Jahdae Barron stars at Star for the Texas defense

Jahdae Barron plays one of the toughest positions in football. As the third corner in Texas’ 2-4-5 defensive scheme, a position called Star in Pete Kwiatkowski‘s defense, Barron plays a critical role in defending against the run and the pass.

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Barron, a senior from nearby Pflugerville, has starred at Star this year. His 35 tackles are second on the team. He’s logged 2.5 tackles for loss, intercepted Jalen Milroe in the Longhorns’ win over Alabama, and has recovered a fumble along with breaking up two passes.

One of those PBUs came late Saturday versus Houston, and it occurred after Barron saw limited to no action in the first half. Barron didn’t say Monday why Jaylon Guilbeau was in his place to start things off versus the Cougars. But after injuries affected the quality of the Longhorn secondary, the Texas coaches knew they needed No. 23’s services.

“Coach grabbed me to the side and said to make sure I go get taped at halftime,” Barron said.

Barron recorded three tackles in the second half in addition to his crucial pass breakup. He made an adjustment on the game-deciding play, something others in the secondary had failed to do all game. The Longhorns had been killed by Houston pick routes, and Barron saw exactly the path he needed to take to the football to turn the Cougars over on downs and secure a bounce back victory for the Longhorns.

“I knew it was a pick route once (I saw) the motion,” Barron said. “We could have done several things. We stayed in man, but we could have played the different scenario. We could have switched it, but when you switch things can get into a little miscommunication. I just had to stay over the top and make sure I stayed inside. Luckily the quarterback threw a little bad ball, but it helped me for a PBU.”

Barron has made critical play after critical play all season, not just against the Cougars. He’s excelled at a spot that’s the hinge point of the Texas defense. His experience, football IQ, and veteran presence make a lot of different things possible for the Texas defense.

“When we can play him at Star, I think that allows for his versatility to show up,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday. “We can play him in man coverage. We can play him in zone. He’s really good on the perimeter on a lot of the perimeter screens. His recognition of concepts that are coming, like the fourth down play to get over the top when they were trying to pick him, I thought was big. His blitz ability. All those things allows us to utilize those strengths.”

A lot of the plays Barron makes does not end up in the stat sheet. Sometimes he’ll set the edge, sometimes he’s denying a receiver. The things his position asks him to do are difficult, more difficult than those at corner in his mind.

“In my opinion, I think Star is harder,” Barron said. “I’m in a run fit. If I’m in man guarding a slot, they have a two-way go. Typically, when you’re playing corner, the sideline is my friend. There are certain routes they can’t run. Nickel, you get a whole package of posts, corners, boomerang, and those things. I’d say slot is pretty hard.”

It’s a position Barron has been asked to play a lot this season. After a 14-snap performance versus Rice while he was nursing preseason bumps and bruises, Barron saw 51 snaps against Alabama, 35 versus Wyoming, 26 versus Baylor, 36 versus Kansas, then a whopping 82 versus the Oklahoma Sooners. In the second half against Houston, Barron saw 38 snaps in relief duty.

“I just put the trust in my coaches for even allowing me to still go out there and do what I’m capable to do,” Barron said. “Hats off to them and God for keeping me safe out there.”

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Barron playing in the second half was a massive boost for Texas. Starting defensive backs Ryan Watts and Jalen Catalon were not available, and the Longhorns’ depth was tested. Houston scored 14 first-half points in Barron’s absence. After his arrival, the Cougars managed to put just 10 on the scoreboard.

Barron’s ability at Star to communicate, cover, converge on the ball-carrier and tackle has helped Texas boast one of the better defensive units in the conference. Whether a physical ailment or opponents trying to put him in conflict, Barron has battled through it all and become a defensive star in the process.