The Texas linebacker room went from incomplete to dangerous on Tuesday night. Veteran linebacker David Gbenda announced his return for another season in Austin at linebacker.
Though unheralded, Gbenda has been a reliable player in his time at Texas. Albeit, it came in limited playing time until 2023. Over the past season, the upperclassman became not only a starter but a playmaker for defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense.
The skilled player amassed 50 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two pass breakups in his first season as a starter. One of the smartest, most assignment sound linebackers in college football played an integral role in Texas’ nationally top five run defense.
The Longhorns now have a strong linebacker unit led by Gbenda at the position. Rising sophomore Anthony Hill Jr. put up 67 tackles and five sacks in his freshman campaign. There’s still room for the team to add a portal linebacker, but the unit looks solid as constructed. We could see Morice Blackwell take a production leap similar to that of Gbenda in 2024.
We felt particularly good about Texas’ edge position next year. Certainly, the secondary could be vastly improved with Terrance Brooks and Malik Muhammad growing into their potential at corner. They will have impressive defensive back options who have seen playing time in Andrew Mukuba, Michael Taaffe, Derek Williams Jr., Gavin Holmes, Jaylon Guilbeau and Austin Jordan.
In concert with the above thoughts and Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton returning on the defensive interior, Gbenda helps fortify the Texas starting defense. If the Longhorns can add a defensive tackle through the portal, you’re looking at a top five team in 2024.
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