For all Steve Sarkisian's reputation as a quarterback whisperer, his play calling relies on the ground game.

In his first two seasons on the Forty Acres it was Doak Walker Award winner Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. Last year, Jonathon Brooks emerged into a second round NFL Draft selection. But as of a month ago, Sarkisian still didn't know who would take the mantle for Texas. Former five-star and presumed starter CJ Baxter was lost for the season in fall camp, as was prized freshman Christian Clark.

The 2024 season is the first since Sarkisian became a head coach in 2009 that he'll finish without a 1,000-yard rusher. In Saturday night's 17-7 win over Texas A&M, Sarkisian got the answer at running back he'd spent all season searching for: DeSoto Eagles alum Tre Wisner.

Wisner totaled more carries on Saturday (33) than he received in the first four games combined, rushing for 186 yards against a Texas A&M front loaded with two potential First Round NFL Draft selections in Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart. He began fall camp as the third-string running back, and he finished the regular season as the bell cow. In the past two games combined, Wisner has carried the ball 59 times for 344 yards.

His emergence comes at the perfect time for a Texas offense that has scored 30 points just twice in the last month and a half. The Longhorns offense was reduced to screen passes to substitute for the running game, and because teams didn't fear the ground attack, they were able to dial up exotic blitzes. 

But quarterback Quinn Ewers, who entered Saturday completing just 32.1% of his passes beyond 10 yards, hit Matthew Golden on a 44-yard pass in part because Texas A&M had to respect the run. 

Wisner couldn't have performed without his offensive line paving the way. Left guard Hayden Conner led all Longhorns with an 80.4 run block grade, while redshirt freshman left tackle Trevor Goosby filled in admirably for the injured Kelvin Banks Jr., a potential top ten NFL Draft Selection.

With Wisner as the de facto RB1, Texas offense has an identity again ahead of the SEC Championship Game and College Football Playoff.