Johnny Nansen already making an impact on Longhorn linebackers

A few days after Texas’ loss to the Washington Huskies in the Sugar Bowl, Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorn football program finalized the hire of Arizona defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen to replace Jeff Choate as UT’s linebackers coach.

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Nansen and Sarkisian go way back, all the way to Sark’s days at Washington. So it makes sense that their visions aligned when it came to how they want the position coached.

“He brings an aggressive, physical and disciplined style of football, his players play fast, relentless and tough, and he’s had success everywhere he’s been,” Sarkisian said of Nansen in January. “And on top of that, he’s a great man who builds awesome relationships with his players and is passionate about the game.”

Said Nansen in the UT press release announcing his hire, “Sark says it all the time, and I’ve carried that with me – successful teams play fast, physical, smart football, and have a passion for the game. That’s how I coach. Our players will understand why and how they do things. I’m big on developing players, and that’s one of the things that intrigued me the most about coming to Texas, having the opportunity to work with elite athletes and helping them develop as players and people.”

Thus far through the Longhorns’ slate of spring practices, the alignment Nansen and Sarkisian have on linebacking has translated to the players.

“His intensity is a lot different,” Anthony Hill Jr. said on April 4. “It’s kind of helped us pick it up a little bit more. He’s so football smart, I feel like I’ve gotten so much better since he’s been here just being on the board, working football, talking football, and going over coverages.

Added David Gbenda, “Coach Nansen has been a real great, new burst of energy, just teaching us new things. There’s always so much more you can learn and Coach Nansen has been stretching me on and off the field, getting me on the board, allowing me to learn the X’s and O’s but also allowing me to tap more into my tank. He’s telling me to burst to the ball, teaching me more technique, and he’s harping on the little things and little details.”

It’s an important offseason for the Longhorn linebackers. Jaylan Ford, after three quality seasons manning the Mike linebacker spot, is off to the NFL. Gbenda has played some Mike for Pete Kwiatkowski, but Hill Jr. has been groomed for the role and is using these spring practices to nail the ins and outs of the position.

Mike asks a lot not only in run defense but also in pass coverage. So far, so good in learning the new spot for the former five-star defender.

“It hasn’t been too much of an adjustment,” Hill Jr. said. “I feel like I covered a decent amount last year, but just being more to the field and seeing more receivers, dropping to the hash, stuff like that, it’s been a little different. But I’ve been coming along throughout spring ball and I feel like I’ve been getting better at that every day.”

Last season under Nansen’s coordination, the Wildcats allowed 5.44 yards per play. That was a massive improvement over their 2022 standing in the same category. Arizona was No. 126 out of 131 teams in yards per play allowed, giving up 6.59 yards every snap. Only Vanderbilt and Colorado were worse among Power Conference schools.

The U of A effort was spearheaded by linebacker Jacob Manu, who earned first-team All-Pac 12 honors after tallying 116 tackles in 13 starts.

Nansen’s responsibility this upcoming season is to get the best out of Gbenda, Hill, Liona Lefau, Kendrick Blackshire, Derion Gullette, and others like he got the best out of Manu. Unlike his time in Tucson, Ariz., Nansen won’t be charged with calling plays. His influence will be felt on Texas’ schemes, but the linebacker position will draw most of his attention.

In the opportunities Nansen has had thus far with the Longhorn linebackers, he’s been direct as described in the January press release. That attitude has been welcomed by the current players, who can already see the positive effects stemming from Nansen’s addition.

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“He’s like me, he’s just straight go,” Gbenda said. “He brings a burst of energy to it. I like it. It’s been really refreshing and good.”