Analyzing 3 Texas football defensive players who must step up in fall camp

Moro Ojomo, DL

Texas has a plethora of ways they could go this fall in terms of figuring out the starting personnel along the defensive line at the outset of the 2022 season. While there is some depth along the defensive line heading into fall camp, there is still plenty for this group to prove after what we saw from them on the field last season.

And one senior leader that must step up for the Longhorns along the defensive line this fall is the returning super senior defensive lineman/defensive end Moro Ojomo. After the incident that Ojomo had with Sark and the media earlier this offseason, it would be good for this team to have the fifth-year defensive lineman emerge as a real vocal leader in camp.

Ojomo could also find himself on a short leash at the outset of the regular season if he doesn’t have a solid run in fall camp. It’s not like Ojomo has a starting spot locked in along the defensive line this fall. In fact, I don’t really even know if Ojomo knows where he will play along the defensive line.

This is what plays into the uncertainty for some of the defensive linemen such as Ojomo heading into fall camp.

What Ojomo must do in order to solidify his spot and role along the defensive front this fall is prove his scheme versatility and leadership out of the gates. He must show an improved capacity for understanding and executing the schemes and concepts under Coach K compared to what he showed at times last season.

At the outset of fall camp, I would peg Ojomo as a projected starter either as the true three-technique defensive end or as a defensive lineman. But the possibility remains that he could also get reps as an edge rusher if Texas continues to struggle to generate a pass rush this fall.

And if Ojomo has a down run in fall camp, it might not be long before he’s surpassed on the depth chart by some younger talented players such as Barryn Sorrell, Vernon Broughton, Justice Finkley, Jaray Bledsoe, etc.