Pro Football Focus' 10 highest graded players on the Texas Longhorns defense

Now that the dust has settled on Texas’ 16-game season, it’s a good time to take a look at who the 10 highest graded players on the Longhorns’ defense were in the 2024 campaign.

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The minimum snap count needed to be considered for this list is 200.

Here’s the offensive version.

10. LB Anthony Hill Jr. – 72.9

Hill earned second-team All-SEC accolades for a campaign where he led Texas in tackles with 113, led in tackles for loss with 16.5, and was second in sacks with 8.0. Hill also forced three fumbles and recorded an interception in a year where he was on the field for 867 snaps.

9. DT Jermayne Lole – 74.8

The super-duper-senior ended up as a valuable flip from Oklahoma in his work behind Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton. Lole logged 37 tackles with 3.5 for loss, and made a number of key plays on fourth-down stops versus Texas A&M, Clemson, and Arizona State. He graded out at 75.7 in run defense.

8. EDGE Trey Moore – 75.0

The UTSA transfer turned it on in the second half of the season, finishing with 36 tackles with 10.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks. He also netted two fumble recoveries and forced three fumbles, once again playing well at a newfound level of competition.

7. LB David Gbenda – 81.7

Gbenda made big plays when it mattered even after he ceded starting Dime linebacker responsibilities to Liona Lefau. Gbenda finished with 61 tackles including 5.0 for loss and one sack. He intercepted Will Howard in the Cotton Bowl and also forced a fumble during the 2024 season. He posted an excellent run defense grade of 84.4.

6. EDGE Colin Simmons – 82.5

The freshman All-SEC selection and On3 True Freshman All-American was a force throughout the season, growing into a major contributor for the Longhorns. His pass-rush grade of 90.0 was the best on the team, and he is slated to strike fear into the hearts of opposing offensive tackles for the next two years. Simmons led Texas with 9.0 sacks and was second in TFL with 14.0. He also had one interception, three forced fumbles, and a number of plays that revealed just how important it is to land five-star pass-rushers.

5. DT Vernon Broughton – 86.1

Broughton graded out as the No. 7 defensive tackle in all of college football that played at least 200 snaps. He was solid in run defense with a grade of 79.1, but even better as a pass rusher with a mark of 86.2. He notched 39 tackles with 4.5 for loss plus 4.0 sacks, and forced three fumbles and recovered two.

4. DT Alfred Collins – 87.2

Just ahead of Broughton was Collins, who finished as PFF’s No. 6 defensive tackle in all of college football. Collins made the most of his fifth season with a high-quality run defense grade of 85.0 and a tackling grade of 79.1. From his defensive tackle position, Collins notched 55 tackles with 5.5 for loss plus one sack. He forced a fumble and blocked a field goal.

3. S Michael Taaffe – 87.9

From walk-on to All-American, Taaffe finished the season as the No. 8 safety according to Pro Football Focus. The heart and soul of the Texas defense, Taaffe posted a pass-rush grade of 86.2 in limited opportunities and a sterling coverage grade of 89.8. Second on the team in Tackles with 78, Taaffe also had 5.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks plus two interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

2. S Andrew Mukuba – 90.0

The Clemson transfer proved to be a crucial addition for the Longhorns. He was a fantastic player in coverage, in run defense, and overall as part of the Longhorns’ run to the College Football Playoff semifinals. He finished third on the team in tackles with 69, logged 4.0 TFL, and was tied for the team lead in interceptions with five. He also earned third-team All-SEC accolades for his incredible season in burnt orange.

1. CB Jahdae Barron – 90.8

Barron was the highest graded cornerback and the No. 12 overall defensive player according to PFF. A consensus All-American and the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner, Barron was undoubtedly the best defensive player for Texas during their first season in the SEC. In addition, the first-team All-SEC selection notched 67 tackles with 2.5 for loss plus one sack. He tied Mukuba in interceptions with five, had a team-high 11 pass breakups, and even recovered a fumble. His coverage grade of 91.3 was first among cornerbacks and No. 6 overall. A truly special player who recorded a truly special season.

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Other PFF accolades

Best run defense grade: Jelani McDonald, 89.1

Best tackling grade: Jahdae Barron, 80.5

• Jordon Johnson-Rubell recorded a tackling grade of 83.3, albeit in 78 defensive snaps

Best pass-rush grade: Colin Simmons, 90.0

Best coverage grade: Jahdae Barron, 91.3

Most snaps: Jahdae Barron, 972