3 takeaways from Texas’ bounce-back win over Kansas State

Backup linebacker rise to the occasion

This game will definitely give the likes of Sark, new co-defensive coordinators/linebackers coaches Jeff Choate/Pete Kwiatkowski, and the Longhorns something to think about coming out of the weekend. Texas was missing both of their starting linebackers for this game, but that actually could’ve helped the defensive front in the end.

I’m of course never advocating for a player to be injured, but you can’t doubt the impact that this set of backup linebackers brought to the table for the Longhorns in the regular season finale.

Redshirt sophomore linebacker David Gbenda continued his stretch of solid play to close out the regular season. And the former under-the-radar three-star recruit and sophomore linebacker Jaylan Ford came up with another big outing as part of an underrated 2021 campaign for the Frisco, TX, native.

Gbenda and Ford did have some tough plays early on, including a long rushing touchdown for Kansas State quarterback Will Howard that should’ve seen the linebackers make a better read at the line of scrimmage. But they responded quickly. These two combined for 13 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, two QB hurries, and four stops.

The Texas defense as a whole played their best game in a long time in this win over Kansas State. Take out two explosive touchdowns for star running back Deuce Vaughn and Howard, and the Longhorns defense posts a nearly spotless day. The fact that Texas allowed fewer than 70 passing yards and no passing touchdowns on the day goes to show that there are some signs of life in the secondary.