Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian sees Texas' depth at defensive tackle as a strength of the 2025 roster
Only one spot on the 2025 Texas defense lacks either a returning starter or a rotational player from what was arguably the best defense in the nation in 2024.
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Edge rushers have one of the best in the nation in Colin Simmons, Anthony Hill is a Butkus favorite, and five defensive backs who started at points in 2024 return. But the Longhorns return just 94 snaps from last season’s defensive tackle group, all belonging to rising true sophomore Alex January.
Despite needing to hit the portal for five players in the position group, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian answered confidently when asked about the level of play of his defensive line in Tuesday’s press conference.
“The interior D-linemen, man, we’re deep. That’s probably the biggest thing I can say about that group right now. And we’re playing a lot of guys, which has been good,” Sarkisian said. “We’re fortunate in that room right now. We’ve got great depth. I don’t think we’re going to have to overuse guys.”
One of Sarkisian’s biggest points of emphasis is having the proper depth to withstand the season. That was one of the biggest downfalls of Texas’ season offensively in 2024, but its effect on the defense was one of the most underrated parts of collapses in games against Georgia and in the playoff.
Texas saw multiple injuries in the defensive back room but was able to overcome them by the end of the season. What did hurt the Longhorns was only having a true rotation of four defensive tackles, with Bill Norton really only able to play on early downs and against heavy or goal-line looks. That affected star defensive tackles Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton during the year, causing them to need to take more plays off in the biggest games Texas played in.
“I think where we’re at now, a lot of these guys probably would have been able to spell those guys more than we were able to last year,” Sarkisian said about the two defensive tackle rooms. “Some of those guys, if they were on our team last season, Vernon and Alfred might not have played as many snaps as they did a year ago. That’s what my goal was coming into this season. Could we develop that room into where we can play a lot of players so that over time that wear and tear wouldn’t take its toll on us? And I think we’ve done that.”
Texas is expected to play a six-deep rotation that features multiple styles of players that can be interchanged at all points. The nose tackle duo of Cole Brevard and Travis Shaw combines for nearly 700 pounds and over 1,600 college snaps. Maraad Watson and Alex January are the two best pass rushers in the group, with the technique and speed to play up to any interior offensive line. Both are just in their second years of college. That’s not to mention Hero Kanu, the team’s hardest worker and a potential starter; Lavon Johnson, a depth tackle with Big Ten experience; and Justus Terry, who will start the year as a defensive end hybrid but could potentially earn the chance to play more on the interior over the next two years.
Sometimes there’s reason to be concerned about groups of transfers and inexperienced position groups. This year’s offensive line is an example of that. But with all that has been said about this group, from the very top of the ladder to the multiples of sources that talk to Inside Texas, there’s more reason for confidence than concern at the line of scrimmage.
Category: General Sports
