As many Texas signees, Garrett Gilbert came to the Longhorns with high expectations.
Gilbert was the #2 Quarterback on Rivals.com’s QB rankings for the class of 2009. Only behind USC’s Matt Barkley. Who BYU’s rival, Utah, will face tomorrow.
Gilbert grew up in the shadows of Austin at Lake Travis High School. Only 20 minutes away from Darryl K. Royal Stadium.
In 2009, Gilbert arrived at Texas to learn under Colt McCoy. McCoy was in his Senior season, and one of the top signal callers in the game. McCoy was leading a Texas squad that started at #2 in the pre-season rankings, and had high hopes to win another National Championship (2005). Gilbert won out the #2 spot behind McCoy.
The Horns had some struggles throughout the 2009 season. Including a controversial win over Nebraska in the Big XII Championship. Through all the close calls and at times, poor play, the Horns went undefeated and found themselves with a spot in the National Championship game against Alabama.
Gilbert appeared in eight games throwing for 124 yards heading into the bowl game. He was seeing enough time his Freshman season, that when his number was called in 2010 he would be ready.
Gilbert’s time arrived in 2010, but not the way anyone expected.
In the 2010 BCS National Championship Game, McCoy suffered a shoulder injury early in the 1st quarter, and would not return to the game. Let the Gilbert era begin.
Losing McCoy, Texas ultimately lost the game. But Gilbert performed well. Well enough to give many in the media high expectations for Texas going forward under Gilbert. If there wasn’t high expectations to begin with. The Horns started 2010 at #5 in the Pre-Season polls.
Gilbert in 2010, started all 12 games for the Horns and posted a 5-7 record. Looking at his production, he was very inconsistent. Which led to the Quarterback controversy that took place this past Spring.
In Gilbert’s 13 starts (counting last week vs. Rice), Gilbert has completed above 60% of his passes five times. Three of those games were victories, the other two were losses to UCLA (at home) and Oklahoma (neutral).
Gilbert has only thrown passes of 50+ yards, three times. Two of those came in a blowout victory against Florida Atlantic, the other was last week hosting Rice.
Nothing statistically will impress anyone with Gilbert thus far in his career. He is however, capable on his feet when plays break down. He rushed for over 50 yards in five games a year ago.
BYU needs to force Gilbert to make plays through the air. Texas’ rushing attack with Malcolm Brown, D.J. Monroe, and Fozzy Whittaker, is the best the Horns have had since Jamaal Charles was in the burnt orange; and not on your fantasy football team.
Gilbert has thrown for over 300+ yards once. And that came on 57 pass attempts against Iowa State in Austin, in a losing effort.
BYU’s front seven has received a lot of hype after last week’s impressive performance against a talented Ole Miss Offensive Line. They will need to be even better this week against a Texas squad that is looking to prove that 2010 was a fluke.
This is Texas’ biggest non-conference game before they get into a round-robin Big XII schedule that looks to be as tough as the league has ever been.
I would expect a much improved level of play from Gilbert this week. He did himself no favors a week ago with his play against Rice. Trick plays were needed to break the game open. He knows this week against BYU is likely now or never for him to be the top signal caller for the Horns. Or he will be resting on the bench behind yet another McCoy (Case) very soon.
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