Texas’s pass defense was very bad last season. How bad? The Longhorns had the 127th ranked pass defense, in terms of yards per game, out of 130 FBS programs. However, injuries and inexperience really took a toll on the secondary.
Entering this season, the secondary now has more experience and has new coaches in defensive coordinator Chris Ash and cornerbacks coach Jay Valai. In addition, Ash is a proponent of the 4-3 defensive scheme, which should add more pressure to opposing quarterbacks. Last season, former Longhorns defensive coordinator Todd Orlando utilized a base 3-3-5 scheme and often had to call a blitz in order to get to the opponent’s quarterback.
Despite the lack of success last season, there are reasons to be optimistic. The leader of the secondary, Caden Sterns, has the potential to go in the first round of the NFL Draft. Furthermore, the secondary returns a more experienced group.
Today, we begin to look at the defensive side of the ball and preview the Longhorns’ secondary. Our last position preview looked at the quarterback position.
2020 Secondary Options
CB: D’Shawn Jamison (Junior)
2019 Stats: 35 total tackles, 3 INTs, 3 passes defensed and 1 forced fumble.
Thompson played in the team’s first four games before deciding to burn a redshirt after sustaining an injury. However, Thompson is well in the mix for a starting cornerback job in 2020. Prior to the start of the season, Josh will have to compete with Jalen Green for that title.
CB: Jalen Green (Junior)
2019 Stats: 30 tackles and 5 passes defensed.
Last season, Green started in seven games for the Longhorns. Jalen has the potential to be a great cornerback for the Longhorns, and was the nation’s sixth best cornerback recruit in 2018. In addition, Green stands in at 6’1″, which is a decent size for a defensive back. However, Green must prove to the country why he was so highly touted coming out of high school. Entering this season, don’t be surprised if coaches Jay Valai and Chris Ash are able to get the most out of Green’s talent.
CB: Chris Adimora (Sophomore)
2019 Stats: 10 tackles and 2 passes defensed.
Adimora played in all of Texas’s 13 games in 2019. Entering the 2020 season, Adimora is slated as the team’s nickelback, a role that was previously primed for Anthony Cook. However, when Cook entered (and later exited) the NCAA transfer portal in June, it created a window of opportunity for Adimora.
CB: Anthony Cook (Junior)
2019 Stats: 24 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 forced fumble.
Brown, a fifth-year senior, is one of the few remaining Longhorns from the Charlie Strong era. Last season, Brown started in 10 games for the Longhorns. However, it is not guaranteed that Brown will enter the season as a starting safety. As a result, Brown will have to fend off the encroaching B.J. Foster.
SS: B.J. Foster (Junior)
2019 Stats: 35 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT and 1 pass defensed.
Prior to the start of the season, Foster will have to compete with Brown for the starting nod at safety. However, Foster will find his way onto the field regardless. In his first two seasons with the Longhorns, Foster has started in 14 games. Foster has made many big plays since joining the team and will continue to contribute.
Outlook:
Quite frankly, it would be pretty difficult for the secondary to be as bad as it was last season. Although the group did have some valid excuses for their struggles in 2019. However, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the secondary in 2020. The group has arguably the team’s best player, when healthy, in Caden Sterns, and returns more experience as a whole. In addition, it will be interesting to see how much the additions of Chris Ash and Jay Valai will help the defense. However, do not expect the secondary to be magically better to start the season. With so many uncertainties prior to the season, have some patience with this group.
