Tag: Jahdae Barron

Texas draft prospects for Packers fans to watch during College Football Playoff

Draft prospects from Texas for Packers fans to watch during the College Football Playoff.

The Texas Longhorns had 11 players drafted during the 2024 NFL Draft. They could match or even exceed that number during the 2025 draft. Let’s look at eight players who could be targets for the Green Bay Packers.

Alred Collins, DT

A former five-star recruit, Collins looks every bit the part of a future wrecking ball. Collins plays with some raw power and walks blockers back into the quarterback’s lap. He has the range to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage and his motor is always running. 

Barryn Sorrell, Edge

Sorrell checks the boxes with his frame and athleticism. As a run defender, he snatches and tosses and sets a hard edge. According to Pro Football Focus, Sorrell has recorded 21 run stops this season. The Texas edge rusher enters the matchup against Clemson with nine tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 39 pressures. 

Jahdae Barron, DB

A year ago Barron was one of the best slot defenders in the country. This season he’s shown that he can survive on the boundary. Barron led the SEC in interceptions (5) and recorded nine pass deflections. He has the drive explosion to arrive before the pigskin and has wide receiver-like ball skills. He’s a physical downfield defender and stays balanced as a tackler. 

Jake Majors, C

Majors enters the matchup against Clemson with 54 career starts at center for the Longhorns. Majors has heightened awareness and understands protections. Over the past two seasons, Majors has given up zero sacks and 20 pressures.  

Trey Moore, Edge

At 245 pounds, Moore could be too light for Green Bay’s liking. Moore can easily add five pounds without losing his explosive first step. The UTSA transfer has recorded 3.5 sacks and 26 pressures. 

Vernon Broughton, DT

At 6-5, 306 pounds, Broughton has an ideal NFL frame. The Texas defensive tackle has good initial quickness off the snap to get upfield quickly and disrupt the action in the backfield. He maintains his gap and shows the lateral quickness to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage.

Matthew Golden, WR

With his instant acceleration off the line of scrimmage and finds a second gear to win vertically. He runs sharp routes and does a good job of mixing up his tempo to keep defensive backs off balance. Golden also brings special teams value as a kick and punt returner. 

Isaiah Bond, WR

The Alabama transfer is a dynamic playmaker. The former track athlete is a vertical threat and can take swing passes the distance with his game-breaking quickness. Bond is similar to Jayden Reed and having those two on the same offense would put a lot of stress on opposing defenses. 

Five Texas Longhorns earn AP All-Americans honors

That list includes Anthony Hill Jr., Jahdae Barron, Kelvin Banks Jr., Alfred Collins, and Michael Taaffe.

With the 2024 college football regular season in the books, the Longhorns have made headlines as awards have been handed out. On Tuesday, that continued when five players were named All-Americans by the Associated Press. That list includes Anthony Hill Jr., Jahdae Barron, Kelvin Banks Jr., Alfred Collins, and Michael Taaffe.

While all five have been key to the Longhorns’ success, only Barron and Banks earned first-team honors. During his fifth season with the Longhorns, Barron has started all 13 games and leads the conference in interceptions with five. As a senior, he has added 47 tackles to his resume.

On the offensive side of the ball, Banks has been one of the Longhorns’ best players and a model of consistency. The Texas native has started every game this season and helped protect quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. He has also added two SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors to his resume.

Hill, Collins, and Taaffe earned spots on the second team. The talented trio were human highlight reels, making life difficult for offensive coordinators. Hill led the way with a team-high 90 tackles, including six for a loss.

He also got some help from Taaffe, who finished the season with 61 total tackles. The local star was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week and the Burlsworth Trophy National Player following the Longhorns win over Vanderbilt earlier this season.

Rounding out the list is Collins, who has taken his game to another level over the past few months. In 13 games, Collins set career highs in tackles with 43 and pass deflections with seven. For the Longhorns, his improved play was a welcome sign.

The Longhorns and this talented group will now focus on making a deep playoff run and building on a memorable 2024 season.

Jahdae Barron wins Thorpe Award, third Texas Longhorn to be named top DB

Texas DB Jahdae Barron becomes third Longhorn to win Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation’s best defensive back.

Jahdae Barron’s name is now etched in Longhorns history. On Thursday evening, Barron was named the 2024 Thorpe Award winner as the best defensive back in the country.

The announcement was made during ESPN’s College Football Awards show. Barron beat out Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs and Georgia Bulldogs safety Malaki Starks.

Barron becomes the third Texas Longhorn to win the annual prize. UT’s Michael Huff and Aaron Ross won it in back-to-back years in 2005 and 2006. Texas is tied for the most Thorpe Award recipients in the country with Oklahoma and LSU.

It was the first Texas Thorpe Award winner Michael Huff who informed Barron that the trophy was his. Huff currently serves as the Longhorns Assistant Director of Player Development.

The senior led the SEC with five interceptions, had 47 tackles, nine pass breakups and a forced fumble so far this season. He starred in a Texas secondary that was one of the best in the nation.

The Longhorns lead the country in fewest passing yards allowed at 143.1 per game and turnovers gained with 28. Texas is No. 2 in scoring defense, allowing 12.5 points per game.

Seven Texas Longhorns land on All-SEC teams

That list includes Kelvin Banks Jr., Quinn Ewers, Jahdae Barron, Gunnar Helm, Anthony Hill Jr., Quintrevion Wisner, and Andrew Mukuba

Throughout the 2024 college football campaign, the Texas Longhorns have been one of the best teams in the SEC. During their first season in a new conference, the Longhorns did not disappoint, as seven players earned spots on All-SEC teams. That list includes Kelvin Banks Jr., Quinn Ewers, Jahdae Barron, Gunnar Helm, Anthony Hill Jr., Quintrevion Wisner, and Andrew Mukuba.

The Longhorns’ offense was well represented, with Banks earning first-team All-SEC honors. Ewers and Helm earned second-team All-SEC honors, while Wisner earned third-team All-SEC honors. With that talented group leading the way, Texas has been able to frustrate opponents on a weekly basis.

As the offense has thrived, the defense has played a critical role. That was on display Tuesday, with Barron receiving first-team All-SEC honors, Hill receiving second-team All-SEC honors, and Mukaba receiving third-team All-SEC honors.

With the Longhorns focus now shifting to the postseason, they will need their stars to continue to perform. In Ewers third year under center, he has thrown for 2,665 yards and 25 touchdowns while averaging 242.27 yards per game. His success has partly been due to Helm and Wisner, who have emerged as reliable weapons in an offense full of talent.

They will also need help from a defense that will face some of the best offenses in the country. The Longhorns are in good hands with Mukaba, who ranks fourth in tackles, and Hill, who has at least one sack in four straight games, leading the way.

Over the next few weeks, this group will be key to ending the Longhorns championship drought after proving they are among the best in the SEC at their positions.

Jahdae Barron named semifinalist for Jim Thorpe Award

Each year, the award is given to the best defensive back in college football based on performance, athletic ability, and character

As the Longhorns have gotten off to a 7-1 start, Jahdae Barron has been at the center of their success. On Tuesday, he received national attention for his play when he was named a semifinalist for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. Each year, the award is given to the best defensive back in college football based on performance, athletic ability, and character.

In eight games, Barron has recorded 29 total tackles and six break-ups. He currently leads the team in interceptions with three, which ranks 14th in the nation. The Austin, Texas native has made life difficult for quarterbacks and has been a valuable veteran piece in the Longhorns secondary.

With Barron at the center of the Longhorns’ success, the defense has been a pleasant surprise. Entering Week 10, they rank second in scoring defense and pass efficiency defense and third in passing yards allowed.

Although the regular season is winding down, Barron and the Longhorns have plenty to play for over the next few weeks. They currently rank third in the SEC standings behind Georgia and Texas A&M. If they are to leapfrog those teams, the Longhorns will need Barron at his best as he looks to add more hardware to his resume.

The three finalists for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award will be announced on November 26, and the winner will be revealed on December 12. The Longhorns hope that Barron will once again find himself in the spotlight as the field narrows. This is the second straight year Barron has been named a semifinalist.

Two Longhorns defensive backs named quarterfinalists for Lott IMPACT Trophy

While they have a roster full of talent, two players who have stood out are Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba

During the first two months of the college football season, defense has been a strength for the Texas Longhorns. While they have a roster full of talent, two players who have stood out are Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba. Due to their play, they have been named quarterfinalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.

Through seven games, the Longhorns lead the nation in scoring defense (9.7 ppg) and total defense (237.3 ypg). They also rank ninth in interceptions with 10. With Barron and Mukuba at the center of their success, the Longhorns have been one of the best teams in the country.

In his senior season, Barron has recorded 26 total tackles and added three interceptions to his resume. He currently leads the team in interceptions with three and pass break-ups with five. Last week against Georgia, the Texas native had one of his best games of the season, snagging a career-high two interceptions.

While Barron has been an anchor on defense, he has also gotten some help from Mukuba, who has made headlines with his play. Through seven games, the talented defensive back recorded 18 solo tackles and two pass break-ups. In the Longhorns’ loss to Georgia on Saturday, he snagged two interceptions, becoming the first Longhorn with two interceptions in a game since D’Shawn Jamison in 2019.

Although the Longhorns are chasing a national title, they will be watching how voting for the Lott IMPACT Trophy unfolds. They have two very deserving candidates in Mukuba and Barron, who are only getting better as the games pile up. The finalists will be revealed on December 9 at the annual Lott IMPACT® Trophy award show in Las Vegas.

Pair of Texas Longhorns named to Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list

These two defenders will be key in 2024 for Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense.

On Tuesday the Football Writers Association of America revealed its annual Bronko Nagusrksi Trophy watch list with a pair of Texas Longhorns defenders making the cut.

Defensive back [autotag]Jahdae Barron[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Anthony Hill[/autotag] joined the list of 75 players who made the initial cut. Barron is returning for his fifth season on the Forty Acres. Over his first four seasons, the fifth-year defensive back played in 41 total games with 23 starts. He has made 21 starts over the last two seasons.

A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2023, Barron has tallied 90 solo tackles, 160 total tackles, 17.0 TFLs, 16 PDs, and three interceptions during that time. He will be a key contributor for a Texas defense that is looking to be better against the pass in 2024. The team finished No. 12 in the Big 12 last year with 254.4 passing yards per game, which would have been No. 13 in the SEC just ahead of the LSU Tigers (255.6) and Vanderbilt Commodores (279.6).

Hill on the other hand is looking for a larger role in year two on the Forty Acres. He played in all 14 games with six starts earning a share of the 2023 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. Overall the former five-star signee tallied 67 total tackles, 40 solo tackles, 8.0 TFLs, with five sacks and one forced fumble.

Hill is expected to be the full-time starter at the middle linebacker spot between Morice Blackwell at SAM and David Gbenda at WILL. Both Barron and Hill could be major factors for the success on defense in 2024, which would make them worthy of the honor of becoming the 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner.

A pair of Longhorns DB’s named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List

Texas DB’s Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mubuka named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List

Every year since 2004, the Lott Trophy has been awarded annually to the nation’s defensive IMPACT player of the year. While the award does revolve around on-the-field performances, much more is factored into it as IMPACT stands for “Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.”

The list of former winners is quite remarkable with the likes of DeMeco Ryans, J.J. Watt, Luke Keuchly, and Manti Te’o headlining the group. Michigan’s Junior Colson was the 2023 Trophy winner with Aidan Hutchinson and Will Anderson Jr. having taken home the award in the two previous years.

Heading into the 2024 season, a pair of Texas Longhorns find themselves on the Lott Trophy watch list in cornerback Jahdae Barron and safety Andrew Mukuba.

Barron is entering his fifth year with the Texas program and recorded 59 total tackles a season ago with one interception and five passes defended. Mukuba on the other hand enters his first year on the Forty Acres after transferring from Clemson this offseason.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

What to expect from NFL qualifying Texas players over the next week

Don’t get your hopes up for Adonai Mitchell to return to Texas, but the Longhorns could see positive news.

The Texas Longhorns have a few players who will have NFL decisions to make over the next week or so. Several Longhorns have made their decision and in each one the team can benefit in different ways.

Texas is going to have several players drafted in this year’s NFL draft. It should end the narrative that the program doesn’t develop players, although it should have been evident by several conference and national award winners across the roster this season.

We expect the Longhorns’ 2024 draft class to be one of its best in a long time. Receivers Xavier Worthy and Ja’Tavion Sanders have first round potential if not a realistic shot at a second day draft selection. Interior defensive linemen T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy figure to be high draft picks as well.

It’s unclear where right tackle Christian Jones, running back Jonathon Brooks, wide receiver Jordan Whittington and linebacker Jaylan Ford could be selected, but the four figure to compete for NFL rosters when all is said and done.

A handful of Texas players have not made their decision on whether to return or begin their NFL career. Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, quarterback Quinn Ewers and defensive back Jahdae Barron are among those players.

We expect Quinn Ewers to return. Mitchell and Barron are still apparently weighing their decisions.

The likelihood is that Mitchell will pursue the NFL draft considering his likely high NFL draft grade. We would like to see Texas sway the imposing receiver to return. Certainly, it would solidify the team atop the SEC alongside Alabama and Georgia. A return just doesn’t seem likely.

Barron on the other hand could be a different story. Despite being arguably the Longhorns’ best defensive back, the nickel corner might not be higher than a sixth round player. He’s a sure tackler and good in coverage, but could benefit from another year in college. There’s a reasonable chance Barron returns.

Linebacker David Gbenda is another player to watch. It’s hard to envision Gbenda watching multi-year starters like center Jake Majors and edge Barryn Sorrell return only for the veteran linebacker to choose to go to the NFL. That said, the skilled linebacker might want to enter the league with more prime years available. If he were to return, the Texas defense looks a lot better than it would without him.

You can expect Adonai Mitchell to join fellow receivers in Worthy and Sanders in the NFL draft. Even so, Ewers, Barron and Gbenda could, and perhaps should, all come back. If they do, the Longhorns are set up for another special season.

Sarkisian says Jahdae Barron deserved All-Big 12 Conference Player award

Was Jahdae Barron snubbed of a first-team award?

The conference made a significant announcement on Wednesday regarding the All-Big 12 first-team and second-team awards.

Among the list of outstanding players, Jahdae Barron, a talented defensive back for Texas, was recognized and named to the second team. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian thinks that Barron should have been on the All-Big 12 first team, though.

“I don’t quite understand why Jahdae Barron wasn’t a first-team all conference player. I don’t understand how Ryan Sanborn wasn’t an all conference punter. Those are the two that really stand out to me.”

Throughout the course of the regular season, Barron demonstrated his excellent defensive abilities by recording a total of 44 tackles, one interception, and zero touchdowns allowed while in coverage.

Barron, along with defensive back Jerrin Thompson, played an extremely vital part in this dominant Texas Longhorns defense and helped the team get to the Big 12 Championship game.

The No. 7 Texas Longhorns will play the No. 18 Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.