Joseph Ossai and DeMarvion Overshown
Only one of these two players will be returning next season in DeMarvion Overshown. Joseph Ossai will be off to the NFL, to most likely be selected in the first round of the draft. The reason I bring these two names up is because of how Ash was able to identify them as talents at positions they were not playing and morph them into stars.
Ossai was still one of the top defenders for Texas under Todd Orlando but was playing outside linebacker. Ash moved him closer to the defensive line in the Jack position and watched him flourish. 5.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for a loss later earned Ossai AP first-team All-American.
The same can be said about Overshown who was recruited and played as a safety before moving to WILL linebacker. He ended the year as the team’s second-leading tackler, second in tackles for a loss, and led the team in interceptions. His presence on the field was nearly impossible to miss, making plays from sideline to sideline.
In just one year, Ash has done a phenomenal job of turning talent into NFL caliber players. Defensive tackle Ta’Quon Graham is another player off to the league after a big year. Ash will continue to prove he can get guys to the next level with a young core returning next season, something that was one of the biggest faults of the program during the Herman era.