Through the Longhorns’ first three games of the season, defense has been a strength. They have been led by a couple of familiar faces and new stars. One player who has stood out so far is sophomore linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith, who is on pace to have a career year. In his second college season, Smith has been a bright spot.
In three games, Smith has recorded 12 total tackles and forced one fumble. The Texas native has also added one sack to his resume after recording half a sack during his freshman campaign. Regardless of the opponent, Smith has made the most of his playing time before conference play starts.
While it is only a small sample size, Smith is on pace to surpass his numbers from last year. During his freshman campaign, the Longhorns’ emerging star recorded 16 total tackles and one interception. He has gotten more playing time during the 2025 campaign and is making the most of it.
After an impressive spring, Smith has shown that he can be an impact piece on defense. That is an encouraging sign for a Longhorns roster that already includes Anthony Hill Jr. and Colin Simmons. Having a player like Smith, who offensive coordinators have to worry about, makes the Longhorns a tough team to plan against.
Over the next few weeks, Smith will be a player to keep an eye on. After this week against Sam Houston, the Longhorns’ schedule gets a lot tougher. The next month includes matchups with Florida, Kentucky, and No.11 Oklahoma. If Smith can build on his hot start, the defense will get an extra boost.
With the regular season far from over, Smith is poised to make his sophomore campaign one he will never forget.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas Football LB Ty’Anthony Smith is on pace to have a career year
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
