North Texas 2021 Season in Review: Five-game winning streak saves season for Mean Green

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2021 record: 6-7 (+2 wins from 2020)

Texas Power Poll ranking: 6 of 12

THE GOOD

North Texas ended the regular season on a five-game winning streak that helped the Mean Green reach six wins and bowl eligibility. The winning streak started Oct. 30 in an overtime win at Rice. North Texas would go on to beat Southern Miss, UTEP, and FIU to set up a season-ending battle with the undefeated UTSA Roadrunners. North Texas humbled its rival from San Antonio with a 45-23 victory. The Mean Green ran for 340 yards and registered six rushing touchdowns in the upset. 

The running attack is what righted the ship for Seth Littrell’s program. The Mean Green rushed for 32 touchdowns on the year, which was the second-most in program history. DeAndre Torrey was the catalyst, rushing for 1,215 yards and 13 scores on 248 carries. Ikaika Ragsdale added 534 yards and five touchdowns, while Ayo Adeyi rushed for 496 yards and six touchdowns. Isaiah Johnson pitched in 359 yards and five rushing touchdowns. 

North Texas averaged 4.8 yards a rush as a team. That number is well above 5.0 if sacks were discounted. Torrey averaged 4.9 yards a carry. Ragsdale was at 5.3, Adeyi at 5.9 and Johnson at 4.4. Those rushing numbers allowed North Texas to average 27.46 points per game and convert on 41.43 percent of third down conversions. The Mean Green averaged 36.4 points during the five-game winning streak to conclude the regular season. North Texas only lost four fumbles despite 639 rushing attempts. 

The front seven was the strength for the defense. Starting linebacker KD Davis led the team with 121 tackles, including 16 for loss. Davis also added 5.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Twin defensive ends Grayson and Gabriel Murphy combined 15.5 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss. Three players – Davis, Tyreke Davis, and Larry Nixon III – recorded more than 70 tackles on the season. DeShawn Gaddie led the team with six pass breakups. The defense recovered 12 fumbles and 38 sacks. 

Read more:  https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2022/01/25/north-texas-2021-season-in-review-five-game-winning-streak-saves-season-for-mean-green?ref=article_preview_img