Texas Football: 3 breakout players stepping up late in bowl practice

Morice Blackwell, LB

Upon the news of the senior linebacker Overshown opting out of the Alamo Bowl, Pete Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns had to figure out some different personnel groupings along the defensive front in practice.

Overshown was obviously an important part of this defense, and he made plays as a pass rusher and a run stopper setting the edge. He even had an improved season in terms of his proficiency in pass coverage compared to last year.

But the absence of Overshown will give backup linebackers in sophomore Morice Blackwell Jr. and junior David Gbenda a shot to shine in the spotlight. Blackwell has continually received more reps in a hybrid type of sam linebacker role after getting moved down from safety earlier this fall. Gbenda has also played the most consistent of his career to date.

From what we’re hearing in the late stages of bowl practice, though, the linebacker that is making the biggest impression on the coaching staff in the last few weeks is Blackwell. The converted safety is making waves throughout bowl practice as he looks to have a breakout Alamo Bowl.

We’ve heard Blackwell’s name often mentioned among the bowl practice “standouts” included in that practice report from Howe this week.

I love the trajectory that Blackwell is on in the last few games. He played two of the best games of his collegiate career to round out the regular season in wins over the Kansas Jayhawks and Baylor Bears. Blackwell even posted the best defensive game of any single game in his career to date in the win over Baylor in the finale on Black Friday (Nov. 25).