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Texas Football: 10 Former Longhorns to Watch this NFL Season

By Tyler Brett

Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Fans in the Texas student section cheer during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas won 50-47 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Fans in the Texas student section cheer during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas won 50-47 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 3, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) is pressured by Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Derrick Johnson (56) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 23-17. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) is pressured by Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Derrick Johnson (56) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 23-17. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

Derrick Johnson is one of the most underrated, productive linebackers in football. His experience and leadership is going to be as important as ever for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016.

Johnson attended the University of Texas from 2001-2004 and became one of the most dominant linebackers in school history. He was a First-Team All-Big 12 selection in 2002, 2003, and 2004, a consensus First-Team All-American in 2003, and a unanimous First-Team All-American in 2004. He was also recognized as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and won the Dick Butkus Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy following his senior season. Johnson finished his Texas career with 1,001 tackles, 69 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, and 11 forced fumbles.

That dominance made him a first round pick for Kansas City in 2005 and he’s been a mainstay ever since. He’s recorded over 100 tackles in every season since 2010 except for 2014 when he suffered an Achilles injury in the season opener. He doesn’t get the press of some of the other Chiefs’ defenders, but he is a tackling machine in the middle of the defense.

This season, his presence will be even more important, particularly early on. Both Justin Houston and Tamba Hali are working their way back from injury, which means Kansas City will have to rely on younger linebackers to step up. Those young LBs look to Derrick Johnson to lead them and he’s embraced that role readily.

Kansas City hosts San Diego in Week 1 on Sunday.

Next: 1. Earl Thomas, S Seattle Seahawks

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