Kenny Baker brings technical expertise to a DT room oozing with confidence
Vernon Broughton had to stop and think for a second on Tuesday when asked what the difference is between his former defensive line coach Bo Davis and his current one in Kenny Baker.
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Baker is Broughton’s third position coach since his career began in 2020. That season, Oscar Giles and Mark Hagen were responsible for Broughton’s development. In 2021, Steve Sarkisian brought in Davis, who remained at Texas until leaving for LSU after the 2023 season. Baker, who was an assistant defensive line coach with the Miami Dolphins, was picked by Sarkisian to replace Davis.
So what is it about Davis that’s different?
“Coach Baker, I’d say he’s more technical,” Broughton said Tuesday. “Hands. Footwork. He’s more technical. He never lets that get by. He’s more technical.”
That was something also mentioned by fellow defensive tackle Alfred Collins at the beginning of camp.
“I’ve been focused more on the little minute details,” Collins said August 1. “Coach Baker harps on that. Footwork, all that, he makes sure he makes things perfect.”
Most coaches would want to believe they are good instructors and can help their charges with the finer details of the game. Broughton was asked on Tuesday for a specific example that supports his claim about Baker.
“Let’s say I’m a 3-tech, I’m a right shade, right 3-tech and I step with my left foot first?” Broughton said. “He would coach all that. If my hands aren’t in his chest or outside the pad, he coaches all that which I love. I needed that. That’s improved my game so much, and I appreciate him for that.”
Baker will be tasked with making sure the Longhorn run defense doesn’t have too precipitous of a drop with the departure of Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat to the NFL. Those two helped Texas boast the No. 3 run defense in the nation last year behind only UCLA and Penn State.
That’s part of Baker’s job, but the players have taken it upon themselves to make sure there’s no major drop-off without two All-Americans at defensive tackle.
“Honestly, because Sweat and Murph have set a standard here, and years before them (Keondre) Coburn and all them, we’ve decided to keep that going and keep that same mentality of being dominant and just doing what we’ve got to do,” Broughton said.
The Longhorns welcomed several transfers to the defensive tackle room to maintain that standard. Arizona’s Tia Savea joined the program after the 2023 season and his teammate Bill Norton followed in the spring portal window. Jermayne Lole was flipped from Oklahoma to make it three more “big humans” available for Baker to use.
All three have fit in well into Baker’s room.
“Those are great guys,” Broughton said. “They love being here. They work really well. We have gotten really close. Usually guys that are coming in and transferring in, usually they want to stick by themselves. We have gotten real close with them dudes. They’re good teammates and work really hard.”
Broughton and Collins have seen a lot during their time on the 40 Acres. Most of their time has been spent waiting for their opportunity.
That’s taken maturity, something Broughton believes is abundant in the locker room.
“I’ve been here through different coaches. I would say football wise, the locker room has gotten more mature,” Broughton said. “As years go by, from my first year being here to now, everybody is way mature and locked in as a unit.”
That mature locker room and defensive tackle group had to adjust to welcoming a new position coach and three new players. Amidst all the change, that position that struck fear into opposing offenses last year does not lack for confidence.
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“We can make some noise as well,” Collins said.
