2 Longhorn defensive stars sneak in SEC weekly honors after tumultuous Week 10 game

Texas survived an upset by the Mississippi State Bulldogs and, after securing the overtime victory to move to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in SEC play, a pair of Longhorns earned their way into the conference's weekly honors.

Despite the game being far from perfect, linebackers Anthony Hill Jr. and Ethan Burke were named as two of the SEC Defensive Players of the Week.

Ethan Burke and Anthony Hill Jr. standout for Texas

Hill had the second-most total tackles on the team (10), as well as the most sacks (2.5) and tackles for loss (3.5), as he led the Horns to holding Mississippi State to just seven points in the fourth quarter and zero in the overtime period.

Burke, who is in his fourth season with Texas, earned seven total tackles (three solo), two tackles for loss, and one sack.

After the game against Mississippi State, Hill was named the SEC's Co-Defensive Player of the Week, and Burke was named the Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week.

While their numbers aren't necessarily record-setting or jaw-dropping, their energy and leadership on the field were exactly what the Longhorns needed on the defensive side of the ball to complete the comeback win over the Bulldogs.

So far this season, Hill has already amassed 60 total tackles, three forced fumbles, 2.5 sacks, one pass deflection, one interception, and one interception. Burke has earned 22 tackles, one forced fumble, and one sack.

Hill is consistently one of the defensive leaders for Texas, and has been for the past two seasons despite just being a junior. Over the last year or so, Burke has undeniably stepped into leadership roles as he matured and improved.

This weekend, Burke, Hill, and the No. 20 Longhorns host the No. 9 Vanderbilt Commodores. The game is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 1, and will be aired on ABC.