4 bold predictions for Texas football vs. UL-Monroe

DeMarvion Overshown more than doubles his previous career-high in sacks

I have to say that this is definitely the boldest of the bold predictions on this list. But there is still a path to this becoming a reality.

Why I believe that the Longhorns could be in line to see returning senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown start off hot in the pass rush this season is largely due to how porous the ULM offensive line is. ULM’s offensive line was one of the worst in the FBS last season. And it doesn’t look like there are many reasons to believe it will improve in 2022.

How bad exactly is ULM’s offensive line in pass protection you might ask?

If you remember how bad Texas’ offensive line was in pass protection last season, they allowed pressures on nearly 24 percent of pass plays. But ULM’s offensive line was even markedly worse than that. ULM allowed pressures on roughly 27 percent of pass plays last season.

And ULM could even be worse in certain areas of the offensive line this season. With the loss of the former Texas commit and recent Rutgers transfer Willie Tyler, ULM is shifting converted center Victor Cutler over to start at left tackle opposite of either sophomore Keydrell Lewis or sophomore Stacey Wilkins full time.

Cutler was even worse in pass protection playing at offensive tackle last season than he was at center.

As a side note, ULM’s opening week depth chart shows Lewis OR Wilkins as the first-team right tackle, so both should get significant reps on Sep. 3.

Moreover, the lack of effectiveness for ULM in pass protection should give Overshown plenty of opportunities to get off to a hot start this season. And with the presumed plan for Co-DC/LB coach Pete Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns to utilize Overshown more often as a lighter hybrid edge rusher this season to drum up a more disruptive pass rush, I would anticipate the chances will be there for him to wreak some havoc against ULM this weekend.

Overshown showed potential in the last two seasons as a pass rusher but wasn’t used frequently on delayed blitzes or as a hybrid edge rusher. In fact, Overshown generated some type of pressure on the quarterback on roughly a quarter of his snaps as a pass rusher dating back to 2020.

In just seven of the 11 games Overshown played last season, he got at least three snaps rushing the passer. And in those seven games, he averaged a little more than two quarterback pressures per game and a pressure rate north of 30 percent.

By that math, if Overshown is even sent after the quarterback on seven or eight snaps in the opener this weekend, it is very plausible to see him racking up at least 1.5 or two sacks.

I do believe there is a certain plausibility to Overshown at least doubling his previous career-high sack total, which only sits at one right now.