Gunnar Helm recently told reporters he was “scared” to learn that former Texas head coach Tom Herman would be fired in 2021. Young Helm didn’t know what to think since the coach he committed to was no longer around.
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But thankfully for Helm, Jeff Banks, who recruited Helm at the University of Alabama, has joined Steve Sarkisian’s staff. That ultimately worked out best for Texas and Helm, and he knows it too.
“I think I was blessed with pretty lucky stars,” Helm said. “I’m very happy to play for Coach Sark. They always told me that in this NFL-style offense, if you play the offense in a system like ours, you have a good chance of playing in the NFL. ”
It’s a match made in heaven, and Helm’s stats show it. Before the season, fans were worried about the void in his production after losing Ja’Tavion Sanders, but Helm did even better with 611 receiving yards (second on the team) and five touchdowns. . Helm played himself to earn a mid-round draft pick and an invitation to the Senior Bowl, but that’s hardly his concern.
“I’m excited to see where we go after the season, but I’m focused on Clemson University and winning a national championship,” Helm said.
Helm told reporters he returned to Colorado to take on leadership responsibilities and, like many players who look up to him, recharge and prepare to help the Longhorns make the playoffs.
After all, Helm is the ultimate culture man, and his growth has matched that of Sarkisian and the Texas program as a whole. He helped bring the championship back to Austin and reset the standard to where it should be.
During the first few years of the College Football Playoff when the University of Texas was underperforming, who would have thought that the University of Texas would be the only team to advance to last year’s four-team CFP with a 2024 berth? But here they are It’s a credit to cultural figures like Helm who stuck with the program despite coaching changes and uncertainty, and it’s all worth it in the end.
Before what will likely be his last game with DKR, the senior reflected on his journey and successes thus far.
“It’s great to be back in the playoffs. We’re the only team back in the playoffs this year, and that’s a testament to our culture and coaching,” Helm said. “We have set a new standard.”
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That standard? Helm spent four years working on this piece in burnt orange. Through the ups and downs, Helm was a part of it every step of the way, and his efforts led to a flourishing senior season.
