Texas Football: 3 reasons why the Longhorns can still win the Big 12

2) Why Texas football can win the Big 12: Stars bouncing back

There’s going to be a lot of pressure put on the shoulders of the likes of Herman and Ehlinger (and even Ingram out of the backfield) from here on out. But we shouldn’t overlook the play that the Longhorns are getting from some of their brightest stars and most potent talents on both sides of the ball.

Ehlinger is still standing out in a big way for the Longhorns at the outset of this season, and so far junior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and junior safety Caden Sterns. Overshown and Sterns were pretty solid for the Longhorns again in the loss to TCU. It just wasn’t enough to salvage the win in the end.

Sterns is on a good pace now, as he’s registered 20 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, two pass deflections, and one interception, through three games this season. Meanwhile, Overshown has registered 13 total tackles, three tackles for loss, and three pass deflections, through three games. Getting three pass deflections from the linebacker position in just three games played is pretty impressive.

But there’s also a huge looming problem for Overshown after switching from safety to linebacker. He’s missed by far the most tackles of any player on this defense (11).

Sterns is one of the top seven highest graded defenders for Texas so far. And other important leaders on this defense like senior defensive end Ta’Quon Graham, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Keondre Coburn, and junior linebacker Joseph Ossai round out the top three of the highest graded defenders on this team through three games.