Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Sweat will now enter the NFL draft.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Texas defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat announced it is time for the next chapter of his life. Continue reading “T’Vondre Sweat says goodbye to the University of Texas”
2024 NFL draft: Bowl season defensive tackle big board from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon
It’s time to give the big men up front some love. The defensive tackles are always an interesting group to evaluate and ordinate, in part because they come in different sizes and styles of play.
I just dove into a handful of these players in the last week or so, and the more I watch the group, the more I do like the DT class overall. Still need to watch more of most of these guys, as this is more on first impression and preliminary study for all but the top two, who I’ve watched extensively and really like.
T’Vondre Sweat gives Texas freedom to allocate defensive help elsewhere.
Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat is a versatile player and an integral part of the Longhorns defense. His defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski knows it.
Kwiatkowski shared what Sweat brings to the Texas defense. He said the following of the massive defensive tackle.
“He is hard to move. He takes up a lot of space. Takes multiple blockers, and so that frees up the linebackers. Gives us a little bit more luxury to play with lighter boxes.”
The luxury of playing with less defenders in the box is particularly important in this week’s matchup. It might shed light on how Texas plans to defend Washington’s potent passing offense in the Sugar Bowl.
Players like T’Vondre Sweat and fellow defensive tackle Byron Murphy are able to shoulder more of the load in run defense. They allow more players to help in coverage and limit more of the passing game.
Sweat is a primary reason why Texas has made it to the College Football Playoff. More than likely, he will be a primary reason for more success if the Longhorns advance to the national title.
More PK on Sweat: "He is hard to move. He takes up a lot of space. Takes multiple blockers, and so that frees up the linebackers. Gives us a little bit more luxury to play with lighter boxes."
— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) December 28, 2023
The massive 362 lb nose tackle from Texas is a monster on the interior. Where does he project at the next level?
Welcome to SKOL Search!
This series will be your guide to the 2024 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.
The focus of the draft class in this space will be on the Vikings’ major needs at quarterback, running back, defensive line and edge rusher. We will also focus on wide receiver since it’s a loaded class and an increased chance to get a Stefon Diggs-type steal in the later rounds.
The Vikings are slated to have 9 picks going into the NFL draft and they need to make the most out of them.
Washington should have more difficulty blocking this year’s defensive tackle duo.
The Washington Huskies will have a 362 pound problem on their hands on Jan. 1. The team will have to protect its backfield against new-and-improved Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat.
We consistently mention Sweat as a matchup the Longhorns’ next opponent will need to neutralize. He just happens to be a matchup problem more weeks than not.
What advantage does the 362-pounder have over Washington’s well under 300-pound freshman center Parker Brailsford? Aside from size and strength, Sweat has several years of experience in the college game. With that, he’s had several years to perfect technique and leverage and create problems for linemen of various size.
Sweat won’t only face Brailsford in the Sugar Bowl matchup, but his presence will be felt while he is on the field. Fellow defensive linemen Byron Murphy, Barryl Sorrell and Ethan Burke all stand to benefit from the attention he will command.
Texas will look to capitalize on Sweat’s matchup advantages in the College Football Playoff.
T’Vondre Sweat, Byron Murphy, and Xavier Worthy earned AP All-America honors.
On Monday, the Associated Press announced its All-America team selections for the best college football players in the country. Among the honorees were three standout players from the Texas Longhorns.
T’Vondre Sweat, a senior interior defensive lineman, was named to the first team for his exceptional performance this season. Sweat recorded two sacks and eight tackles for loss. The senior didn’t fill the stat sheet because his game was to be a force to opposing offensive linemen in the run game and to pressure the quarterback. Sweat was named the 2023 Outland Trophy winner, solidifying himself as the nation’s best interior lineman.
Byron Murphy, a junior defensive lineman, was named to the second team for his impressive ability to be all over the field alongside Sweat. Murphy recorded eight tackles for loss and five sacks. Murphy helped the Longhorns’ defense to be one of the best in the country.
Xavier Worthy, a junior wide receiver, was named to the third team for his explosive playmaking ability. Worthy recorded 969 receiving yards and five touchdowns in his third year of college football in Steve Sarkisian’s offense, showcasing his potential to be a star player for any NFL team if he chooses to enter the 2024 draft.
These three Longhorns have proven to be some of the best players in the country and are well deserving of this recognition.
3⃣ Horns earn AP All-America honors 🤘@TvondreSweat@ByronMurphyII@XavierWorthy pic.twitter.com/QjkDIELOKp
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 11, 2023
T’Vondre Sweat is now officially the best interior defensive lineman in all of college football.
During the awards ceremony held on Friday night, Texas Longhorns defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat was recognized for his outstanding performance in the 2023 college football season by being presented with the 2023 Outland Trophy.
The Outland Trophy is an award given to the best interior defensive lineman in all of college football, and that’s exactly what Sweat is. T’Vondre might not have the eye-popping stats that most fans look for, but what he does in the trenches is what he is known for.
Sweat received a grade of 91.8 from PFF, making him the highest-graded interior defensive lineman in college football. The big man accounted for 25 tackles, 23 hurries, six batted balls, and two sacks.
He joins an elite group of defensive tackles to win the award in the past 14 years, putting himself alongside Jordan Davis (2021), Quinnen Williams (2018), Ed Oliver (2017), Aaron Donald (2013), and Ndamukong Suh (2009).
After the end of this season, Sweat will enter the NFL Draft and immediately improve any defense he joins at the professional level.
The Texas defense has improved significantly throughout Steve Sarkisian’s tenure in Austin.
Under the guidance of defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and defensive line coach Bo Davis, the Texas Longhorns have improved their run defense significantly this season.
The team has allowed an average of 80.8 rushing yards per game, the lowest since 2011. This impressive feat can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of Kwiatkowski and Davis, as well as a few stars along the defensive line led by T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy. Overall, their efforts have been instrumental in helping Texas achieve success on the defensive side of the ball this season.
In 2022, the Texas defense allowed 125.7 rushing yards per game, significantly higher than this year’s 80.8 yards per game. The improvement on defense cannot be understated. Texas’ defense is what has put the Longhorns in the College Football Playoff.
On Jan. 1, Texas will travel to take on the Washington Huskies in the CFP. The Huskies aren’t known for their run game, but their passing game is led by Heisman candidate Michael Penix.
Washington averages 125.2 rushing yards per game, but Texas will have to find a way to stop Penix in order to have a chance at victory.
#Texas is now 3rd in the country in rush defense, allowing just 80.8 yards per game on the ground.
1. UCLA – 69.6
2. Penn State – 69.7
3. Texas – 80.8
4. Utah – 84.2
5. Michigan – 86.6The last time Texas allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards per game in a season was 2011.
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_TFB) December 4, 2023
HE DID THE HEISMAN.
Texas had no trouble dispatching Oklahoma State in the first half of the Big 12 championship game, holding a 20-plus point lead roughly halfway into the second quarter.
On one of those touchdowns, Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers found 6-foot-4, 362-pound defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat wide open in the end zone for an easy touchdown.
It was a stunning play, as Sweat ran a beautiful route to get unguarded and catch the automatic touchdown. After he made the haul, Sweat did the Heisman pose as his Texas teammates cheered him on.
Sweat will one day make his NFL money terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, but on this play, he was Ewers’ best option in the passing game.
6' 4", 362 lb T'Vondre Sweat hit the Heisman pose after this big man TD 😂🔥
(via @TSN_Sports)pic.twitter.com/O3CPyaFnbR
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 2, 2023
Sweat’s touchdown was just one of many in the first half for Texas, but it had to be the most memorable of the bunch.
College football fans loved seeing Sweat get involved in the offense as he did, even if it was likely only for one trick play.
Feature image courtesy of ESPN.
A 362-pound receiver for Texas on a TD grab
It isn’t fair. Quinn Ewers opened the first quarter of the Big 12 Championship Game by completing his first 11 passes for 187 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The third TD throw was grabbed by T’Vondre Sweat.
Sweat checks in at 6-foot-4 and 362 pounds. He was the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year.
Defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat gets in on the scoring for Texas! pic.twitter.com/xMwZjdMdKA
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 2, 2023
The Longhorns were up 21-7 as the first quarter closed.
