Texas Football: 4 biggest position battles heading into fall camp

Will linebacker

Candidates: David Gbenda, Morice Blackwell Jr.

The most open position battle on defense for the Longhorns heading into fall camp lies at the will linebacker spot. Texas will see redshirt senior David Gbenda and junior Morice Blackwell Jr. compete for the starting job at the will linebacker position after the departure of senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown this offseason.

Gbenda received most of the first-team reps at will linebacker during spring ball, with Blackwell getting the second-team reps at the position.

But neither Gbenda nor Blackwell is experienced and/or proven enough to be guaranteed the starting spot heading into fall camp at will linebacker. Gbenda getting the bulk of the first-team practice reps at will linebacker means nothing if he doesn’t prove himself more than Blackwell during training camp.

We’ve talked ad nauseam this offseason about the progress that both Gbenda and Blackwell have made since the spring and the areas of improvement for each.

Gbenda needs to prove he better understands the defensive scheme so that he’s not so lost in pass coverage. Meanwhile, Blackwell must show that he’s made the necessary strides to be a physical and formidable force at weakside linebacker after moving down from the safety position last offseason.

This will be a “must-watch” position battle during fall camp. It is also likely a position that will see plenty of rotating between Blackwell and Gbenda early during the regular season.