JD PicKell: Evaluating potential of Texas defensive line in 2023

With spring games going on around the country, including at Texas, fans are all getting a first look at their teams ahead of the 2023 season. The Longhorns will host their annual scrimmage to cap off spring practice on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT in Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Of course, the scrimmage isn’t quite played like an actual game, as quarterbacks typically wear special skivvies so defensive players know not to hit them. Coaches want to get a look at their teams in live action, but there’s no need to play too aggressive and get guys hurt.

However, even with some limited contact, On3’s JD PicKell sees one position group on the defensive side of the ball where Longhorn fans should focus on when watching the spring game. That would be the defensive line, and more specifically, the edge rusher position, where PicKell believes Texas needs some dudes to step up as stars. Here was his full assessment of the position group and what to watch for with them in Saturday’s scrimmage, which he posted over on the On3 YouTube Channel.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to the On3 YouTube channel today for all of the latest news on college football, recruiting, NIL, more!

“Now, the other thing I’m watching pretty closely here: we got to take stock of that defensive line really quickly, gotta talk about it. And the reason why I say this is — you probably aren’t getting beat because of what you have on that D-line. I mean, Texas brings a lot back on defense at some really key positions. They’re replaced in other spots but some key positions they bring a lot back, T’Vondre Sweat being one of those guys they’re really excited about. But just what is the overall feel from this spring game when you watch that defensive line? Again, I don’t think you’re getting beat in 2023 because of that D-line, but I think you can really win some games if you have an elite pass rusher emerge.

“Now, I think most people in Texas circles would tell you they believe they’re probably going to go to the portal and get somebody to be that game breaker off the edge. I mean, you hope somebody jumps into the portal that can be a game breaker for you, but there’s still some guys that you should be excited about. I said you got some guys coming back you got some freshmen, some young bucks. Ethan Burke, who could be a player for you; another young player, Justice Finkley, he could be a player for you. They have a pretty good battle going on right now for the edge defensive end position that Texas likes to run with.

“What do they give you in the spring game? It’s tough to really get a gauge for this, because the quarterback isn’t live and you’re only able to rush so close to him. There’s an imaginary, what we call Halo, like three yards circle around the quarterback. If you get within that three yards, good luck, you’re probably running until next Tuesday. But you hear what I’m saying. Do we see some guys get off blocks and have some, what would be considered a sack, in the spring game? Just taking a pulse of it, because you got some things on the defensive line to be excited about.

“But if you get a pass rusher, now we’re talking. Now we’re cooking with peanut oil. We got a pass rush down there in Texas. So again, going to the portal, but just having some guys put some good things on tape. Your tape is your resume. You want to make a statement, you want to put a nice little bullet point on that resume, make some plays in the spring game. The defensive line deserves a lot of attention.”