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Chemistry and Work Ethic: How Texas Defense is Elevating as a Unit

by:Charlie Williams•02/09/25
The Austin Trio

Inside Texas had the chance to catch up with Bernard “Bam” Blake, Bam Performance a former NFL player and one of the top trainers in Central Texas, at a 7-on-7 tournament. His Central Texas 7v7 team is loaded with talent, including former Longhorn Michael Griffin, who coaches the defense while his son plays on. What stood out most during our conversation was the development, chemistry, and work ethic that’s being built behind the scenes.

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Bam has been working closely with some of Texas’ top defensive backs, including Jahdae Barron, Andrew Mukuba, and Michael Taaffe, and he believes their success starts with the relationships they’ve built over the years. According to Bam, their chemistry is what sets them apart.

“It started way back in high school,” Bam explained. “These guys have a relationship that’s rare in today’s time. They don’t just work hard—they work together. They’ve been communicating and pushing each other for years, and you can see how that translates on the field.”

Speaking of communication, we saw Texas defense and secondary, especially communicating in such a high level last season which was a complete 180 for where it was in years prior. 

Each player brings something unique to the group, creating a balance that makes them so effective.

“Barron is the emotional leader, the alpha rah-rah guy who knows he’s the man. He brings the high-energy presence who rallies his teammates,” said Bam. “Mukuba is the technician, always focused on the details and refining his craft. He is the quiet go to work guy”.

Taaffe, meanwhile, is the brains of the operation, bringing an analytical approach to the game.

“He’s so smart and understands what the offenses are trying to do which allows him to help line others up for success pre snap and put himself in position to make plays as we saw last season. When you put those three things together, that’s special. They’ve developed a chemistry that’s hard to find at this level.”

That type of continuity is becoming increasingly rare in today’s college football landscape. With the transfer portal constantly reshaping rosters, building a cohesive secondary is a major challenge for coaching staffs. Bam believes that’s why the success of Barron, Mukuba, and Taaffe stands out.

“Teams are trying to build chemistry with guys who are only on campus for three or four years,” Bam noted. “But with the portal and kids leaving, it’s tough. That’s what made those three unique. They’ve played together, studied together, and trained together for years. That type of connection doesn’t just happen overnight.”

Now, younger Texas defensive backs and other Texas players  are following that blueprint. Anthony Hill, Kobe Black, Jelani McDonald, Warren Roberson, and Elijah Barnes have all started working with Bam this offseason, looking to refine their skills and build that same type of chemistry.

“The best part is these guys want to put in extra work,” Bam said. “We don’t just work on drills—we go through the schemes Texas runs, we watch film together, and we even bring in local receivers to run certain concepts against them. That way, when they hit the field, they’re already in sync.”

The ability to put in those extra hours is critical, and now, Bam is in an even better position to help these players take their game to the next level. With access to Texas’ facilities, he’s able to reinforce what’s being taught by the coaching staff while providing additional development time that the NCAA limits during official team activities.

“Texas has great coaches like Terry Joseph and, before he left, Blake Gideon,” Bam said. “But NCAA rules limit how much time they can spend developing players. That’s where I come in—I reinforce what’s being taught and give these guys extra hours to perfect it.”

With a combination of elite coaching, private training, and a group of players committed to putting in the work, Texas’ secondary and defense is in a great position moving forward. If this offseason is any indication, the next wave of DBU is already being built.

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“The guys who are putting in the extra work now? You’re going to see the difference this season,” Bam said.

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