Texas will experience a lot of turnover (pun intended) on the defensive side of the ball in 2019, with only four players who started at least five games returning to the team. But with defensive guru Todd Orlando at the helm, the Longhorn defense has the potential to be a unit that strikes fear into opposing signal-callers.
This article is the second of a three part series previewing the Texas Longhorns 2019 football season. This part will focus on the defensive side of the ball for the Longhorns.
Todd Orlando’s Defense
Before breaking down the depth chart, here is a inside look at what a Todd Orlando defense looks like and some of the terminology that goes with it.
In it’s simplest form, Orlando’s defense has three down linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs.
The personnel in this modified 3-4 defense allows the Longhorns to bring pressure from anywhere on the field, or drop eight men into coverage. Last season the Texas defense forced 20 turnovers and sacked the opposing quarterback 32 times, both ranked 4th in the Big XII. After losing key leaders on the defense, Texas will desperately need the play of Caden Sterns to continue while getting more from young players like B.J. Foster who looked good in limited reps, and Jeffrey McCulloch who is penciled in to take the starting Rover position.
Nose Tackle: C-
Redshirt Freshman Keondre Coburn may start for the Longhorns in 2019
Starter- Keondre Coburn - FR. (RS) - #99 - 6’2” - 340 lbs
Notable Reserves- Gerald Wilbon - SR. - #94 - 6’3” - 325 lbs
After Poona Ford’s dominant senior season in 2017, the talk of the spring 2018 was who would fill that gap. Chris Nelson came in and was a major contributor for the Texas defense in 2018. Now the question again is raised, who will fill the nose tackle position?
Senior Gerald Wilbon and redshirt freshman Keondre Coburn are currently battling for the starting position. Wilbon has more experience, playing in 13 career games to Coburn’s 2, but Coburn has shown flashes of incredible talent in his short time on the 40 acres. For now, I have Coburn edging out Wilbon to start, but there’s no reason to believe Texas won’t institute a quick rotation up front to keep fresh legs in the trenches. The nose tackle position looks to be the glaring weakness in the Longhorn’s defense.
Defensive End: C+
Malcolm Roach sacks Texas Tech’s Nic Shimonek in 2016
Starters- Malcolm Roach - SR. - #32 - 6’3” - 290 lbs
Ta’Quon Graham - JR. - #49 - 6’3” - 300 lbs
Notable Reserves - Marquez Bimage - JR. - #42 - 6’2” - 270lbs
Malcolm Roach has been a good player for Texas since his freshman season in 2016. Roach missed time in 2018 due to a broken foot suffered in the USC game, but still finished with 24 tackles. A hard hitting, versatile player who has gotten plenty of reps at both end and linebacker, Roach will probably play end all year out of necessity.
Ta’Quon Graham had two tackles and a forced fumble in the Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia. Graham played in all 14 games, mostly off the bench, but made a considerable impact when he was in. If Graham is able to maintain his production over the course of a full season, he could have a breakout season.
Junior Marquez Bimage provides much needed depth at the end position. Bimage was playing well until his season was ended due to a shoulder injury sustained in the loss to West Virginia. Bimage gives Texas a little bit of leeway when it comes to injuries; if a linebacker is injured, Roach can slide back and Bimage can man the end position.
The defensive end position is the biggest wild card going into the season for the Texas defense. With two players ready to prove themselves it could be a strength to the defense if Graham and Bimage play as well as they have looked in flashes, or it could add to the woes of losing all three starting D-linemen if Graham and Bimage are overwhelmed by the more consistent playing time.
Linebackers: B
Jeffrey McCulloch returns an interception 65 yards vs Kansas
B-backer - Joseph Ossai - SO. - #46 - 6’4” - 245 lbs.
Mac - Ayodele Adeoye - FR. (RS) - #40 - 6’1” - 250 lbs.
Rover - Jeffrey McCulloch - SR. - #23 - 6’3” - 245 lbs.
JUCO Transfers - Juwan Mitchell - SO. - #6 - 6’1” - 240 lbs.
Caleb Johnson - JR. - #30 - 6’0” - 235 lbs.
The linebacker position continues the trend of young players looking to prove themselves. Sophomore Joseph Ossai only started two games in 2018 but still finished the year with 20 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Eight of those tackles came in the Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia, good enough to lead the team. Ossai has shined in the times he was on the field, and if his performance against Georgia was a look into what he can do as a starter, Texas may have found their B-backer for 2019 and beyond.
After Westlake (CA) prospect De’Gabriel Floyd was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and ruled out for the year, the Mac position became a question mark. Redshirt Freshman Ayodele Adeoye was hindered by a preseason injury in 2018, but is still projected to be the starter for 2019. Coming out of IMG Academy in Florida, Adeoye showed incredible instincts and sideline-to-sideline speed. Without seeing Adeoye on the field ofter in 2018, it is hard to determine how he has progressed in game situations, but having a year in the system should help Adeoye be a contributor in the defense.
Senior Jeffrey McCulloch had a breakout year in 2018 recording 33 total tackles in 14 games (6 starts). McCulloch also has a knack for making big plays, throwing in one sack, one forced fumble and one interception. As the most tenured player returning in the linebacker corp, McCulloch’s verbal leadership will be integral in the success of the Texas defense. Due to McCulloch’s experience, and the nature of the Rover position, he is a candidate to lead Texas in tackles this year.
JUCO Transfers
In addition to Ossai, Adeoye and McCulloch Texas received the top two linebacker transfers according to ESPN’s JC50. Butler Community College’s Juwan Mitchell (1) and Fullerton College’s Caleb Johnson (2) both brought their talents to the forty acres just in time to give the Longhorns depth at a position they desperately needed. In twelve games in 2018, Mitchell notched 55 total tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2 sacks and an interception. Johnson is coming off a shoulder injury that limited his 2018 to just 3 games. 2017 however Johnson dominated with 41 total tackles, 29 solo tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one pass break-up, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Both Mitchell and Johnson enrolled in time for spring practice so knowing the defense won’t be a problem. If Mitchell and Johnson can produce for Texas like they produced at JUCO, the linebacker group will go from a big question mark to a solid, possibly crowded, group.
Corner/Nickelback: A
B.J. Foster celebrates after a big hit vs USC
C- Anthony Cook - SO. - #4 - 6’1” - 190 lbs.
C- Jalen Green - SO. - #3 - 6’1” - 185 lbs.
N- B.J. Foster - SO. - #25 - 6’2” - 210 lbs.
Notable Reserves - Josh Thompson
The secondary may be the youngest unit on the defense, but is definitely the most explosive and exciting. Standout hard-hitting freshman B.J. Foster will return and replace P.J. Locke as the starting nickel. Foster made a huge impact in 2018, starting six games and totaling 46 tackles (33 solo) with nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles. B.J. Foster should have no troubles stepping in and making plays at the nickel position. Anthony Cook and Jalen Green will have to replace Kris Boyd and Davante Davis, a tough task. But Cook and Green have high ceilings and plenty of talent. While lacking in the experience department may cause them to start slow out of the gate, both corners should have their game legs under them by the start of conference play.
Safety: A+
Caden Sterns and Brandon Jones go up for an interception vs USC
Strong - Caden Sterns - SO. - #7 - 6’1” - 205 lbs.
Free - Brandon Jones - SR. - #19 - 6’0” - 205 lbs.
Safety is by far the Longhorns defense’s best unit. Star freshman Caden Sterns looked like a seasoned vet in 2018. Sterns led the Longhorns with 4 INTs, had 62 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 4 pass breakups and a blocked kick. Sterns was named first team All-Big XII and was the Big XII Defensive Freshman of the Year. The best part? Sterns should be even better this year. Don’t be surprised if Sterns leads the Longhorns in tackles and interceptions this year. Alongside Sterns is Brandon Jones, a player who could’ve gone into the NFL Draft last year but decided to stay. Jones was honorable mention All-Big XII in 2018 thanks to a campaign that brought in 70 tackles 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries. Jones is already a great player, and with the added motivation of increasing his draft stock, Jones could join Sterns on the All-Big XII first team in 2019.
Overall
The Texas Longhorn defense is filled with young players and JUCO transfers who are looking to put their mark on 2019. A defense with an abundance of talent, and just enough experience at the right positions makes this unit one to look out for. Todd Orlando’s third year in Texas could be his most dominant yet.
Overall grade: A-
Sources: TexasSports, CollegeSportsReference, SportsDay, FOX, Hookem.com, BurntOrangeNation, ESPN, Inside Texas, 247Sports