How Texas plans to handle the upcoming first-half test of defensive tackle depth

After an undisciplined roughing the passer turned targeting penalty pushed defensive tackle Vernon Broughton to the sideline for the final minutes of the Vanderbilt game, the Longhorns didn’t need to do much to make up for the loss of one of the team’s best players. 

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Jermayne Lole occupied the spot that Broughton fills and contributed to the Longhorns escape of Nashville with a win. But eyes shifted toward the week following the bye once Texas returned home. The targeting penalty not only took Broughton out of the game against Vanderbilt, but also keeps him sidelined for the first half of the Florida game this weekend.

NCAA rules specify that if a player is flagged for targeting in the second half of a game, he must sit out the ensuing first 30 minutes of the next contest. Broughton’s fourth quarter penalty will test the depth of the Longhorns’ front early against a Florida team that possesses large humans in its own offensive line.

Broughton has been a staple of the Longhorn defense so far, registering 284 snaps (8th on the team) and 10 QB hurries with the eighth-highest PFF grade on the defense among 19 players with 100 snaps. Texas made a significant effort this offseason to rebuild the team’s defensive line following the departures of T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy, welcoming three transfers to bolster the depth behind Broughton and emerging star Alfred Collins.

With Broughton out for the first half of the game, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian explained how those transfers and other depth pieces would be key in helping the Longhorns navigate the suspension.

“I think about that all the time. I know that you’re like, why would you think about it? Because it still is on your mind,” Sarkisian said Monday. “Vernon’s practicing as normal. You know, I think it’s a great opportunity. Jermayne Lole has really come on here in the last month of the season, and so we’ve been impressed with him. Bill Norton has stepped up. Alex January has continued to step up. Tia Savea, we’re going to need more out of him.”

Lole stands out as the key piece to the puzzle for filling the gap that Broughton usually held. Lole averaged just 19 snaps in the first four weeks of the season but has registered 40 and 39 snaps in the last two games against Georgia and Vanderbilt, respectively. The promotion has been more than warranted, as the tackle was a force in run defense against the Bulldogs and registered a TFL against Vanderbilt.

“We’re going to need the complete player in Jermayne,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “Florida’s got a really physical offensive line, they’re a physical running football team. So, first and foremost, our ability to stop the run is going to be critical Saturday, and he’s got to play a big part in that.”

Broughton usually lines up in the B-gap or occasionally over the offensive tackle. Lole has been moved around, playing over the A-gap (76 snaps) and in the B-gap (87 snaps) so spelling Broughton shouldn’t be a major adjustment.

Norton spends 58% of his time as the nose tackle and usually plays around 20 snaps a game behind Collins. Those two should be able to handle increased responsibilities.

Where the depth will be stressed is with the last two players in Sarkisian’s earlier statement. Broughton has played 29% of the total defensive line snaps (usually Texas has two or three in on each play), meaning that roughly 8-12 first half snaps usually manned by Norton and Lole will have to be filled by two players who haven’t seen much playing time this season: January and Savea.

January seems to be the player to watch. He’s played 62 snaps this year, most of which came against Oklahoma where he performed well in the run game. He didn’t play against Georgia but registered two snaps against Vanderbilt. January, a true freshman from Duncanville (Texas), and Savea, an Arizona transfer who has played in just three games this season, will fill those small number of snaps. The nod seems most likely to go to January, who has performed when called upon and plays closer to the role that Broughton usually fills. 

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Broughton’s suspension does put a bit of stress on the Texas defensive line unit against a strong running game, but that’s exactly why Sarkisian and defensive line coach Kenny Baker brought in three transfers and a talented freshman for depth.