37 days until Texas Football: Morice Blackwell to play a critical role for the Longhorn defense
Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on.
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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best.
Today is 37 days until kickoff. No. 37 for the Longhorns this season will be worn by Morice Blackwell, a junior linebacker, and Bryce Chambers, a freshman walk-on wide receiver.
Morice Blackwell season outlook
Last spring, the Texas staff tried Blackwell out at safety. Spring is a time for experimentation, and though he provided a physical presence in the secondary, the lasting image of Blackwell’s time at defensive back was Isaiah Neyor running past him in the 2022 Orange-White Game.
He returned to linebacker, the position he was originally recruited for, and displayed a toughness and ability tailor-made for the Sam position during the 2022 season. Blackwell didn’t displace Jaylan Ford or DeMarvion Overshown at off-ball linebacker, but he played the Sam role well when the Longhorns were in their base defense.
During the spring of 2023, Steve Sarkisian noted Blackwell was at a weight similar to the one Overshown played at during his final season in Austin. Though listed at 208 pounds, Sarkisian said Blackwell was closer to 215 pounds in April. He also gave him lofty praise.
“He’s a heck of a player,” Sarkisian said. “I love the competitive nature of Mo. We asked a lot of him as a true freshman on special teams. He plays violent. He plays tough. I think he plays the way we want to play football, and he provides a lot of versatility.”
With Overshown now on the Dallas Cowboys, Blackwell is contending to succeed Agent Zero at the Will linebacker position. He’s competing with David Gbenda for snaps, but Blackwell is going play plenty no matter who the starter ends up being at that position. He’ll factor at both Will and Sam, and his versatility will be utilized often by Pete Kwiatkowski on conventional downs and Jeff Banks on special teams.
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Blackwell has appeared in 22 games with four starts and has also seen time at defensive back in his two seasons at Texas. He has racked up 14 tackles, 10 of them solo, a tackle for a loss, a pass defended and a blocked kick.
Morice Blackwell as a recruit
Blackwell was ranked as the No. 299 overall prospect, the No. 33 linebacker, and the No. 47 player in Texas in the 2021 On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. On3 ranked Blackwell as the No. 254 overall prospect, the No. 23 linebacker, and the No. 39 player in Texas.
Bryce Chambers season outlook
After a Westlake career where he was one of Cade Klubnik‘s main targets, Chambers will help Longhorn defenders prepare for opponents on a weekly basis as a member of the scout team.
Notable player to wear No. 37: Henry Melton
Melton was a versatile former running back who switched to defensive end during the 2006 season. He played in 49 games at defensive end (24 games, 10 starts), running back (25 games, one start) and on special teams.
Melton registered 40 tackles, four sacks, 11 TFL, 20 pressures, three PBUs, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked FG in his career and was tabbed honorable mention All-Big 12 by the league’s coaches in 2008.
He rushed for 625 yards and 16 TDs on 132 carries (4.7 ypc) during his first two seasons at Texas and was drafted in the fourth round (105th overall) by Chicago in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Joe Cook co-authored this story
