Following a successful season for the Texas Longhorns in 2023, Texas supporters are now focused on the NFL Draft. The Longhorns are expected to choose at least seven players, and this could be one of their greatest draft classes in a decade. Over the last week, the Longhorns had a few representatives at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, which may have helped raise their ranking. Mel Kiper, ESPN’s draft expert, updated his 2024 NFL Draft rankings on Friday, and as any Texas fan would expect, there are Longhorns throughout.
Starting on defense, Texas’ versatile linebacker Jaylan Ford is ranked fifth among off-ball linebackers. This was his second consecutive season with over 100 total tackles, and he also had two interceptions. He was the Texas defense’s leader and a major cause for their success last season.
Kiper is definitely keen on Texas’ two big boys up front, with T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II ranked second and third, respectively, at defensive tackles. This tandem created probably the strongest run-stopping duo in the country, with each having career seasons in 2023. Sweat, who eventually won the Outland Trophy, had a career-high 45 total tackles, five passes defended, two sacks, and a receiving touchdown on offense. His counterpart, who some consider a first-round choice, made a career-high 29 tackles and five sacks.
Despite missing the final few games of the season due to an ACL injury, Johnathon Brooks is regarded as the best running back on offense. Prior to his injury, he carried for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns on 6.1 yards per run. He is joined by tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders as a Texas offensive player ranked among the top two in their position. Sanders had a smaller volume of numbers this season, but he has still proven to have great potential, with only Georgia’s Brock Bowers rating higher of him.
Texas’ two wide receivers, Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell, may have suffered as a result of their absence at the Senior Bowl. Kiper placed them seventh and eighth among receivers in what appears to be a highly strong class. They have both been selected in the first round in a number of mock drafts, but it all depends on how teams perceive them.
