Texas Football: 3 defensive players Kwiatkowski will elevate

Moro Ojomo, DE

Among the true breakout defensive players to watch for the Longhorns this fall is the sizable 6-foot-4 and 280-pound redshirt junior defensive end Moro Ojomo. The former touted four-star recruit has shown signs in the past of what he could be as one of the best defensive linemen in the Big 12. But this looks to be the year that he finally fulfills that promise.

Texas won’t need to get as much pressure coming off of the ends if redshirt junior defensive tackle Keondre Coburn and Ojomo are moving the interior as much as they will. Coburn has already proven what he can do as an All-Big 12 performer, but now it’s time for Ojomo to step up in a bigger role this fall.

Ojomo has emerged as a consistent defensive lineman in pass-rushing and run-stopping in each of the past two seasons. He’s generated roughly 40 quarterback pressures, six tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, and two-dozen stops, in the past two seasons combined.

If Ojomo can finally find himself on the field for more than 450 snaps this fall, then his production should explode. He improved in bits and pieces over the course of the last three years. And this feels like the year where he puts it all together. Texas has so much talent along the defensive line that Ojomo will have a big opportunity to boost his production.

His prior season-best of three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks could be blown out of the water this year.