Texas HC Charlie Strong: Horns RB Joe Bergeron "back in the mix"

At the first Big 12 Media Days appearance for Charlie Strong, the new head coach for the Texas Longhorns said that senior running back Joe Bergeron is "back in the mix."

The 6'1, 230-pounder missed the end of spring practice due to undisclosed issues that were reportedly due to academics. Strong said at the time that as long as Bergeron took care of business off the field, he would be able to see the field this fall.

According to Strong, Begeron has done "everything that was asked" of him to regain his standing with the team, providing more good news for running back depth following the Monday release from the school that junior running back Johnathan Gray has been completely cleared for full contact when fall camp starts in the coming days.

Along with senior Malcolm Brown, sophomore Jalen Overstreet, and freshman Duke Catalon, the Horns have appear to have survived the worst-case scenarios from a depth standpoint, a major positive given the continued injury concerns surrounding junior quarterback David Ash that being cleared for camp could not completely allay.

A bruising runner who scored 12 touchdowns in 2012, Bergeron had to work his way out of the doghouse with the previous coaching staff last fall after ball security issues and potential attitude problems. As he has done throughout the spring and summer, apparently, the North Mesquite product rebounded with strong efforts on special teams, leading to opportunities running the football after Gray's Achilles injury ended his season against West Virginia.

Bergeron did his usual thing at home against Texas Tech, gaining 102 yards on 17 carries with one of his four touchdowns on the year and finished the season with 362 yards total at nearly five yards per carry.

Barring any more issues, Bergeron should reprise his 2012 role as the short-yardage running back for Texas.