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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Kevin Sweeney

Fans Were Baffled By Texas’ Decision to Stick With Kick Returner With Huge Cast on His Hand

Texas Keilan Robinson Longhorns Sark Washington

It’s easy to play Monday morning quarterback after huge games like the Texas-Washington Sugar Bowl showdown, but one decision by Texas coach Steve Sarkisian had fans befuddled.

The Longhorns deployed veteran running back Keilan Robinson as the team’s kick returner throughout the game. Robinson had returned a kick 95 yards for a touchdown earlier this season against Texas Tech, but may have been a questionable choice to be used in the matchup with Washington thanks to an injury. Robinson was wearing a bulky wrap on his left hand and wrist, with zero use of any of the fingers on his hand. That had the potential to cause problems for Robinson receiving kickoffs, and Washington took advantage.

Especially in the second half, Washington deliberately targeted Robinson with squib kicks, making it more difficult for him to handle the ball off the ground with just one hand to pick it up. The result: multiple bobbled kicks, costing the Longhorns valuable field position. On one fourth quarter kickoff, Robinson mishandled the ball and returned it for just eight yards to the 16 yard line.

Those yards likely weren’t the difference between winning and losing for Texas, but fans still had plenty of questions as to why the Longhorns turned to the injured Robinson in such a key moment.

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