Tag: David Gbenda

Texas starting LB David Gbenda to return for another season

Texas should return an outstanding linebacker tandem after Gbenda announced plans to play opposite Anthony Hill another season.

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.

Five Longhorns to watch in Saturday’s spring game

Here are five Longhorns to keep an eye on in the spring game on Saturday.

Texas’ annual Orange-White spring game is set for Saturday afternoon at DKR. Fans will get their first glimpse at the 2023 Longhorns before the season opener against Rice in the fall.

It will be Texas’ 15th and final practice of a crucial spring in year three for the Steve Sarkisian era. Players have the chance to show off the strides they have taken to the public in a game-like environment.

Expectations are high for the Longhorns following an improved 2022 campaign. Texas is seen by many as the favorite in the Big 12 Conference and a potential College Football Playoff contender next season.

Texas returns a bulk of its production from a season ago with a talented group of newcomers arriving.

Aside from some of the proven commodities like Jaylan Ford and Xavier Worthy, here are five Longhorns to keep an eye on in the spring game on Saturday. These players could play a major role in Texas’s success this season.

Three burning questions for Texas football to answer in spring ball

Spring practice is a chance for Texas to put it all together before the 2023 season.

Texas football is getting into the full swing of spring practice. The Longhorns hit the field for the first time this week to kick off a crucial development time for the program.

Pressure is building on Steve Sarkisian to compete for a Big 12 title in 2023 before Texas moves to the SEC the following year. Texas took a take forward a season ago and has the roster to make another jump in the right direction.

Texas returns lots of production on both sides of the football, including starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, star wide receiver Xavier Worthy and All-Big 12 linebacker Jaylan Ford.

Spring practice is a chance for Texas to put it all together before the 2023 season. Here are three important question marks the Longhorns need to figure out in spring ball.

An updated look at Texas’ LB depth chart

Texas can feel more comfortable with its linebacker depth after the addition of Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey.

Texas made another big splash in the transfer portal with the addition of James Madison linebacker Diamontae Tucker-Dorsey.

Tucker-Dorsey chose the Longhorns after picking up transfer offers from the likes of Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Auburn and UCF. Texas was able to get him to campus for a visit earlier this week and closed the deal on Friday.

The FCS All-American fills a major need in the Texas linebacker room that struggled much of the 2021 season. Tucker-Dorsey has a knack for being around the football. He racked up 116 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and four takeaways for the Dukes last season.

Expect Tucker-Dorsey to push for playing time as soon as he steps foot on campus. DeMarvion Overshown returns with hopes to end his collegiate career with a bang. Jaylan Ford and David Gbenda showed some flashes last season, but need to figure out more consistency.

Here is an updated look at Texas’ linebacker depth chart with Tucker-Dorsey included.

Texas Football: Everything Steve Sarkisian said after Tuesday’s practice

Steve Sarkisian spoke to the media after Tuesday’s practice, highlighting a few players. Check out everything the head coach had to say.

Texas completed spring practice No. 9 on Tuesday and players are slowly understanding how the program is going to work under Steve Sarkisian. Five more practices are scheduled to take place before the spring game on April 24.

As usual, Sarkisian spoke to the media after practice, where he highlighted a few players and even the two quarterbacks. David Gbenda and Denzel Okafor received the most praise from the head coach.

For older athletes, learning under a new head coach can be difficult. Sarkisian mentioned how he thought they have “broken the ice” which is a positive sign. Everyone is getting an understanding of how practices are going to run and the expectations of this football team. Early enrollees have a different experience and arriving on campus early is “invaluable for them,” according to Sarkisian.

Check out everything Steve Sarkisian said after spring practice No. 9

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Longhorns Profile Snapshot: No. 33 David Gbenda

LonghornsWire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Texas roster. Today, we will be looking at RS-fresh LB David Gbenda.

Going into the 2020 football season, LonghornsWire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Texas roster.

Over the summer, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Tom Herman this season.

Today, we will be looking at redshirt freshman linebacker David Gbenda.

David Gbenda, Linebacker

Height: 6-0 / Weight: 225

Class: Redshirt freshman

Hometown: Katy, Texas

High School: Cinco Ranch

HS ranking (247Sports): Four-star / No. 193 overall / No. 11 position / No. 23 in-state

HS ranking (Rivals): Four-star / No. 219 overall / No. 14 position / No. 28 in-state

Analysis: David Gbenda played in four games last season, seeing action against Louisiana Tech, LSU, Rice, and Kansas. The true freshman even got a start against the Jayhawks. While he did not record a single stat in 2019, Gbenda played an important role.

The Longhorns struggled with depth at the running back position last year and Gbenda was a huge help. Even though he did not get playing time on the offensive side of the ball, he got plenty of reps during practice. An emergency ball carrier, Tom Herman said he would have performed well if given the chance.

Now moving back to linebacker in 2020, Gbenda is expected to stay on the defensive side of the ball this season. With questions surrounding players such as Juwan Mitchell and DeMarvion Overshown, Gbenda could find himself with significant playing time this season.

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Tom Herman lists four potential breakout players on Texas’ defense

Texas head coach Tom Herman has high hopes for four young defensive players.

Texas head coach Tom Herman hired new defensive coordinator Chris Ash at the conclusion of the 2019 season in hopes of improving what was one of the worst units in college football. Continue reading “Tom Herman lists four potential breakout players on Texas’ defense”

Texas sends two players home before Alamo Bowl

Texas has sent home two players ahead of tomorrow’s Alamo Bowl. LBs David Gbenda and Byron Vaughns violated team rules and will not play.

Texas has sent home two players ahead of tomorrow’s Alamo Bowl against Utah. Linebackers David Gbenda and Byron Vaughns violated team rules and will not be playing in tomorrow’s game.

Both freshman, Vaughns has played in seven games this season. Recording 14 tackles in those games, he was a key contributor to the win against Kansas earlier this year. Of his eight total tackles that day, six of them were solo. Vaughns also forced a fumble in the loss to TCU.

Gbenda has played in four games, but only recorded a tackle against Kansas.

For a Texas defense that has struggled this season, losing depth at the linebacker position will not help. They will face off against Utah tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.

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