Texas Football: 5 Dream Scenarios for Garrett Gilbert and the Longhorns in 2011

After going a combined 25-2 in 2008 and 2009, it's safe to say the Texas Longhorns' 5-7 record in 2010 came as a bit of a surprise.

Many of the problems can be traced back to quarterback Garrett Gilbert and his 17 interceptions, compared to just 10 touchdown passes.

Prior to last season, Gilbert was best known as the true freshman who was thrust into the spotlight in the 2010 National Championship game while filling in for the injured Colt McCoy.

Gilbert completed just 15 of 40 passes to go along with three interceptions in that game—little did we know it was a sign of things to come in 2010.

But 2011 is a new season, and July is a time where every team in the country can be optimistic about its chances come fall.

Let's take a look at five dream scenarios for the Longhorns in 2011.  

5. Sophomore Wide Receiver Mike Davis Racks Up over 1,000 Yards Receiving

Mike Davis caught 47 balls for 478 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman last year and will be counted on heavily in 2011.

Davis is the most athletically gifted receiver on the team and should see plenty of targets on a team lacking significant talent at the wideout position.

4. Freshman Malcolm Brown Is Named the Starting Running Back by Oct. 1

Malcolm Brown was ranked as the No. 1 running back in the country last season by Rivals.com.

At 6'0" and 220 pounds, Brown reminds many people of a similarly built former Longhorns running back—Cedric Benson.

Brown is physically gifted enough to play early on next season, and you can count on Longhorn Nation to be calling for his ascension up the depth chart early and often come fall.

3. Keenan Robinson Leads the Nation in Tackles

Senior Keenan Robinson is a tackling machine who led the Longhorns in 2010 with 106 stops, including a career-high 19 tackles against Oklahoma.

Robinson is moving from outside to middle linebacker in 2011 and should see a spike in total tackles this fall.  

2. Emmanuel Acho Records over 100 Tackles

Senior Emmanuel Acho is a speedy outside linebacker who finished second on the team with 79 tackles last season.

Acho is a speedy outside linebacker who is capable of making plays from sideline to sideline.

Acho missed one game due to injury in 2011 and recorded a career-high 15 tackles against Oklahoma.

Garrett Gilbert Throws for 3600 Yards and 30 Touchdowns Against 10 Interceptions

You may consider this more of a pipe dream than an actual "dream scenario", but let's go with it...

Garrett Gilbert was the 2009 Gatorade National Player of the Year, and now it's time to prove it at the next level.

If Gilbert doesn't come out of the gates hot at home against Rice and BYU, he may get the hook before the Longhorns travel to UCLA in Week 3.

With that said, I have a good feeling about Gilbert this season and think he will end up becoming one of the better quarterbacks in the nation when it's all said and done.