Texas Football: Coburn has outlandish comp for Byron Murphy

Texas football had a noteworthy trio of representatives for the program at Big 12 Media Days on the afternoon of July 15, in Arlington, TX. It was new head coach Steve Sarkisian, star sophomore running back Bijan Robinson, and redshirt junior defensive tackle Keondre Coburn, representing Texas at Big 12 Media Days in Arlington this week.

Big 12 Media Days spotlighted everything from the NCAA Transfer Portal, to the NIL rules, to the conference speaking out on taunting penalties. Essentially an opposing player showing the “Horns down” hand sign to a Longhorns player should now equate to a penalty.

But there were also some noteworthy quotes that arose from the likes of Bijan and Keondre. Bijan was compared to the likes of former USC Trojans superstar running back Reggie Bush by the new Texas head coach.

Coburn specifically talked on the matter of one of his new teammates and incoming freshman defensive lineman Byron Murphy. He compared parts of the skill set of the four-star recruit and former Baylor Bears commit Murphy to the likes of the former Pitt Panther and the Los Angeles Rams superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

Keondre Coburn likens part of the skill set of freshman Texas football DL Byron Murphy to Aaron Donald

Coburn did not liken Murphy to Donald all-around, but it was notable that he tabbed the incoming freshman and former blue-chip recruit with such a proven superstar in the NFL.

The former four-star 2018 recruit Coburn specifically mentioned that Murphy reminds him of Donald “in a way”. Lofty expectations for a first-year Longhorns player from one of his more experienced teammates and fellow defensive linemen.

Production-wise, Murphy would have a lot to do to live up to the hype of a defensive tackle like Donald. The former Panther registered more than 65 career tackles for loss and nearly 30 sacks.

But the point here is that Murphy appears to be making a very positive impression and parts of his skill set look to have traction with this defensive line out of the gates. Coburn is one of the leaders of this front seven, and it’s good that he likes what he sees from Murphy thus far.

Coburn is one of the more productive returning defensive players for the Longhorns this year. He’s registered 51 career combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble, in his bits and pieces of three years playing for Texas to date.

Texas finished up last season with a record of 7-3 (5-3 Big 12) under the direction of the former head coach Tom Herman. The new head coach Sark and the Longhorns open up the 2021 regular season slate on Sep. 4 at home against Louisiana.