A potential SEC Championship contender got some more bad news Monday as the Texas Longhorns‘ already thin backfield took another hit after true freshman Christian Clark went down with an injury. This comes less than one week after presumed starter CJ Baxter exited practice with a season-ending knee injury.
If Clark is out for an extended period of time, redshirt freshman receiver Ryan Niblett could see snaps at running back. Who is Niblett, and what does he bring to Texas’ backfield?
Ryan Niblett Next Up at RB?
Should Clark miss any extended time, the depth of Texas’ backfield will be tested. Junior Jaydon Blue and sophomore Quintrevion Wisner bring similar, traditional skill sets to the running back position, but Texas may look for a more explosive option as a change-of-pace back.
Enter Niblett. A top-100 prospect in the 2023 class, Niblett is a 5’10”, 185-pound receiver from Houston, Texas. The Eisenhower High School prospect was an explosive, do-it-all playmaker prior to his arrival at Texas.
The numbers weren’t eye-popping, but Niblett did score as a kick returner, running back, wide receiver, and defensive back during his senior year.
When he got to Austin, however, Niblett didn’t make an immediate impact, seeing the field in just three games and recorded no stats.
Reports out of Austin say that Niblett could get a look at running back do to his athleticism and versatility. He ran a 10.91-second 100-meter as a junior in high school and can be explosive on tape.
Niblett could find a home in the backfield in sub packages and in the quick passing game. There, his ability to make people miss in the open field could benefit the Longhorns’ offense.
What Does Niblett’s Involvement Mean for Texas?
Of course, this doesn’t matter all that much if Clark isn’t seriously hurt. While the extent of his injury is unknown, the fact that Niblett was being talked about as a serious contributor is a testament both to his potential and to the lack of depth in Texas’ RB room.
With Baxter out for the year, Texas is down to 92 total college attempts and four touchdowns from running backs on the roster. Blue is the most experienced, with 80 career attempts, but beyond him, there’s not a single proven player on the depth chart.
Similarly, Texas’ willingness to move Niblett to running back speaks volumes to the confidence in an unproven receiving corps. Johntay Cook II is the only Texas receiver who caught a pass for the Longhorns last season, and while they landed three high-profile transfers at the position, there’s not a lot of proven depth behind them.
Niblett’s impending move to running back speaks volumes about the development of freshman blue-chipper Ryan Wingo, who had 81 yards and two touchdowns in Texas’ spring game. If Niblett moves to running back, Wingo will see the field early and often.