him an extremely productive running back who could have a career year as a RB this fall.

Prediction: 15+ runs per game