SAD NEWS: T’Vondre Sweat set to miss…

SAD NEWS: T’Vondre Sweat set to miss…

This week, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year was awarded to T’Vondre Sweat, a defensive tackle for Texas Stars.

Among the ten Longhorns to get a Big 12 honor was Sweat. With his exceptional run-stopping and pass-rush abilities, the senior has been Texas’s greatest player this season and unquestionably the best defensive player overall.

Along with Xavier Worthy, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Kelvin Banks, Bert Auburn, Byron Murphy, and Jaylan Ford, he was also named to the All-Big 12 First team.

After this season, all of those players—aside from Banks—will be eligible for the draft. Though it’s not time to worry, the Texas Longhorns will be missing a number of important players in the upcoming season.

Each and every Texas Longhorns player who won an award this week is listed below.

Xavier Deserving
Throughout the season, Worthy has led the Longhorns in receiving yards and has had a strong comeback season with little drops.

Sanders, Ja’Tavion
In the Longhorns’ victory over TCU, Ja’Tavion Sanders became the fourth tight end in Texas history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards.

Banks, Kelvin
At left tackle, Kelvin Banks began his second consecutive season with Texas in 2023 and gave up only one sack.

T’Vondre Sweat Sweat has the best defensive PFF grade of any defensive lineman, 91.6, and was selected the All-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Ford Jaylan
With 12 rushes, 60 tackles, and two interceptions in 2023, Jaylan Ford’s comeback greatly aided the defense and cemented his spot on the All-Big 12 First team.

Bert Auburn

This season, Bert Auburn has converted every extra point attempt, and in 2023, he had an 83% field goal percentage.

Byron Murphy
Longhorns supporters will mourn the Murphy-Sweat tandem for years to come. Byron finished with 26 hurries, six sacks, and a 90.1 PFF defensive grade.
Despite having his season cut short, Brooks managed a career-high 1,135 yards and 10 touchdowns through rushes.

Despite not making the All-Big 12 First Team, Jahdae Barron Barron had a fantastic senior season, allowing just one touchdown and just one interception.

Mitchell Adonai
In his first season on the Forty Acres, Adonai Mitchell led the Texas Longhorns with nine receiving touchdowns.

Following the 2022 season, Adonai Mitchell moved from Georgia to Texas, where he has excelled. Mitchell has 704 yards and nine touchdowns from receptions, averaging almost 16 yards per catch.
With six sacks and 26 hurries, Byron Murphy was a vital member of the Texas defense, getting the second-highest PFF grade for a defensive tackle, only behind teammate T’Vondre Sweat.
Anthony Hill’s outstanding tackling abilities made him one of the Texas Longhorns’ best rookies. He earned a 74 PFF tackling grade this season because of his constant aggression. Without a question, Hill’s future as a Texas Longhorn is quite bright.