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Texas hasn’t played defense at a level required to win important games, but that’s not because of the defensive line. Former assistant coach Oscar Giles always produced talent in the UT trenches. Bo Davis was hired to continue the tradition of winning the line of scrimmage. The defensive tackle position should be the strength of the defense in 2021.
On campus
FYI: Four-stars, from Spring Westfield; ranked 123rd nationally, No. 11-ranked defensive tackle in 2018
Coburn was an Under Armour All-American after a strong prep career at the same high school that produced Ed Oliver, the five-star defensive tackle who starred for Tom Herman at Houston. Coburn gave the Longhorns with a four-star nose tackle who could control the line of scrimmage in the mold of Poona Ford. He was a three-time all-district selection and the ninth-ranked player on the 2018 Fabulous 55.
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Texas’ depth at safety is lacking following the departure of Caden Sterns to the NFL and Xavion Alford to the transfer portal. The Longhorns do return plenty of highly-rated prospects, including a former five-star safety from Tom Herman’s first full class of 2018. A pair of prospects are beginning to emerge as Texas leans in the 2022 cycle.
On campus
FYI: Four-stars, from Lakewood (Calif.) Mayfair; ranked 190th nationally, No. 17 safety in 2019
Texas went into California for a few exports during Herman s tenure, and while Adimora wasn’t as highly touted as Bru McCoy, Cameron Rising or DeGabriel Floyd, he’s been the most productive of any of the Longhorns Golden State signees. He was a two-way star at Mayfair, earning league MVP honors as a junior and senior because of his play as a wide receiver and defensive back.
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The Texas defense is about to learn its third defensive scheme in as many seasons. Todd Orlando and his odd-man front was replaced by Chris Ash s 4-2-5 system before the 2020 season.
Steve Sarkisian replaced Ash in January with Washington s Pete Kwiatkowski, who utilizes a three- and four-man front in his defensive philosophy, sometimes even deploying a 2-4-5 with four linebackers.
Luckily for Kwiatkowski, he inherits some young, talented linebackers alongside a tandem of returning starters.
On campus
FYI: Four-stars, from Arp; ranked 52nd nationally, No. 6-ranked safety in 2018
Overshown was an oversized safety from a Class 2A school in East Texas. He was an Under Armour All-American who signed in the same class as fellow safeties Caden Sterns and BJ Foster. The trio arrived with much fanfare, but it took Overshown until his third year to find a home at linebacker.