Joseph Ossai leads defensive keys for Longhorns against Kansas State

These three defensive players will be paramount for the Texas Longhorns to leave Manhattan with a victory on Saturday.

Defensive Tackle Ta’Quon Graham

Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

The Longhorns defense also needs defensive tackle Ta’Quon Graham to be disruptive inside as well. They are going up against a lightning bug running back in Deuce Vaughn that will need to be bottled up. They have held Leddie Brown, Chuba Hubbard,and Breece Hall under their season averager, can they do the same with Vaughn?

Graham has 22 total tackles this year and his currently third in TFLs (7.0) and second in sacks (2.0). If he can get penetration in the middle of the line, that is best way to disrupt the running game and the comfort level of the freshman quarterback.

If the Longhorns can force Vaughn outside, their linebacking duo of Juwan Mitchell and DeMarvion Overshown can bottle him up. The defense has surrendered the fewest explosive plays in the run game in the Big 12. They allow just one explosive run (20+ yards) per game on average.