Texas' Defensive Back Depth Sets The Longhorns Apart in 2025

On a Texas defensive roster regarded as one of the deepest in recent memory, the 2025 Texas secondary stands out as one of the most loaded units in all of college football.

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While Penn State boasts a fantastic offensive line, Ohio State has its usual embarrassment of riches at WR, and Clemson’s defensive line may feature two top-10 picks, Texas’ secondary showcases a mix of returning All-Americans, emerging stars, and a wealth of depth behind them.

If you’re an avid reader of this website, you would have seen Eric Nahlin’s 10 Best Longhorns After Spring Ball. His source mentioned some obvious names at the top: Colin Simmons, Anthony Hill, and Arch Manning. However, the bottom of the list featured three different defensive backs. No other position group had more than two players on the list, and safety was the only specific position with two players in the top 10.

This is no mistake and shouldn’t come as a surprise to many. The three players ranked at No. 7, 9, and 10 were Michael Taaffe, Jelani McDonald, and Malik Muhammad—three returning veterans from arguably the nation’s best secondary last season.

Even with Jahdae Barron heading to the NFL, Texas returns a PFF All-American in Taaffe, who’s a plug-and-play safety who chose to forgo the NFL for a championship run in Austin.

Longhorn nation…🤘 pic.twitter.com/U8Go2jk0WH

— Michael Taaffe (@MichaelTaaffe4) January 15, 2025

Muhammad is a 1.5-year starter who took over at boundary cornerback due to injuries in 2023 and continued to play both field and boundary corner during his sophomore season. Many fans associate Muhammad with his poor play near the end of the year, particularly in coverage against Arizona State, but here are the facts.

Just six players broke up more passes at the cornerback position than Muhammad in 2024. Of the 39 cornerbacks targeted 60 or more times that season, Muhammad was one of only nine to allow receptions on 50% or fewer of those targets. He was targeted frequently, unsurprising given that the Thorpe winner was on the opposite side and it was Muhammad’s first full season starting. The talent is immense for the South Oak Cliff product.

McDonald is entering his first full season as a starter, but, like Muhammad a year ago, he isn’t lacking in experience. He was a key piece of last season’s defense following Derek Williams‘ injury and may be the most physical player in the group.

Speaking of Williams, he may be the most important piece of the entire defensive back equation. Despite being a true safety, his health will likely determine who plays nickel cornerback. If Williams can play Week 1, McDonald will likely take on the big Star role, allowing Jaylon Guilbeau to focus on playing outside full-time and following in Barron’s footsteps.

Texas hopes to play its main returners alongside Kobe Black, a former top-50 recruit, and Jordon Johnson-Rubell, a high-motor safety who has already greatly outperformed his three-star rating from last year’s class. That group alone gives Texas seven strong options, but the depth doesn’t end there.

At cornerback, Warren Roberson, one of the biggest camp standouts according to Nahlin, is expected to elevate his play on special teams and push for snaps on the field. Pair that with Wardell Mack, the next man up at nickel cornerback, whether in 2025 or 2026, and Santana Wilson, another second-year player who could also contribute in 2025.

At safety, Xavier Filsaime has been quiet since arriving on campus last season as a five-star recruit, but talent is talent, and he is yet another fantastic athlete in this group.

Beyond those 11, Texas added the best defensive back class in the nation. Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips will be hard to keep off the field next season and could play significant roles in 2025. And, of course, there’s Jonah Williams, who spent this weekend getting swept by Arkansas with Texas Baseball but will soon take the gridiron. With his 6-foot-3 frame and track speed, he will be difficult to keep off the field.

Even with Zelus Hicks and Caleb Chester potentially redshirting this season, Texas may call upon 14 different defensive backs in 2025. IT has been emphasizing this offseason that it could be a record year for participation in the secondary, and as you review the list of names, it’s easy to see why. Jonah Williams and Phillips not making the two-deep feels like a crime given their recruiting pedigrees, but that speaks to how strong this group is.

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The depth is undeniable. What remains to be seen is whether players like Muhammad and Guilbeau can replicate the level of coverage and run support Barron provided during his Thorpe Award season. Still, returning five starting-caliber players highlights how high this team’s floor is, and another year of development under new DB coaches Mark Orphey and Duane Akina should elevate the ceiling to match the heights of 2024.