Texas Football: 10 Surprises and Letdowns in 2011

Following a 5-7 record in 2010, Mack Brown vowed to rebuild the Texas football program back to prominence.

Eight games into the 2011 campaign, his Longhorns are 6-2 following a dominating win over Texas Tech, earning them bowl eligibility.

A slew of new assistant coaches and a bevy of underclassmen have rocked the Forty Acres into what could be a hugely successful season after the debacle that was 2010.

There have been a wealth of pleasant surprises, but also a fair share of disappointments. Fortunately for the Longhorns, those surprises have led them down a path that should spell long-term success.

Here are 10 surprises and letdowns so far in Texas' 2011 season.

Surprise: Fozzy Whittaker

Fozzy Whittaker has been an annual case of high expectations, consistently serving as one of a handful of Longhorns poised for a breakout season every year he has been on campus.

The senior tailback would begin each season with some promise, but fall victim to the injury bug which ultimately would limit his production.

But in 2011, either by a light switch or the step backwards into a role that really catered to Whittaker's skill set, he has broken out.

With Malcolm Brown, and now Joe Bergeron, emerging as legitimate feature backs, capable of carrying the load over an entire game, Whittaker's haul has decreased, though his serviceability arguably has increase twice that.

The drop in carries has him looking fresher, quicker, speedier and stronger.

At the beginning of the season, expectations were cautiously optimistic, but Whittaker has exploded into one of the more important playmakers for the Longhorns.

Letdown: Quarterback

What a roller coaster ride at the quarterback position at Texas.

Garrett Gilbert had the opportunity to start fresh under a new offensive system, but consistently average performances and eventually season-ending shoulder surgery meant the keys to this expensively financed Texas program would be handed to a sophomore or a true freshman just months removed from his senior prom.

Going into the season, many Longhorns fans were set for Gilbert's revival, but as before those expectations were met with hollow results.

Enter Case McCoy at UCLA. The sophomore connected with D.J. Grant for three touchdowns, and there was some light at the end of the tunnel.

But as quickly as McCoy acquired heavy praise, David Ash would get his opportunity.

While most can agree that the level of success has been somewhat limited in recent weeks, there is a huge upside for a position that showed plenty of promise at the start of the year.

No player has really taken the position by the reigns, but there is also an exciting amount of room for growth.

Surprise: Josh Cochran

The Texas offensive line had lingering questions from last season going into 2011.

With just one standout returner, offensive production was in question as the Longhorns would eventually start two freshmen in the trenches.

Senior left tackle Tray Allen has underperformed vastly during his career in Austin, partly due to development and partly due to injury.

Regardless, the coaches felt it was time for new blood for the quaterback's blindside, and in stepped Josh Cochran, a true freshman out of Hallsville, Texas, and the youngster has put in a solid track record in limited starts.

If someone had said that by halfway through the season that Allen would be replaced and outperformed at the position by a true freshman, well that someone deserves a drink right about now.

Cochran will become a huge asset for the Longhorns' offensive line moving forward.

Letdown: Tray Allen

Right behind Josh Cochran is Tray Allen, a senior tackle who has been given ample opportunity despite his nagging injuries to cement a place along Texas' offensive line.

But the former 5-star recruit has had little to show during his career.

Instead of taking the expected steps forward as a senior, he arguably as regressed, losing his starting spot to Cochran.

The upside to Allen's removal from the starting lineup is depth. His natural position may be at tackle, but he has proven to produce at times from the interior line.

Surprise: Joe Bergeron

Everyone in tune with the Texas football program knew coming into the season of Malcolm Brown's potential, and the Cibolo product has not disappointed.

But coming in under the radar was Joe Bergeron, another freshman with a violent running style, but hardly received the same hype as a high school recruit.

In two games against Kansas and Texas Tech, the Mesquite, Texas native has put up 136 and 191 yards respectively on a total of 42 carries.

Bergeron's emergence should make any Texas fan giddy with excitement at the future prospects at running back.

Letdown: Turnovers

Where are the turnovers that Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz spoke of in the preseason?

If there are two things lacking from this defense this season, it has got to be sacks and turnovers.

Though the sacks have experienced quite an explosion in recent weeks, the turnover battle is not falling in Texas' favor.

The opportunities for interceptions have been there, but the Longhorns have failed to capitalize.

Surprise: Jaxon Shipley

Though Jaxon Shipley currently is suffering from an apparent MCL injury, the true freshman has been the Longhorns' top wide receiver this season.

Though that is not saying too much given the inexperience and inconsistency across the board at the position, Shipley has come into the program with the work ethic and intensity that his brother so effortlessly seemed to give.

That mentality will be in Austin for some time to come as Shipley has echoed much more than his older brother's preparation habits.

Letdown: Tight End

A main emphasis in Bryan Harsin's offense is the use of the tight end in almost every facet of the game.

But apart from D.J. Grant's three-touchdown effort against UCLA, the position has been virtually invisible.

Texas has a wealth of depth, but not a lot of experience and consistency to boot.

In fact, we have seen the Longhorns move a former lineman in Luke Poehlmann to tight end for blocking purposes. And with Texas putting up nearly 900 yards in its last two games, it looks to be a permanent move that will pay off big dividends as the season progresses.

Surprise: Cornerback

With the loss of Aaron Williams, Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown to the NFL after the 2010 season, huge question marks at cornerback could have haunted this Texas secondary.

Instead, a couple sophomores in Adrian Phillips and Carrington Byndom and a true freshman in Quandre Diggs have stepped up to the plate and delivered, contributing to one of the most promising secondaries in the Big 12.

The youth at the position is overwhelming, and the future may be brightest at cornerback.

With the progression that all three have demonstrated, there is little reason to believe why this group cannot be a major force in the conference for seasons to come.

Letdown: Defensive Line

Kansas and Texas Tech aside, the Longhorns' defensive line has done little to impress the Texas faithful this season.

Ends Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat were heralded as possible All-Big 12 performers at the beginning of the year, but the duo has been rather pedestrian apart from those two breakout performances against the Jayhawks and Red Raiders.

Meanwhile, apart from Kheeston Randall, the Longhorns were still in need of another serviceable defensive tackle who could produce with consistency. Ashton Dorsey has really come on of late, but the Longhorns still need more.

There are a number of young guys waiting in the wings for their opportunity, but there is some great talent here that is waiting to be unleashed.