These Texas football players will be toughest to replace in 2024

Texas football could be losing at least a half-dozen players who will be selected before the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Which of them will be the most difficult for the coaching staff to replace entering the SEC this year?

T'Vondre Sweat, Byron Murphy II, Barryn Sorrell, Texas football / Aaron E. Martinez / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Byron Murphy II, Texas football / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Byron Murphy II, DL

The other top defensive tackle that the Longhorns are losing to the NFL Draft this spring is junior Byron Murphy II. The Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year was the other half of Texas's stellar defensive front.

Murphy and Sweat easily formed the best interior defensive line combination in the nation in 2023. They ranked one and two among the highest-graded defensive tackles in the nation.

Given how good Sweat was last season, it was easy for Murphy to not get the recognition he deserved for having an insane year in his own right last fall. Murphy was a major force to be reckoned with, especially with his ability to disrupt pockets with the interior pass rush.

Murphy was the most effective interior pass rusher in the Power Five last season. Not only was he the highest-graded interior defensive lineman in the pass rush in 2023, but he also led the nation in pass-rush win percentage among defensive tackles.

Replacing Sweat means the Longhorns must find their best run stopper at defensive tackle. Meanwhile, replacing Murphy tasks new defensive line coach Kenny Baker with finding the best interior pass rusher.

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