Countdown to Kickoff: Biles, Smith leads Longhorns LB unit
· Yahoo Sports
Only 47 days stand between us and Texas football and we’ve made our way to the position that has many Longhorn fans concerned. The linebacker unit lost Anthony Hill Jr. to the NFL, then Liona Lefau and Elijah “Bo” Barnes to the transfer portal. To respond, Steve Sarkisian and Johnny Nansen brought in four transfer LBs and a trio of freshmen.
Visit umafrika.club for more information.
Here’s how I see this group breaking down this season:
Starters: Rasheem Biles and Ty’Anthony Smith
These are the clear starters in my opinion. It seems Justin Cryer is pushing Smith for the spot across from Biles, but I expect Ty’Anthony Smith to get the nod in the end. Brad Spence will be used in three-LB sets but I expect just two out there the majority of the time.
Biles was the massive portal addition, coming off an All-ACC season at Pitt. He has true All-American upside and Texas will need that upside in a room with this many questions. Ty’Anthony Smith is slated for a leap in his first year starting, the question is how fast will it happen? I expect this duo to be elite in coverage and disruptive as pass rushers, which should be all this defense needs.
Consistent Contributors: Brad Spence, Justin Cryer, Tyler Atkinson, Rocky Cummings
These players are in the order of how much I expect to see them. Brad Spence will be on the field consistently, whether it’s at LB or off the edge. Justin Cryer has gained rave reviews during the offseason and brings great experience to the MLB role. I expect Cryer to split snaps with Ty’Anthony Smith early in the season and give Texas a strong baseline.
The freshman duo of Tyler Atkinson and Rocky Cummings are seemingly too good to keep off the field as well. Their roles are likely to start limited and expand as the season rolls on, but I expect both to have a big impact on this season. Atkinson is the athletic freak that can be used in pass rush scenarios throughout the season. Cummings is a true MLB and can add depth to Smith/Cryer throughout the latter parts of the season.
Depth Pieces: Darius Snow, Markus Boswell, Kosi Okpala
Finally, a trio of depth players that all bring something interesting to the table. Darius Snow was the most recent addition to the roster and is entering his 7th season of college football. He adds needed experience and knowledge to the room, with the ability to contribute down the stretch. Markus Boswell, the Akron transfer, is likely to be used on special teams and could be an interesting developmental piece to watch. Then, the final freshman, Kosi Okpala, is an elite athlete that is likely to not play a major role this season, but could be a starter by 2027.
Overall Take
This is a room that needs health. Rasheem Biles, Ty’Anthony Smith and Brad Spence staying on the field will give the LB core a very strong trio to build around. Justin Cryer and Darius Snow are high-floor, experienced players that can contribute on and off-the-field. Then, the freshman trio of Atkinson, Cummings and Okpala could be just too talented to keep off the field. If injuries start to creep in, especially to Rasheem Biles, this unit could become an attackable weakness quickly.
I’m bullish on what this room will be. Biles is a true gamechanger. I fully expect Ty’Anthony Smith to take the next step forward. Finally, I believe there is plenty of experience and talent in the depth pieces to make this unit far from a weakness. By seasons’ end, when Atkinson and Cummings are confident and comfortable, this could be a strength for the Longhorns.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Biles, Smith leads Longhorns LB unit