Texas Football: Projected 2023 defensive 2-deep upon Jaylan Ford’s return

Linebacker/Edge rusher

Texas has a good group of projected starters in place at linebacker next season. And while edge rusher has a lot of talent and depth, there’s not a ton of proven production outside of one returning upperclassman.

Buck

Starter: Justice Finkley, Sophomore

Backup: J’mond Tapp, Redshirt freshman OR Ethan Burke, Sophomore

The buck spot for the Longhorns is probably going to be an open competition in camp this year. I think the favorite to win the starting job out of camp will be Justice Finkley. But we could see the likes of J’Mond Tapp and Colton Vasek also compete for reps here.

Yet, a report from Eric Nahlin of Inside Texas this week (paid content) does mention that PK could keep Finkley behind Sorrell at the jack spot. If that is the case, then it would likely be Tapp, Vasek, and second-year EDGE Ethan Burke competing for the starting job.

Jack

Starter: Barryn Sorrell, Junior

Backup: Justice Finkley, Sophomore OR Jaray Bledsoe, Redshirt freshman

Jack should be set in stone for the Longhorns heading into spring ball. Rising junior edge rusher Barryn Sorrell was a really pleasant surprise for Texas in 2022. Texas could also have a few different guys competing for a spot on the two-deep at jack behind Sorrell, depending on how some of the younger edge players are able to bulk up during the offseason.

Will linebacker

Starter: Anthony Hill Jr., Freshman

Backup: David Gbenda, Senior OR S’Maje Burrell, Freshman

While I did put the nation’s top-ranked 2023 linebacker recruit Anthony Hill Jr. as the starter at will linebacker, this isn’t set in stone by any means. I also think that Hill will wind up playing more of a hybrid inside linebacker position instead of being the true weakside linebacker that senior Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey was for much of the 2022 campaign.

Either way, Hill will be one of the starters at linebacker for the Longhorns in a hybrid role on the inside in 2023.

Mike linebacker

Starter: Jaylan Ford, Senior

Backup: Jett Bush, Senior OR Liona Lefau, Freshman

Another position that will be locked down for the first team heading into spring ball is middle linebacker. The return of Ford in 2023 means that Texas has a true playmaker coming back to act as the glue for this front seven.

Watch out for incoming freshman linebacker Liona Lefau to compete for a spot on the two-deep coming out of camp at this post.

Sam linebacker

Starter: Morice Blackwell Jr., Junior

Backup: Tausili Akana, Freshman

One of the more interesting position battles heading into spring ball could be at sam linebacker. Departing senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown took snaps at this spot throughout much of the 2022 campaign. His backup most of the way was the converted third-year linebacker Morice Blackwell Jr.