Texas Football: 3 players losing starting jobs halfway through fall camp
Morice Blackwell Jr., LB
Heading into training camp, junior Morice Blackwell Jr. and redshirt senior David Gbenda were battling for the starting job at will linebacker as Texas needed to replace senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown.
Gbenda had the edge regarding live-game reps and overall experience compared to Blackwell in the battle for the starting will linebacker job. But Blackwell started to come on strong this offseason after moving down from the safety position last year.
Past inconsistencies from Gbenda in live-game situations at linebacker opened the door for Blackwell to win the starting job at will linebacker this offseason. But Gbenda has proven himself worthy of winning the starting job heading into Week 1 against Rice on Sep. 2.
Gbenda has dramatically improved his game and understanding of the defense from what we’ve heard about his development throughout the offseason. Inside Texas reported on Aug. 20 (paid content) that Gbenda “has been more assignment sound” and that he had a “solid scrimmage” for the Longhorns with the first-team defense on Aug. 19.
This report even had a team source outright saying that Gbenda is “going to start” for the Longhorns to open the season.
However, just because Gbenda wins the starting job at will linebacker heading into Week 1 doesn’t mean that Blackwell and standout true freshman linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. can’t push for reps at that spot during the season. From what we’ve heard in the first three weeks of fall camp, Blackwell is still improving, while Hill has stolen the show at linebacker.
If Blackwell continues improving his understanding of the role at will linebacker this fall, he’ll be trusted in more live-game situations. Remember that Blackwell has only taken a little over 75 defensive snaps in his career at Texas. Blackwell will improve in time as he keeps getting more comfortable at the will linebacker position after moving down from safety last offseason.
There is also a good chance that Blackwell will get run at sam linebacker, thanks to his natural coverage ability and the hard-hitting nature of his game.