Assessing 3 important defensive leaders for Texas football in 2022

DeMarvion Overshown, LB

One of the most interesting defensive players for the Longhorns this season is senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. Texas is planning to diversify the way that Overshown is utilized along the defensive front this season compared to last year.

PK and the Longhorns should be able to utilize the insane launch and speed in pursuit of the ball carrier that Overshown brings to the table by mixing up his usage in different pass-rushing concepts.

Texas can make this happen by utilizing Overshown as a standup pass-rusher coming off the edge, or a speedy linebacker coming up the middle on delayed blitzes.

But mixing in pass-rushing looks for Overshown won’t be the only way that Overshown is used at middle linebacker this fall. He’ll still be counted on to use that sideline-to-sideline speed to chase down the ball carriers when they get beyond the first level of the defense on run plays.

And with an improved understanding of PK’s defensive concepts in Year 2 in this scheme, Overshown should be able to get more effective reads on what opposing offenses are doing. That understanding will help Overshown make more calculated plays that lower his risk of failure while allowing him to get the jump on the ball or a quick break into the opposing team’s backfield to blow up the ball carrier.

All in all, Overshown will largely be the tone-setter for this defensive front. His chase-down speed, playmaking ability, instincts, and newfound potential as a pass rusher could make him somewhat of a do-it-all linebacker/edge rusher that could have a profound impact on this entire defense in 2022.