Outland finalist T'Vondre Sweat, honored by individual accolades, returned to Texas for a Big 12 title
Dominant defensive tackles are a sight to see in college football, and Texas has one in T’Vondre Sweat.
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The 6-foot-4, 362-pounder has terrorized offensive lines opposite him all year. In the middle of the defensive line for Texas, Sweat has anchored nation’s fifth best rushing defense, the top third down defense, and one of the best red zone defenses in the sport.
His standout play with 40 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, seven hurries, four pass breakups, and a blocked kick not only has been key in getting the Longhorns back to the Big 12 Championship game, it also has him up for a number of individual honors.
But awards are not why Sweat came back to Texas. The Huntsville native who said he listens to Luke Combs to get into his game day mentality wants to leave Austin with hardware of the team variety before heading to the NFL draft in April.
The Longhorns are in the title game, their last chance at a Big 12 Championship before heading to the Southeastern Conference, in large part because of Sweat’s individual efforts. His standout season that has him up for the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, the Bednarik Award, and the Outland Trophy is a major factor in the Longhorns’ 11-1 record and College Football Playoff contention.
Sweat could join Scott Appleton, Tommy Nobis, and Brad Shearer as Outland Trophy winners as Sweat was named an Outland finalist on Tuesday. Plus, a few of his teammates already think the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award belongs to No. 93.
“Are you Sweating?” Jahdae Barron joked on Monday when presented with the question.
Jaylan Ford agreed: “Go ahead and give it to T’Vondre Sweat.”
To earn those honors, it takes an elite skill set.
“Sweat has got such athleticism for a big man and can impact the game in a variety of ways,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday. “He can rush the passer. He can defend the run and make critical plays on a lot of these fourth down stops and third down stops. He gets his hands on the ball when he isn’t able to get into the backfield. He’s got a lot of tipped and batted balls.”
Sweat put it this way: “I’m just like a big old tank.”
But as mentioned the individual honors come after the team honors for Sweat. The chance at a conference championship is his focus as he seeks to dominate one more Big 12 offensive line.
“To me, it ain’t no surprise,” Sweat said about his season. “I feel like it’s no surprise. I feel like this is why I came back. I was coming back to win the Big 12, and now I’ve got an opportunity to win it and showcase I can be that guy. Now, people see it.”
How did Sweat reach this point? A three-star prospect who, depending on where one looks, weighed between 250 and 260 pounds during most of his Huntsville High School career chose the Longhorns over offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, Ole Miss, Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M among others.
Sweat, a self-described mama’s boy and jokester, wanted to be close to home but not too close to home for college. Austin’s proximity to Huntsville, and another Longhorn legend, helped him make his decision.
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“My real reason I came to Texas (was) I thought I was going to get to meet (Kevin Durant),” Sweat said. “I still haven’t met KD.”
From there, to put it lightly, he grew into a defensive tackle.
Texas listed him at 6-foot-4, 285 pounds on signing day in 2018. In 2019, he was listed at 320 pounds. That rose steadily until he played at a mountainous 362 pounds in 2023, well over 100 pounds from his weight at the height of his recruitment. To get to that point, Sweat credited Texas’ nutrition program.
“I was a small little guy, but once you come to eat they’ve got all the food you can eat,” Sweat said. “I took advantage.”
Changes in schemes and coaches made development tough for Sweat. At times early in his career, he played end in an odd front. At other times, he rotated at tackle in an even front. He was part of the struggles of the entire Texas defense in 2021, but under Bo Davis‘ tutelage Sweat hit his stride in 2022 before posting his memorable 2023.
“I feel like it’s amazing,” Sweat said. “I give all kudos to Coach Davis. I know he ain’t going to like it, but without that guy teaching me stuff I know I wouldn’t be up for that. If I didn’t believe in Coach Sark, I feel like I wouldn’t be up for all that.”
Describing his super-senior season as a “contract year,” Sweat could join the company of legendary Texas football players like Appleton, Nobis, and Shearer as Outland winners. Individual accolades weren’t his focus on Monday, but he acknowledged how special it would by to join that group.
“To win that, it would be awesome,” Sweat said. “It would be the best feeling ever.”
But first thing’s first for Sweat: defeating the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Big 12 Championship. To do so will requiring stopping star running back Ollie Gordon. It’s a challenge Sweat came back for his fifth year to face.
“I’m really just worried about winning the Big 12 right now,” Sweat said. “Then, all the other stuff will come.”
