2022 Texas Longhorns Position Outlook: Safety

The hope that the Texas defense in 2021 would be well-protected by experienced players at safety like Brenden Schooler, B.J. Foster, and Anthony Cook evaporated over the course of a six-game losing streak. Too often, Texas safeties were required to make plays to make up for the faults of those in front of them. Sometimes, they made the play, but more often they were unable to complete the task (or in some instances, chose not to).

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Cohesion seemed hard to come by for the last line of the Texas defense. Coached by former Longhorn defensive back Blake Gideon, the safeties were one of the weakest points in Pete Kwiatkowski’s first-year defense that had a number of weak points.

As a result, there was some reshuffling at the position during the 2022 offseason. Anthony Cook, who started seven games at nickel last season, moved to deep safety. So did Kitan Crawford, who began his career as a corner. Morice Blackwell, who was recruited to Texas as a linebacker, moved to safety to function as an all-around defender.

Position outlooks: Cornerback

Though Texas sought to add defensive backs from the portal, additions were only made at linebacker and cornerback. Unable to add experience via transfer, Sarkisian was able to bolster numbers with the addition of two early-enrollee safeties in Larry Turner-Gooden and B.J. Allen.

The freshmen are obviously unproven at the college level, but in a similar sense so are the veterans. Cook and Crawford are at new positions. Blackwell is learning a new role. Barron has promise but did not receive a heavy snap volume in his first two years. Jerrin Thompson and JD Coffey were part of the beleaguered unit last year.

Every position on the Longhorn defense is looking to improve from last year’s poor showing, but there may not be a position requiring more improvement than safety.

2022 safeties

Departures: Chris Adimora (transfer), Brenden Schooler (graduation), Marques Caldwell (transfer), B.J. Foster (transfer)

Returners: Anthony Cook, Kitan Crawford, JD Coffey, Jerrin Thompson, Morice Blackwell, Jahdae Barron

Newcomers: Larry Turner-Gooden, B.J. Allen

Position Outlook

The decision to move Cook and Crawford to safety offers the position one of the more experienced and instinctive players on the team (Cook) with one of the roster’s best athletes (Crawford). Though both are learning different spots, Steve Sarkisian took the chance to praise both during spring ball for their work that helped them rise near the top of the depth chart.

Thompson will factor into the competition at one of the deep safety positions, but he also provides versatility and can play nickel if need be. Specialization may be a boost for Thompson. Is the depth behind him strong enough to allow for that?

What is Blackwell’s best role? He was recruited as a linebacker but has remained near 200 pounds during his college tenure. He may be one of the better pure football players on the team, but as was exposed in the spring game, his coverage ability still has room for improvement. Coffey has been a mainstay on special teams but has only five career tackles in two years.

The wildcard when it comes to the safety position is nickel. When Texas was in a base look during the spring, D’Shawn Jamison and Jahdae Barron were the two corners. When the Longhorns fielded a nickel defense, Barron slid inside to nickel while Ryan Watts manned the vacant corner spot.

Barron can be penciled in at one spot on the field at this summer juncture. Just which spot that is remains to be determined. It will have numerous downstream effects.

Turner-Gooden and Allen both were the beneficiaries of college strength and conditioning, but whether they will see much non-special teams playing time this year remains to be seen. Opportunity could well exist for that duo however if none of the veterans are able to step up their game.

All in all, safety was a position with a significant number of question marks entering the offseason. Texas likely feels better about their answers now after solid springs from Cook, Barron, and Crawford, but is that grouping an upgrade from last year? Is Thompson someone who won’t be able to leave the field? Can Blackwell credibly play the safety positions?

Those are several of the unknowns facing a defensive backfield that was one of the worst in school history in 2021.