Texas' sixth- and seventh-year players got the most out of college football

Texas defensive tackle Bill Norton and linebacker David Gbenda were members of the class of 2019. Defensive tackle Jermayne Lole is a seventh-year senior from the class of 2018. So of course, they hear the ‘old man’ jokes.

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“I don’t get it as bad as Jermayne gets it,” Norton said. Monday. “Jermayne gets it way worse than me. He’s a few months older than me. Jermayne gets it a little more than I do. It’s unique in the world of college football. Being 24 years old playing with 18-year-olds is weird.”

It’s weird, but it’s what Texas’ trio of sixth- and seventh- year seniors chose to do for the 2024 season. That length of time in a football program is not common in the sport’s history, save for the past few years. It will once again become a relic of the COVID era once those players who were afforded an extra season of eligibility by the NCAA as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic move on to professional careers.

Six or seven years a lot of time to make things happen. Did that trio get the most out of college football as a result? All three gave the same strong yes.

“I feel like I did,” Gbenda said. “I met a lot of great people and learned a lot on and off the field. I also got my degree, which I’m very thankful for as well. I’m very happy with my decision and thankful for the university and the opportunity I had.”

Gbenda, who has 56 tackles this year with 5.0 for loss, 1.0 sack, and one forced fumble, has been at Texas since 2019 when he joined Tom Herman‘s program. He found playing time quickly and has been a regular contributor on Texas’ defense since.

The paths were different for Norton and Lole, yet they said Monday they felt like Texas gave them the chance to achieve exactly what they were looking for in the next and likely final step of their collegiate careers.

“I think I couldn’t have taken a better route,” Norton said. “I think everything happened for a reason. I think I’ve definitely maximized every bit of it, being back in the playoffs now. This is a good way to end it out, and we’re looking forward to keeping this thing going.”

Norton began his career at Georgia and was on the Bulldogs’ back-to-back national championship teams in 2021 and 2022. He left Athens for Arizona and played on the Wildcats 2023 team before entering the portal in search of his third school.

Texas quickly checked all of his boxes, especially with the presence of defensive line coach Kenny Baker and linebackers coach Johnny Nansen.

“Everything I had heard being in the portal and talking to Coach Baker, everything drew me to him,” Norton said. “As well as Coach Nansen, who was our defensive coordinator at Arizona. I loved being with him last year. Hearing there was an opportunity to come here at Texas, and I knew the history of the program and I’ve always wanted to be involved in a Texas-type program. Coming here was almost a no-brainer.”

Norton has 13 tackles this year with 1.5 for loss plus 1.0 sack, but no tackle may have been more important than his goal-line stuff of Clemson during the Longhorns’ win in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff.

The Goal Line Stand (Pt. 2) pic.twitter.com/1hadPap2fb

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 23, 2024

“That’s one of those plays you dream of,” Norton said. “That’s one of those plays you’re going to remember forever. It happened at the right time and I’m thankful for it.”

Lole is likely the oldest player on the team, especially if he has a few months on Norton. He started his career at Arizona State, transferred to Louisville, and then moved to Texas in order to be a bit closer to the West Coast.

Injuries have marred Lole’s career, but he’s remained healthy in 2024 and been a key part of the Longhorn defense with 30 tackles including 3.0 for loss.

College football is a tough business, especially now with Texas preparing to play the 15th game of the season, which would be the most in school history. They want to play not just this upcoming matchup with Arizona State, but then two more after that on the way to a national championship.

Those bumps, bruises, breaks, tears, strains, and sprains are tough. So are the long hours in the facility, preparing for opponents, going through workouts, and being away from what so many other college students get to experience.

It’s incredibly rewarding as well. It creates educational opportunities. And now with NIL, financial ones too. Bonds are built, connections are made, and it’s not bad to have 100,000 people supporting you through thick and thin.

For Lole, his sentiments were similar to Gbenda’s and Norton’s. They all got the most out of college football. But they want more.

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“For sure,” Lole said. “Especially coming here with what we can do here. It doesn’t get any better than this.”