Texas Longhorns Player-for-Player Evaluation

Week 1 — Texas 55, Kent State 0

PML College Football

The #1 Texas Longhorns opened their season with a statement: complete, wire-to-wire authority in all three phases. Every unit contributed. Every star delivered. And the depth pieces showed why this roster is built to survive the grind of a championship chase.

Below is a complete position-by-position, player-by-player breakdown of how your team performed.

QUARTERBACKS

Maalik Murphy – SR (RS)

Stats: 18/26, 272 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT | 69% | Long 80
Grade: A+

This was Maalik Murphy at his most polished.
He was decisive, patient, and deadly accurate. The five touchdown passes weren’t just stat-padding — they were layered throws that showcased his growth as a true veteran leader.

• Hit Ryan Wingo in stride for an electric 80-yard strike
• Showed full command in the RPO game
• Manipulated safeties, attacked leverage, and made clean pre-snap reads
• Used mobility effectively with 24 rushing yards

Murphy was calm, clean, and efficient — the textbook definition of a quarterback who understands the offense inside out.

T. Owens – Freshman

1 pass attempt — incomplete
Grade: Incomplete

Saw minimal action late. Didn’t get enough snaps for real evaluation, but your staff likes his poise.

RUNNING BACKS

CJ Baxter – SO (RS)

Stats: 13 carries, 80 yards, 2 TD | 6.2 YPC
Grade: A

Baxter was explosive and authoritative. He ran with balance, vision, and the bruising finesse that makes him special.

• Excellent burst through interior lanes
• Elite contact balance shown with 3 broken tackles
• A 20-yard TD run that shredded Kent State’s second level

He looks like a future Doak Walker candidate.

M. Terry III – FR

Stats: 2 carries, 51 yards | Long 41
Grade: A-

Freshman showed electric explosiveness. His 41-yard run was one of the highlights of the night. He’s a change-of-pace weapon with home-run ability.

C. Clark – FR

Stats: 9 carries, 37 yards | 4.1 YPC**
Grade: B

Good downhill running. Clean footwork. Reliable in short yardage.

Maalik Murphy (as runner)

3 carries, 24 yards
Grade: B+

Used mobility to extend drives and keep the defense honest.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS

Ryan Wingo – JR

Stats: 3 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD | 36.7 YPC | Long 80
Grade: A+

The WR1 was unstoppable.
Wingo’s speed and stride length terrorized Kent State’s secondary.

• Burned CB on deep post for an 80-yard TD
• Dominated RAC with 39 yards after the catch
• Showed development in route sharpness

Wingo looks like a future 1st-round PML draft pick.

J. Ffrench – FR

Stats: 4 catches, 55 yards, 2 TD
Grade: A

The freshman is already showing superstar upside.
Strong hands, great leverage, compact acceleration — and two red-zone touchdowns.

He’s the perfect WR2-in-waiting.

K. Lockett – SO

Stats: 4 catches, 51 yards, 2 TD
Grade: A

Lockett ate in the intermediate game.
Reliable, tough, timely — and dangerous after the catch.

Your receiving room is loaded, and Lockett is a major reason why.

CJ Baxter (as receiver)

2 catches, 17 yards
Grade: B

Solid safety-valve work.

Tight Ends – Terry III / Endries / Washington

Combined: 3 catches, 22 yards
Grade: B

Limited usage because the WRs dominated. They blocked well and executed in space.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The OL allowed 0 sacks and paved the way for 7.1 YPC as a team.

Grade: A

• Clean pockets
• Strong combo blocking
• Excellent communication
• Zero mental errors

This is a championship-caliber trench unit.

DEFENSE

The defense pitched a shutout, allowing only 190 total yards and forcing constant pressure.

Jonah Williams – SS (SO)

Stats: 2 solo, 5 assists, 7 total, 1 TFL
Grade: A

Your most active defender.
Jonah was everywhere — downhill, physical, decisive, and clean in space. Excellent performance.

D. Williams Jr. – LB

Stats: 3 solo, 4 assists, 7 total, 1 TFL
Grade: A-

Reliable tackler. Good pursuit angles. Strong in traffic.

E. Bowen – S

Stats: 3 solo, 2 assists, 5 total
Grade: B+

Played fast, trusted his instincts, and never let anything break deep.

F. Walker – LB

Stats: 2 solo, 3 assists, 5 total, 1 TFL
Grade: B+

Clean reads, disciplined flow, and consistent finishing.

L. Lefau – LB

Stats: 2 solo, 2 assists, 4 total, 1 TFL
Grade: B

Steady and physical at the point of attack.

L. Fano – EDGE

Stats: 1.5 sacks, 1 TFL
Grade: A

The most impactful pass rusher of the game.
Lived in the backfield and set the tone off the edge. A breakout performance.

X. Filsaime, K. Black, J. Johnson-Rubell

Combined: 9 total tackles
Grade: B

Secure tackling, disciplined zone work, good communication.

Rotational DTs & DEs

Consistently won at the line of scrimmage and squeezed Kent State into checkdowns.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• No missed assignments
• Good tackling on coverage
• Solid return decisions

Grade: A

OVERALL TEAM GRADE: A+

Texas looked like the #1 team in the nation.
Efficient offense.
Violent defense.
Locked-in coaching.
Roster depth on full display.

This was the exact type of performance title-winning teams open seasons with.