In 2024, the Texas Longhorns possessed one of the top defenses in the SEC and all of college football. The unit ranked third nationally in yards allowed (283.7) and points allowed per game (15.3). The Longhorns made games difficult for quarterbacks with 46 sacks. That number ranked second in the SEC. Like all teams, Texas did lose some big-name players, but the defense returns some of the best players in the country. Some key players who lost are defensive tackle Alfred Collins and defensive back Jahdae Brown. Who will return to the Texas defense in 2025?
Who is Returning to the Texas Defense?
Front four
For the defensive front, the Longhorns looked to the transfer portal to replace Vernon Broughton and Collins. Texas added Travis Shaw from North Carolina and Cole Brevard from Purdue. Returning on the edge is defensive end Ethan Burke and buck Trey Moore. Burke had just two sacks in the season but also showed his playmaking ability. In a 56-7 win over UT-San Antonio, Burke collected an interception that he returned for a 30-yard touchdown.
Moore flirted with the NFL but returns to the Texas defense. Austin. He was fourth on the team with five and a half sacks and 36 tackles. The year prior, while at UT-San Antonio, he had 14 sacks, so he has a proven track record of getting to the quarterback. With the returning Burke and Moore, adding Shaw and Brevard will make the Longhorns front one of the best in the SEC for 2025.
Leader at linebacker
The Texas defense returns one the best linebackers in college football with Anthony Hill. Last season, Hill was named first team All-SEC and first team All-American. As a sophomore, he was fifth in the SEC with 113 tackles in the season. He also collected 17 tackles for loss and eight sacks. One of his best performances of the season came against the Oklahoma Sooners in the 34-3 win. In that game, he had 11 tackles and two sacks. He should find himself on plenty of preseason award watch lists.
Colin Simmons will also be returning to the linebacker group. He was fifth in the SEC with nine sacks. He also showed the ability to create turnovers with three forced fumbles and one interception.
Secondary
A big change for the Longhorns’ secondary is the return of Texas legend Duane Akina. Coach Akina was on staff during the Mack Brown era from 2001-2013. During that time, he coached the secondary plus served as assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator. During his first stint with the team, he coached two Thorpe Award winners, Michael Huff and Aaron Ross. Akina spent the last two seasons with Arizona, and from 2014 to 22, he coached defensive backs at Stanford. He will replace Terry Joesph, who is leaving for the New Orleans Saints.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Texas defense returns three starters from last season’s secondary in cornerback Malik Muhammad, star Jaylon Guilbeau, and safety Michael Taaffe. They are looking to replace Barron, who is now heading to the NFL. His replacement will play opposite Muhammad. Taaffe was selected as a second team All-American last year, leading one the best pass defenses in college football. In 2024, he had 40 solo tackles with two interceptions and one forced fumble. The other safety position is open with the departure of Andrew Mukuba to the NFL. Mukuba had 41 solo tackles and picked off five passes last season.
With the returning players for the Texas defense, the unit should again be one of the best in college football for the 2025 season.
