20 BIG 12
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TEXAS LONGHORNS
Whittaker stepping up for Longhorns
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Texas running back Fosshwil Whittaker (28) dives into the end zone past Missouri defender Kevin Rutland at the end of an 11-yard touchdown run during the first quarter of their game last Saturday in Columbia, Mo. The Longhorns defeated the Tigers 41-7.
By Michael Sherfield The Daily Texan
AUSTIN, Texas — After a season spent shuffling running backs, the Longhorns have finally found the man to solve their running woes.
Well, man-and-a-half.
Junior Fozzy Whittaker is currently carrying the crown, aided in part by Cody Johnson, and he's provided the consistency and production the Texas offense missed early in the year.
Whittaker, who was the preseason favorite to claim the starting tailback job after impressing the coaches in seven games last season, was hit by an injury for the second year in a row during camp. The injury cost him the first few games of the season and his place atop the depth chart as Vondrell McGee and Tre' Newton took turns as the starting running back.
When McGee and Newton were injured against Colorado, Whittaker and Johnson stepped up against Oklahoma the following week.
"Fozzy was injured, and he's just now
getting healthy," said offensive coordinator Greg Davis. "Those two guys have stepped up and have separated themselves a little bit. As of right now, the Foz and Cody are the top two."
The running game against the Sooners was the lone offensive bright spot, racking up 142 yards, including yardage lost in sacks by Colt McCoy, on the then-No. 3 rush defense in the country.
"I think it's working well," said Texas head coach Mack Brown. "Cody's moving piles, he's in better shape, they're both taking care of the ball. They're as opposite as two guys can be.
One's the smaller, quick, great vision. The other will run right over you. They're a really good one-two punch when you look at what we're doing. Fozzy is a really good receiver.
We thought these two might be guys that might step up in the spring, but they both got hurt."
Over the past two games, Whittaker had 27 carries for 121 yards with a touchdown and Johnson had 12 carries for 59 yards. Whittaker also added 40 receiving yards against the Sooners and Tigers.
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THE WAVE OCTOBER 30,2009
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN