Skip to main content
texas logo

What Longhorn defensive draft prospects must accomplish at Tuesday's pro day

by:EvanVieth•03/24/25
Jahdae Barron
Jahdae Barron (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Texas is hosting its annual NFL Draft Pro Day tomorrow afternoon, with scouts from around the league hoping to get a better look at the 20 or so Texas prospects hoping to hear their name called come late April.

[Join Inside Texas TODAY and get FOUR MONTHS for just ONE DOLLAR!]

Many Longhorns, such as CB Jahdae Barron or DT Alfred Collins, have already shown the world their athletic testing and drill work at this year’s NFL Combine, but there are still a few names who have yet to be able to showcase potential skills in front of a large audience. Tuesday is the perfect time for players to either improve a potential first round draft stock, in the case of Barron, or looking to just hear their name called on the last night of the draft.

Here’s a look at the Longhorns’ defensive prospects likely to participate at pro day. The offensive version is here.

Jahdae Barron, CB

At this point in time, it’s no longer a question of whether Barron will be a first round pick, it’s a question of just how high he can go. Barron won’t have much to show scouts, as it’s unlikely he runs another 40 yard dash after a blazing 4.39 time at the combine. Barron’s skillset is already well documented, but showing off his footwork as an outside cornerback will be his best chance at securing a top-15 selection.

Alfred Collins, DT

The big DT has already proven he’s a giant in the run game, measuring in at 6-foot-5 and 332 pounds at the combine, both 95th percentile measurements. Collins’ work at this pro day will mostly be on the relationship side of things. His stock can’t rise much more as a run stuffer, and his pass rush prowess will never be his biggest strength, but he could earn himself more money by saying the right things to the right teams that are picking in the late first, early second range. Hello, Kansas City.

Andrew Mukuba, S

Mukuba’s Pro Day will be all about measurements. He showed off surprising top speed with a 4.45 40 at the combine, but weighing in at 186 pounds will hurt his draft stock. The tape shows he can lay some punishment in the short pass or outside run game, but at sub-190 pounds some NFL teams may be cautious of using a second round pick on him. Getting closer to 200 pounds while continuing to play fast is a must for Mukuba.

Barryn Sorrell, Edge

We’ve seen a lot of Sorrell this offseason as the sole Longhorn to participate in the Senior Bowl, where he was named one of the top defensive performers of the event. He already has the eighth best athletic score of the edge rusher class, and his draft stock has soared in the calendar year. His Pro Day should be predicated on versatility, focusing on drills that prove he can play as a 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE with his sub-260-pound frame.

Vernon Broughton, DL

Broughton has the chops as a pass rusher, but it’ll be hard to sell himself as a three down player if he can’t clog the running lanes better. He’ll should be focusing on drills that exhibit proficient pad level and strength in the trenches, especially after he didn’t have chance to show off much, if any, of his skills in Indianapolis.

David Gbenda, LB

Gbenda was oddly not invited to the Combine, a bad look for his draft stock, but all is not lost for the athletic LB. Gbenda is sideline-to-sideline fast, and he should be doing as many workouts as possible that exhibit his speed. Seventh round is the goal, but he’ll be a high-priority UDFA at worst. LB is a hard position for NFL teams to scout, but his speed will test well and show up on tape.

Jermayne Lole, DT

Lole also wasn’t invited to the combine but did show off some strong tape in big games last season. He was 6-foot-3, 315 pounds during the 2024 season. Can that 315 turn into 330 and show some value as an interior clogger? Lole’s measurements will be important, as the tape speaks for itself after six years in college football.

Gavin Holmes, CB

Holmes is a likely UDFA who spent most of his time in Texas as the third CB. Holmes has some speed to his name, but it’s not his main calling card. Exhibiting elite jumps (both in the vertical and broad) will prove he has explosiveness, and teams that are already looking at Barron may end up impressed by his foot speed on boundary-oriented drills.

Bill Norton, DL

Norton is a giant in the trenches, a whole three inches taller and 20 pounds heavier than Lole played last season. Norton doesn’t have the impressive tape that Lole does, but his value is mostly correlated with being large in the trenches. He’s a UDFA-type as well, so he just needs to be above average in the general agility drills to spark some interest.

[Order THE LONGHORN ALPHABET today and teach your little ones the A to Z’s of Texas Football!]

Morice Blackwell, LB

Blackwell has always been a little undersized at LB as a former safety convert. Is there a chance he tries out as a box safety? He’ll need to pick a side. Bulk up at LB, or prove he has the speed to play a large, box safety roll. Speed and hitting power will consistently be important, as will tackling, as teams will like his past as a key special teamer. That’s his role in the NFL, at least at the moment.

You may also like