Texas Longhorns

Lorenzo Joe exemplifies Texas players' Strong buy-in to get better

Published Oct. 21, 2015 3:49 p.m. ET

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Lorenzo Joe's perseverance and patience are finally paying off. For the first time this season, the Texas wide receiver can see his name on the Longhorns' two-deep chart.

He earned the backup spot behind Armanti Foreman though relentless work at practices and impressive game performances the last two games when finally given a chance. The entire process has been eye-opening for the sophomore who didn't handle well being left off two-deep chart heading into the Week 1 game at Notre Dame.

Joe, as so many players do these days, logged onto to Twitter and wrote: "I'm not even on the depth chart?? Wow."

Joe, of course, deleted the tweet. A wise decision. And so was the way he decided to handle the situation since, by going after a promotion the old-fashioned way, by earning it.

"It was a selfish tweet on my part," Joe told Horns Digest. "I really had to let it go because I have always been the type of guy that has always kept a positive attitude. So that’s what I had to do this year. Just keep a positive attitude and wait on my opportunity and take advantage of it when it was given to me. I've just used it as motivation this whole year."

He finally made an appearance in the ugly 50-7 loss to TCU, getting into the game in the fourth quarter and the score 50-to-zip. Still, Joe was ready and he performed well and it resonated with the coaching staff.

Still, he wasn't moved onto the two-deep chart. But then after a week of practice leading up to the Oklahoma game, Texas play-caller Jay Norvell called Joe over.

"I had a great week of practice and prepared hard for the game. I went out there and did my assignments and did what I was supposed to do all year,” Joe told Horns Digest. “Before the OU game, (Norvell) told me I would start. I went out there and took advantage of the opportunity. That’s about it.”

Joe had one catch in the game for nine yards, but it was the dirty work he did that paid dividends, like springing Marcus Johnson for a touchdown with a block.

“One big thing Norvell preaches to us is blocking," Joe said. "When teams start to load the box, it’s going to open up the passing game. We were doing so well with the run, the line did a great job opening up holes and the receivers did a great job blocking downfield. That was what we were doing and what we have been coached to do the whole year.”

And for the first time this year as Texas is set to face Kansas State on Saturday in Austin, Joe could find his name on the two-deep.