'Every game in the stadium, I won't take it for granted': Texas seniors talk DKR memories

Texas running back Bijan Robinson declined to answer several questions about his future Monday.

As he did two days before against Kansas defenders, the junior spun away from questions about whether Friday's regular-season finale against Baylor will be his last game at Royal-Memorial Stadium, or in a Texas uniform. He hurdled over the NFL talk and stiff-armed — respectfully, of course — many of the reporters who descended upon his media scrum.

But Robinson did concede that he will enjoy himself Friday. If nothing else, this will be his last time playing at home with his senior teammates. Texas has not yet released the names of its senior day participants, but it did say that list will include about 30 players.

One big to-do left: Highlights from Texas coach Steve Sarkisian's Monday press conference

On Monday, seven of those who aren't expected back next season met with the local media. Each was asked his favorite career memory from Royal-Memorial Stadium:

∙ Roschon Johnson, running back: "I'd probably say just my freshman year, just going on the field for the first time, especially under the circumstances that I went, that I even played that year. It was just all kind of surreal to me just to even be playing. So versus La. Tech when I first went onto the field, experiencing that moment and just realizing that I was playing Division I football was pretty crazy to me at the time."

∙ DeMarvion Overshown, linebacker: "Favorite DKR memory? USC, 2019. That game just in general was crazy to me, knowing the history of the game. Being able to be a part of it, sellout crowd, phone lights everywhere. I would say that probably had to be my favorite memory of playing in this stadium."

∙ Keondre Coburn, defensive lineman: "I'd say this year against Bama, that fourth-down stop. I think that was kind of big. The fact that I made a play, helped out the team in a big way to get the ball back to the offense. I remember when I made the play, I got up and cheered, and the whole stadium was going crazy because it was real packed."

∙ D'Shawn Jamison, defensive back: "You know, every time we win in DKR, that's always a memory that I'll always have. Every time we get that dub there, that's something I'm always gonna remember, especially, you know, winning with my boys."

∙ Anthony Cook, defensive back: "Every game in the stadium, I won't take it for granted, just because you never know what play you can get injured."

∙ Christian Jones, offensive lineman: "My freshman year when we played USC. That's the first time we ran out of the tunnel with a huge crowd like that. I know I wasn't playing, but still I felt the goosebumps and the energy."

∙ Jordan Whittington, wide receiver: "I think my first touchdown there (against Louisiana in the 2021 season opener). This was last season, so after the point of me going through all that stuff, it just felt good to score a touchdown. I think the last time I had scored one was my senior year of high school. That was a great moment for me and my family."

On Friday, after the pregame ceremony honoring the outgoing seniors, No. 24 Texas (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) will host Baylor (6-5, 4-4) with a lot to play for. The Longhorns are one game out of the Big 12 championship game picture; if Texas beats Baylor and then Kansas State (8-3, 6-2) is upset by Kansas (6-5, 3-4) on Saturday night, Texas would play TCU (11-0, 8-0) for the conference title.

Baylor is scoring 34.2 points per game this season and allowing opponents just 25.5. The Bears haven't won in Austin since 2014 but have beaten Texas in two of the past three years. So the Longhorns seniors won't just be paying attention to Friday's pomp and circumstance.

"There's a lot of stuff outside of the game, but we have to win that game," Jones said. "That's when the best memory (at DKR) will happen. Nobody cares about senior day if you lose."

Bohls: Top four survive, while Texas thrives to rejoin my Top 25 ballot

Friday's game

Baylor (6-5, 4-4) at No. 24 Texas (7-4, 5-3), 11 a.m., ESPN, 104.9

Three things to know about Baylor

1. The Bears are the defending Big 12 champions but have struggled to stay above .500 this season. They're 6-5 overall and 4-4 in the conference and have lost their last two. But just like the Longhorns, the Bears could easily be 7-4 right now. Or 8-3. Or even 9-2. They lost 26-20 at then-No. 21 BYU in double overtime, lost their quarterback in a 43-40 loss to West Virginia in Morgantown and fell 29-28 last Saturday at home to No. 4 TCU on a final-play field goal.

2. How will the Bears respond to that 29-28 loss? Griffin Kell's 42-yard walk-off kept the Frogs' national championship hopes alive, but also was the latest gut punch for the Bears' season. Baylor finished with more total yards than TCU and more rushing yards. And the Bears enter Friday's game having already qualified for a bowl and knowing they're not in the Big 12 title picture.

3. This Baylor team looks quite a bit different from last year's team that beat Texas 31-24. Five key players from that game aren't Bears anymore: QB Gerry Bohanon transferred to South Florida, RB Abram Smith is playing in the XFL, RB Trestan Ebner was a sixth-round pick of the Chicago Bears, WR R.J. Sneed transferred to Colorado, and WR Tyquan Thornton was a second-round pick of the New England Patriots. Blake Shapen (2,423 yards, 14 TDs, nine INTs) has taken over at quarterback, Richard Reese (908 yards, 14 TDs) is the primary running back, and wide receivers Monaray Baldwin (30 catches, 530 yards, four TDs) and Hal Presley (29-359-3) are the primary targets along with TE Ben Sims (30-241-2).

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas football prepares for Baylor, Senior Day at DKR