Texas Football: 5 defensive players to watch in spring game

#46 Joseph Ossai – Linebacker

Sophomore (6-4, 245)

Joseph Ossai played in 14 games as a true freshman in 2018 and totaled 20 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Ossai made his biggest impact when he started in the win over Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl as he led the Longhorns defense with eight tackles.

In Texas football defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s 3-3-5 defense Ossai will be tasked with playing the B-Backer role, a hybrid linebacker position that is asked to play close to the line of scrimmage and put pressure on the quarterback.

Ossai is an explosive athlete with great length, and he will give the Longhorns a much needed pass rush presence after losing 24 of their 32 total sack production from last season due to graduation. While he was solid against the run as a freshman, it will be fun to see where Ossai’s development this off-season has taken him in that department as well as any new pass rush moves he has added to his arsenal.

Make sure to keep an eye on number 46 this Saturday, as Ossai could be consistently wreaking havoc in the backfield.