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Texas Football: 5 reasons the Longhorns could be “back” in 2018

By Andrew Miller

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns walks off the field before the start of the game against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns walks off the field before the start of the game against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 11: Taylor Martin #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks runs the ball out of the endzone defended by Breckyn Hager #44 of the Texas Longhorns and Gary Johnson #33 in the first quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 11: Taylor Martin #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks runs the ball out of the endzone defended by Breckyn Hager #44 of the Texas Longhorns and Gary Johnson #33 in the first quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

5. An already strong defense, potentially improved

Last season, the Horns boasted one of the best defenses in the Big 12. In a conference that doesn’t traditionally pride itself on defensive play, it was huge for Texas to come through on that side of the ball. Texas had one of the most vaunted front sevens and talented secondary groups in the Big 12.

The TCU Horned Frogs were really the only other team in the conference that could say it had a defense as strong, or better than, that of the Horns. That narrative should ring true again in 2018, with defensive coordinator Todd Orlando back at the helm for his second year with the program.

Texas allowed less than 3.5 yards per carry on average over the course of the 2017 campaign. The pass defense wasn’t quite as good, but it still finished in the top half of the Big 12 in that regard. At least a good portion of the starting defensive backs from last season are back for 2018.

With a ton of senior leadership coming back on defense in 2018, this side of the ball should at least be just as good as it was last season. Watch out for the likes of senior defensive end Breckyn Hager, senior linebacker Gary Johnson, and senior cornerback Kris Boyd to lead the way this fall.

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