Texas Football: Pre-spring Longhorns defensive depth chart

Middle Linebacker

Starter: Juwan Mitchell, Junior

With the return of former three-star JUCO transfer linebacker and rising junior Juwan Mitchell to the Texas football program out of the transfer portal this offseason, the defense remained steady. Texas is pretty thin in terms of experienced linebackers in the first place, and losing Mitchell to the transfer portal for good would’ve been devastating.

However, with Mitchell back in the mix, there is actually a lot of potential at this level of the defense. Texas can rely on the sure-tackling ability and quick play recognition of Mitchell to command the second level. Last season, he was big for Texas after signing with the 2019 class as he racked up 37 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and four pass deflections.

Backup: Cort Jaquess, Junior/Jaylan Ford, Freshman

Options once again remain open for Ash and the Longhorns at this particular linebacker position. There’s no set in stone backup at middle linebacker behind Mitchell. But one name does stick out as a former walk-on that got playing time in the Alamo Bowl win over Utah. And that name is rising junior Cort Jaquess.

In that one game played in the Alamo Bowl last season, Jaquess did have five total tackles. He was a rock in that front seven that made life so hard for Tyler Huntley, Zack Moss and the Utah ground game. He should be vying for playing time in less significant spots early in the 2020 regular season.