Foreman brother help Texas return to national spotlight

*Originally published on ArmchairAllAmericans.com*

The Foreman brothers have never been too far apart in life. Born just minutes apart, the twins from South Texas have always enjoyed a special bond. For D’Onta and Armanti, roaming the University of Texas campus and starring on the football team together is just another chapter in the story that they have always authored together.

Thus far in the 2016 season, the Foreman duo has been instrumental to Texas’ hot start that has the Longhorns ranked for the first time since 2013. Through two games, Armanti is on pace to smash his previous career-high for receptions on the season that he set last year (11). And D’Onta is already picking up buzz as being one of the best running backs in the Big XII.

The duo from Texas City has been sprung into the spotlight early in the season, with each scoring huge touchdowns in Texas’ 50-47 upset of Notre Dame in the season opener. But perhaps it is fitting that Armanti and D’Onta have ascended to stardom this season together. Because they have always been that way.

“We are always together,” said Armanti. “He’s always in my room. We play the game together; we talk about everything. We just have a great bond.”

Though Armanti was more highly recruited than his (slightly) younger brother during their playing days at Texas City High School, the two had planned on attending the same school during college. But going into the summer prior to their senior seasons, no school had offered both brothers.

“It was frustrating at first but I never doubted my ability,” said D’Onta of their recruitment’s differing trajectories.

Armanti was rated as a four-star prospect coming out of school, holding nine offers including Florida, Nebraska, South Carolina and Texas A&M. But D’Onta was not as highly sought after as his twin. Ranked as only a three-star prospect, it was beginning to look like the duo might have to split up for the first time in their lives.

That changed in the summer of 2013 when D’Onta attended a camp hosted by Texas coaches. After the camp, D’Onta received his offer from Texas (Armanti had been offered earlier in his recruitment) and the two decided to take their talents to Austin.

Since arriving on the Forty Acres, the twins have steadily made their way up the depth chart. Both received playing time as freshman in 2014, though D’Onta was eased into the line-up more gradually because of grade concerns that kept him out for much of fall camp.

In a fashion that mirrored their recruitments, Armanti was the first of the two to score a touchdown on the collegiate level. He was able to haul in a 45-yard pass against Oklahoma State at the end of his freshman campaign to beat his brother to that honor. And against TCU in the home finale he was one of the few bright spots for Texas as he took a screen pass 73 yards for their only touchdown of the game.

However, D’Onta would soon find himself in the spotlight as well. As a backup to Johnathan Gray during the 2015 season, D’Onta had a breakout season as he eclipsed the 100-yard mark in four different games. And perhaps his biggest moment came on the biggest of stages in the Red River Showdown against Oklahoma. In that game, D’Onta was able to rush for 117 yards, including an 81-yard run to help secure the game for Texas.

With Texas football seemingly back on the map for the first time since their National Championship appearance in 2009, there are many reasons for the rise back to relevance. But the twins from Texas City deserve as much credit as anyone for the program’s resurrection into the national spotlight.

If Texas hopes to continue riding their early season momentum towards a run at the Big XII title, the Foreman brothers will have to continue the high-level of play that they have showcased at spots thus far in their careers. But if one portion of the dynamic duo is able to elevate their game, one can’t help but assume the other will follow suit. Because they have always been that way.