Report: Texas expected to hire Dolphins assistant Kenny Baker as new DL coach

Texas has reportedly filled a key staff position, hiring assistant defensive line coach Kenny Baker away from the Miami Dolphins to be the Longhorns’ defensive line coach, according to Matt Zenitz. Baker previously coached at Western Kentucky.

Longtime Longhorns defensive line coach Bo Davis recently left the program, taking a job on the staff at LSU, his alma mater. It left a notable void to fill for Steve Sarkisian and Co.

Baker, who is a fast riser in the profession, will be in just his fifth season of coaching FBS and NFL football as an assistant.

Davis was a stalwart for Texas during his time

Texas underwent its own rebuild on the defensive line under Davis, with results showing up in a big way this past season. T’Vondre Sweat won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and the Outland Trophy, dominating the line of scrimmage. His partner in crime, Byron Murphy, won Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year. The duo were a huge reason why the Longhorns made the College Football Playoff.

Both have since declared for the NFL Draft and are expected to be picked quickly. The development of Murphy and Sweat, who stepped on campus as three-star prospects out of high school, is just the latest feather Davis can put in his cap.

Davis made a bigger impact on Texas than just the defensive line, though. He will forever be remembered for his rant on the bus ride home following a loss to Iowa State in 2021.

“Some of you motherf— need to get in the transfer portal,” Davis said, in part. “You want to go? Get in the motherf—. This s— ain’t a game to me. … I got my a— kicked, and you motherf— want to laugh?”

Returning to LSU has been a long time coming for Davis after playing his college football there. He was named second-team All-SEC during the 1992 season and was hired by Gerry DiNardo as a graduate assistant in 1995.

Davis then left the North Shore High School in the Houston area before coming back to LSU to be on the strength staff. However, once Davis became a defensive line coach, there was never a marriage between him and the Tigers.

Multiple stints with Alabama and Texas took place, while Davis even went to the NFL. Folks at LSU will be saying “finally” with the Davis hire being official. A huge move for the program, hoping to bring stability for what has the potential to be one of the best units in all of college football.