While much of the hype surrounding the Texas football program has been around the new-look offense, the opposite side of the ball has a great opportunity to be one of the best defense’s in the Big 12 this season.
Pete Kwiatkowski is to the defense what Steve Sarkisian is to the offense, which is an absolute mastermind that could be in the discussion for the best in the country.
The Longhorns have struggled with consistency on the defensive side of the ball, and have also been one of the worst tackling teams in the nation for the past three seasons. Kwiatkowski is looking to eliminate both of those problems, and help Texas establish dominance on the defensive front.
Similar to the offense, the defensive side is experiencing some changes after losing key players like Joseph Ossai, Caden Sterns, and Ta’Quon Graham to the NFL this offseason.
They say defense wins championships, and nowadays, having a good defense is a premium in this very offensive style of play we are experiencing. Texas inherited a few transfers, along with returners from last season that can really help this team potentially return to the elite state.
Wednesday’s practice was open to the public and allowed for fans to see who was receiving first-team reps. Based off of what was seen in practice, let’s predict who will get the nod to start on the defensive side of the ball.
Keep in mind there are still a few close position battles, such as the nickel role between Anthony Cook and Jerrin Thompson.