Texas Football: 3 overreactions from momentum-shifting win over Baylor

2) Overreactions from Texas football’s win over Baylor: Linebackers aren’t much outside of Joseph Ossai

For yet another outing for the Longhorns linebacking corps, really the only net positive player out on the field was the junior standout and future NFL Draft prospect Joseph Ossai. The talented 6-foot-4 and 255 pound outside linebacker had an injury scare and a huge game all in the same 60 minutes for the Longhorns defense.

Ossai was the highest graded defender for the Longhorns in this game, and the highest graded run-defender and pass rusher. In less than 40 snaps in this win over Baylor, Ossai registered three total tackles (one solo and two assisted), three quarterback pressures, two QB hits, no receptions against on one passing attempt, and one stop on third down. Ossai also didn’t miss a single tackle (a rare trend in any game for any Texas linebacker) and didn’t have a single penalty called against him.

That brings up another positive sighting for Herman and the Longhorns in this game. Texas had just five penalties called against them for 50 yards (which is nearly 40 yards less than their season average coming into this game).

The run defense in general was pretty good for the Longhorns. They allowed less than 70 rushing yards to Baylor, and no rushing touchdowns (just three yards per carry).

But there weren’t many notable takeaways in this game from the Texas linebackers outside of Ossai, which is a notable trend this year through the first five outings. Junior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown was the lowest graded defender and missed two more tackles in this game. Overshown was also torched in the passing game (allowed six receptions on six attempts for 44 receiving yards).

Even former walk-on Jett Bush graded higher at linebacker than Overshown in this game.