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5 Best Players for Texas Football in First Half of 2016

By Tyler Brett

Oct 15, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; The Texas Longhorns take the field prior to kickoff against the Iowa State Cyclones at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Longhorns won 27-6. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; The Texas Longhorns take the field prior to kickoff against the Iowa State Cyclones at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Longhorns won 27-6. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 15, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Jordan Elliott (55) and defensive end Breckyn Hager (44) and linebacker Anthony Wheeler (45) tackle Iowa Stte Cyclones quarterback Joel Lanning (7) during the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Longhorns won 27-6. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Jordan Elliott (55) and defensive end Breckyn Hager (44) and linebacker Anthony Wheeler (45) tackle Iowa Stte Cyclones quarterback Joel Lanning (7) during the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Longhorns won 27-6. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas is struggling on defense as they try and get a ton of young and inexperienced players up to speed to compete at the college level. However, they have been able to rely on a sopohomore linebacker, even if it’s not the one they were expecting. Anthony Wheeler has stepped up as a leader of this defense and a tackling machine in the Big 12.

While Malik Jefferson garnered much of the hype this offseason, earning Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors, it’s been Wheeler who has stepped up for Texas in the first half. He currently leads the team with 48 tackles and ranks No. 4 in the Big 12, averaging 8.0 tackles per game.

For a defense whose defining characteristic this season has been missed tackles, having a tacking machine like Wheeler emerge has been great. He’s improved significantly after averaging 3.0 tackles per game last season as a freshman. One aspect that he still has to improve, however, is his disruptive plays. In six games, Wheeler has just 2.0 tackles for loss and a pass defended.

Still, for a team that needs defensive stability, Wheeler has been huge at linebacker. Hopefully, Wheeler can continue his steady play in the second half and allow more explosive plays from his teammates around him.

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