LONGHORNS FOOTBALL

Horns have three different options for RB spot

AUSTIN, Texas — The situation is known. The separation is coming.

The question is when?

So far, when it comes to Texas running backs, there is no depth chart, and there is no answer.

Sophomore Vondrell McGee had the most yards rushing last season of any returning tailback. Senior Chris Ogbonnaya had the most experience. Redshirt freshman Fozzy Whittaker is the biggest breakaway threat.

But nobody has broken away.

Even Whittaker sustaining a minor knee injury in Saturday's scrimmage didn't change things. Probably because he returned to the field Monday.

"We have a better handle right now at every spot (on offense) other than running back, and that's pretty important," offensive coordinator Greg Davis said. "We're still trying to see what are these guys' best runs. Is it the counter play? Is it the sweep? Is it the zone play? So we're still trying to get that identified, and that will take a little bit of time."

Last year, it took the Longhorns time to find their offensive identity, and it cost them. They began the season 3-2. They don't want the same thing to happen this year.

The positive news is all three backs are different types of players, and using them could create matchup problems for defenses. So far, the 11th-ranked Longhorns have been saying they'll use either McGee or Whittaker on first and second downs, and Ogbonnaya will be the third-down back.

McGee, the favorite to win the starting role, is a 5-foot-10-inch, 205-pound downhill runner whose specialty is running in the trenches.

"He's a lot to handle," Ogbonnaya said. "You watch him run and can tell he's got power and speed. He's one of those guys who always seems to fall forward. You saw that last year with all the touchdowns he had."

McGee, nicknamed "Bulldozer" in high school, reached the end zone eight times on 75 carries while picking up 297 yards.

"Everybody already knows Vondrell," offensive lineman Chris Hall said. "We saw him score a bunch of touchdowns with great runs."

Whittaker is relatively unknown, but the 5-foot-10-inch, 190-pound speedster out of Pearland has made a name for himself in practice, breaking long runs and running away from would-be tacklers.

"Fozzy is real fast, and he's shifty," McGee said. "He's one of those guys who's in front of you one minute and then he slashes in another direction and he's by you. You see defenders miss him a lot."

Ogbonnaya dropped about 15 pounds in the offseason to gain speed. The 6-foot-1-inch, 215-pound senior isn't as fast as the other two, but he brings different qualities. He's already an experienced pass catcher, hauling in 21 receptions for 201 yards last season.

Even more important is his ability to pass block. He's the best blocker of the three, which is why he'll be used in passing situations.

"Chris, he's a big powerful back, but he's dropped his weight, he's getting his speed back and he's much quicker," Whittaker said. "He's really been there for us throughout practice. He'll ask us questions to see if we're paying attention. He's really one of the guys everybody on the team looks up to."

Three different backs, three different options.

But, as always, three's a crowd.

Alan Trubow writes for The Austin American-Statesman.