Steve Sarkisian addresses what Jaylan Ford does best

Middle linebacker Jaylan Ford has been a consistent force in the middle of the Texas defense this season. And head coach Steve Sarkisian dished on what the junior does so well for a Texas defense that’s been a bright spot through seven games.

Namely, Ford is versatile. Sarkisian loves having Ford as a piece in the middle of his defense equally capable of stepping up and playing the run and dropping into coverage.

“What I like about Jaylan, he’s versatile. He plays well against the run, he’s athletic. He can defend the pass. He’s smart,” Sarkisian said.

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The Longhorns defense has been slightly overshadowed by the offense — headlined by Quinn Ewers, Bijan Robinson and Xavier Worthy — but has still been effective in 2022.

Through seven games, Texas is No. 37 nationally in total defense and No. 21 in scoring defense, giving up just more than 18 points per game. Ford has, literally, been at the center of it all.

To Sarkisian’s point about his versatility, Ford has two forced fumbles and one of the Longhorns five interceptions all while leading his team in total tackles with 66. He’s also been a disruptive force as a blitzer, tallying 5.5 tackles for loss and one sack so far this year. He’s also recovered a fumble and defensed a pass on top of the one he intercepted.

With the Longhorns still facing a bevy of talented, varied offenses through the final five games of Big 12 play — including Spencer Sanders and Oklahoma State, TCU’s high-powered passing attack, Kansas State’s multiple running game and the ultra-crafty scheme from Lance Leipold and his Kansas team — Ford will be a key piece for the Texas defense the rest of the way.

“What I like, what he does best,” Sarkisian said, “is he’s a versatile player at the Mike position for us.”