Texas Football: 5 bold predictions for the Longhorns in 2022

Jaylan Ford leads the Big 12 in tackles

There might not be more question marks for any position group on either side of the ball for the Longhorns this year than at linebacker/edge rusher. Texas doesn’t have much depth at the linebacker position. Edge rusher is much of the same story.

That lack of effective depth at edge rusher is largely what led to the Longhorns having such an inept pass rush last season.

Yet, co-defensive coordinators/linebackers coaches Pete Kwiatkowski and Jeff Choate will be looking to find more stability and productivity out of the linebackers and edge rushers this fall. That will start with Texas having more consistency and productivity out of experienced returning linebackers such as seniors Demarvion Overshown and Jaylan Ford.

The latter of those two will be a major x-factor for Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns this fall. Ford is currently the presumed favorite to be the Week 1 starter at the mike linebacker position over the former walk-on Luke Brockermeyer.

If Ford wins the starting job at the mike linebacker spot this fall, it would be the first time he’s held this role in his collegiate career. He got some starts last season but wasn’t the starter for the entire campaign.

Despite not being the full-time starter for the Longhorns at mike linebacker last season, Ford still finished third on the team in total tackles, at 53. But he was the only player on the team last season that managed at least 40 solo tackles and/or at least 50 combined tackles while taking fewer than 400 defensive snaps.

A full season starting at mike linebacker would mean that Ford would likely get at least 550 or 600 defensive snaps this fall. That would come close to doubling his defensive snaps compared to last season. Thus, it should be attainable for Ford to at least come close to racking up 100 combined tackles this season.

There were only four players in the Big 12 last season that registered at least 100 total tackles. Ford getting at least 100 total tackles this coming season would very likely place him among the top competitors to lead in this stat category in the Big 12 in 2022.