Who's next at defensive tackle for Texas?

T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy are off to the NFL, taking with them a combined 941 snaps, 74 tackles, 16.5 TFL, 7.0 sacks, and over 600 pounds of human presence that anchored the No. 3 rush defense in the nation in 2023.

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Texas likes to rotate defensive tackles to make sure that the front line guys, like Murphy and Sweat in 2023 and Moro Ojomo and Keondre Coburn in 2022, are able to offer effective play even in the fourth quarter of games in the Texas and southern heat.

Alfred Collins, who tallied 357 snaps in 2023, plus Vernon Broughton, on the field for 335 snaps last season, are in line to step into the roles left vacant by Sweat and Murphy. But for Texas to have the ability to rotate, a number of players either younger, unproven, or fresh on the 40 Acres will have to make their presence known beginning with spring practices.

On Tuesday, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was confident that Collins and Broughton, both fifth-year seniors, would be more than adequate replacements for the Outland Trophy winner in Sweat and the Big 12 defensive lineman of the year in Murphy.

“We have probably a little more experience than maybe people will want to give us credit for,” Sarkisian said. “Alfred is a very talented player who has matured from one year to the next to the next. He continues on the progression that he’s on, he’s poised to have a great year. I think Vernon Broughton, again, another one of those guys. They gave us a lot of quality reps the last two seasons, I think now more than ever they’re poised to step into that role.”

There’s no intrigue at the top, but who works with them is a question that remains.

One likely answer is Tiaoalii Savea, a transfer from Arizona who has played for new Texas co-defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen for each of the last three seasons, whether that was at Arizona like in 2022 and 2023 or at UCLA in 2021. The way Sarkisian referenced Savea on Tuesday made it sound like he has a solid grasp on that spot after recording 22 tackles, 6.0 TFL, and 1.5 sacks last year for the resurgent Wildcats.

“Tia Savea, he’s played a lot of football,” Sarkisian said. “He played a lot of football at Arizona. To have that experience of those three guys is helpful.”

After that? Sarkisian mentioned three players who were been on the field for 136 total snaps last year.

First mentioned among “young, talented players” was Jaray Bledsoe. A redshirt sophomore from Marlin, the 6-foot-4, 293-pound Bledsoe has been praised for his remarkable athleticism despite his relative inexperience. He’s only played in nine games in his Texas career and has five total tackles to his name. However, he has seen snaps in some very meaningful moments, including on the play when Anthony Hill Jr. sacked Jalen Milroe for the second time at Alabama. That turned out to be the Crimson Tide’s final offensive snap of the game.

The second name out of Sarkisian’s mouth was Aaron Bryant, a 6-foot-2, 307-pound redshirt sophomore from Southaven, Miss. Bryant has also appeared in nine games and has one tackle to his name.

“I think Jaray Bledsoe is an extremely talented young player who’s going into year three now,” Sarkisian said. “I think Aaron Bryant is another guy that’s now going to start to give us some of those reps that Alfred and Vernon gave us the last couple of years.”

Other names Texas will look toward to bolster the defensive tackle position include redshirt freshman Sydir Mitchell, sophomore Zac Swanson, and true freshman Alex January.

January was unique among that group in earning mention by Sarkisian. “I think off first glance, Alex January is a guy who has been impressive early on, in offseason workouts, in conditioning, and things,” Sarkisian said.

The list of candidates for playing time in Texas’ defensive tackle rotation may not be totally proven at the SEC level, but Sarkisian has faith that a process that’s produced positive outcomes during his Texas tenure will do so once again.

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“I think we’ve got a really good mix of older, veteran players who are ready for their time, similar to Sweat and similar to Murphy,” Sarkisian said. “When Moro and Coburn left, they stepped into that role. Now, it’s that next phase. It’s that natural progression of guys moving through the program.“