Through the first few weeks of the college football season, the Longhorns’ offensive struggles have gotten a lot of focus. While they have failed to live up to expectations so far, there are some positives to focus on. That includes the defense, which has been stellar through three games.
As the Longhorns have gone 2-1, the defense has only allowed 24 points. In that span, they have forced six turnovers, including three interceptions. They have been led by Graceson Littleton and Jaylon Gailbeau, who have excelled at forcing their opponents to make a mistake.
While the Longhorns’ defenders have been turnover machines, they have also been able to get to the quarterback. Five different players have at least one sack, with stars such as Colin Simmons just getting warmed up. With some of their key pieces not yet in midseason form, this group should continue to improve as conference play approaches.
What has stood out the most about Texas’s hot start is its ability to impact the running and passing game. They have not allowed more than 209 passing yards in a game, and have also been hard to run against. Regardless of who they have had to play, Texas shut down each team’s playmakers.
With only one game left in their non-conference slate, the competition is about to get more challenging. Over the next month, they will face Florida, Kentucky, and No.11 Oklahoma. That will provide Texas with good opportunities to show that its impressive start is no fluke.
On Saturday, they should be able to build on their success against Sam Houston and continue to rank among the best in the SEC.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas Longhorns defense proving to be one of the nations’s best
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
