T'Vondre Sweat wins the Outland Trophy
He made ’em sweat all year and now has been rewarded for his efforts. Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat was awarded the Outland Trophy by the Football Writers Association of America on Friday night. The Outland Trophy honors the best interior lineman in college football.
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Sweat joins Scott Appleton (1963), Tommy Nobis (1965), and Brad Shearer (1977) as Longhorns to be honored as the nation’s top interior lineman. Sweat was chosen for the award over Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe and Notre Dame’s Joe Alt.
He said in November to win the Outland would be “the best feeling ever.” He’s accomplished it and joined elite Longhorn company in the process.
Sweat, a fifth-year defensive lineman out of Huntsville, Texas, adds the Outland to All-America honors gained in the past few days. The Athletic, CBS Sports, USA Today, and Sports Illustrated named him a first-team All-American. NCAA recognized selectors such as the Associated Press, the American Football Coaches Association, the FWAA, Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation determine whether a player has consensus (three-of-five) or unanimous (all five) All-American status. Should three selectors pick Sweat, he would become the 63rd consensus All-American in program history.
As one-half of the Longhorns’ elite defensive tackle tandem along with Byron Murphy, Sweat terrorized defenses on a down-to-down basis throughout the 2023 season. The 6-foot-4, 362-pounder recorded 42 tackles this year with 8.0 for loss and 2.0 sacks. He also had seven quarterback hurries, four pass breakups, and blocked an extra point versus Iowa State that was returned for two points.
Sweat also made contributions on the offensive side of the football, functioning as a fullback or tight end in the Longhorns’ goal line sets. He caught a two-yard touchdown pass versus Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship, joining Murphy in the company of Longhorn linemen to record an offensive score.
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During the Longhorns’ matchup with Kansas State, Sweat helped the Longhorns limit the Wildcats to 30 yards rushing. He often lined up against fellow finalist Beebe and earned an 89.3 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus for that game. Sweat was PFF’s top graded defensive tackle in 2023 with a season-long grade of 91.8. That stood a full point better than Murphy’s 90.8 at No. 2.
“I feel like it’s amazing,” Sweat said on November 27. “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.”
A member of the Longhorns’ class of 2019, Sweat elected to return to Texas for his extra year of eligibility afforded by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has appeared in every game since arriving on campus. The Sugar Bowl will be his 62nd in a Longhorn uniform.
In recent weeks, Sweat spoke to how the Big 12 title was his sole goal and that any individual accomplishments that followed would be welcome. He’s now obtained both with a shot at the national championship up for grabs in New Orleans on January 1 when the Longhorns battle the Washington Huskies in the Sugar Bowl.
