3 spring additions ready to shine for Texas football in 2022

Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey, LB

The newest portal addition for the Longhorns on the defensive side of the ball came last week with the former FCS All-American and James Madison Dukes grad transfer senior linebacker Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey. Texas landed the commitment of Tucker-Dorsey out of the portal back on May 27.

This is big for co-defensive coordinators/linebackers coaches Pete Kwiatkowski and Jeff Choate to get another linebacker as proven and experienced as Tucker-Dorsey on campus heading into the summer months. Tucker-Dorsey will be able to make an impact on this defensive front immediately as he’s likely going to get ample live-game reps each passing weekend.

I would also anticipate the Longhorns being able to get the most out of Tucker-Dorsey with the former TCU Horned Frogs longtime head coach and new special assistant to the head coach Gary Patterson working on the Texas staff now. Texas should be able to scheme up Tucker-Dorsey in the middle of this 3-3-5 defense at either the mike or will linebacker position to get him to find the ball quickly.

Tucker-Dorsey ranked in the top 10 in the FCS last season in stops, with more than 50. He has a true nose for the football and doesn’t miss tackles too often, especially in the tighter areas of the field.

It’s also worth noting that Tucker-Dorsey is able to shed blocks quicker than you would think for someone with his athletic traits. While he’s not the most explosive athlete, Tucker-Dorsey can get off blocks from opposing tight ends and running backs very fast. That is something that will help bolster the effectiveness of Texas’ pursuit of the ball carrier from the linebacker position, an element of this defensive front that was sorely needed in 2021.