Texas football all-time roster: Defensive starters and backups
Texas’ football program was once viewed as one of the most storied and respected programs in the country.
Although the Longhorns have failed to live up to lofty expectations of late, several individual players found their fair share of success throughout their time in Austin.
Longhorns Wire is taking a look at which legends make the cut in our all-time Texas Longhorns football roster this week. We’ve concluded the offensive side of the ball, now we’ll choose the top defensive players.
Check out our other College Wire all-time defenses: Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas A&M / USC
Starting DE1: Brian Orakpo
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Brian Orakpo is one of the most decorated defensive players in school history. He won the Nagurski Trophy (nation’s top defensive player), the Lombardi Award (nation’s top lineman), and the Hendricks Award (nation’s top defensive end) as a senior.
Backup DE1: Corey Redding
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Corey Redding is a two-time All-American and two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection. As a senior, he recorded 24 tackles for loss and 37 quarterback pressures.
Starting DE2: Kiki DeAyala
Today we salute #obscurebengals LB
Kiki DeAyala 🍺. Kiki played 18 gms, started 2 for the #Bengals 1986-87. He had 2 fumble recoveries & 1 sack. He was born Julian Luis. He was drafted in the 6th rd by Cin. In ‘83 out of Texas, but played in the USFL for the Houston Gamblers 1st pic.twitter.com/gwlaBEtNne— obscure bengals (@obscure_bengals) March 30, 2021
Kiki DeAyala holds numerous Texas Longhorns records including career sacks with 40.5 and sacks in a season with 22.5.
Backup DE2: Tony Brackens
Doug Pensinger /Allsport
Tony Brackens was a three-time All-Southwest Conference selection and All-American at defensive end. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the second round of the 1996 NFL draft.
Starting DT1: Steve McMichael
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Steve McMichael was a consensus All-American and All-Southwest Conference selection in 1978 and 1979. He eventually played 16 NFL seasons and was a five-time All-Pro selection.
Backup DT1: Tony Degrate
31 Days until Texas Football:
Tony Degrate recorded the 3rd most sacks in Longhorn history with 31. Degrate played from 1981-84, and was a consensus All-American in 1984. #Texas #Longhorns #Hookem #cfb #stats #college #austin pic.twitter.com/4HsAMCZXzg— LackadaisicalLonghorn (@UTStatHead) August 3, 2022
Tony Degrate was a consensus All-American at defensive tackle in 1984. He took home the Lomardi award for the nation’s top defensive lineman.
Starting DT2: Kenneth Sims
AP Photo
Kenneth Sims was a consensus All-American and All-Southwest Conference selection in 1980 and 1981. He took home the Lombardi Trophy as college football’s best defensive lineman in 1981. Sims later became the first overall pick in the 1982 NFL draft.
Backup DT2: Casey Hampton
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Casey Hampton was a two-time first-team All-American and the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2000. He became the first defensive lineman in school history to lead the team in tackles in back-to-back seasons.
Starting LB1: Tommy Nobis
AP Photo/Charles Kelly
Tommy Nobis was a two-way lineman and earned All-American honors in 1964 and 1965. He became Texas’ first No. 1 overall NFL draft pick in 1966 and was the 1966 NFL Rookie of the Year.
Backup LB1: Bruce Scholtz
AP Photo/David Breslauer
Scholtz last played in 1982 and is still among the top 10 for total tackles in a career at Texas. He is also among the top 10 in tackles for loss in a season and in a career. Overall, he was a solid defender for the Horns.
Starting LB2: Derrick Johnson
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One of the best defensive players in Texas football history, who later went on to play 13 seasons in the NFL. Derrick Johnson was awarded the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the nation’s top defensive player and the Butkus Award for the nation’s top linebacker as a senior. He was a two-time consensus first-team All-American in 2003 and 2004.
Backup LB2: Doug Shankle
AP Photo/Ron Heflin
Shankle is one of the underrated linebackers in Texas history, at least in terms of all-time great conversations. Shankle still holds the record for most solo tackles in a career at Texas. He is among the top 10 in tackles for a single season and No. 2 in total tackles for a career. Shankle was known for his punishing style.
Starting LB3: Britt Hager
AP Photo/F. Carter Smith
Britt Hager was a 1988 American Coaches Association All-American and earned All-Southwest Conference honors in 1987 and 1988. He recorded 195 total tackles (120 solo) in 1988. He is still atop the school leaderboard with 499 career tackles.
Backup LB3: Ty Allert
Where Are They Now: TY ALLERT, who recorded 287 career solo tackles and 27 career sacks at LB for the Longhorns from 1982-85 before playing in @nfl w/ @chargers & @eagles, now works at Timber Wolf Land Clearing in Lexington, TX. https://t.co/0O2acBTumu #ThisIsTexas #HookEm pic.twitter.com/JpBv5rCvbm
— NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas (@DallasNFF) August 18, 2018
Allert had quite a season for Texas in 1984 with 107 solo tackles, which is still No. 4 in Longhorns history. His career total of 287 is No. 3 in school history.
Starting CB1: Quentin Jammer
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Quentin Jammer was a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection and unanimous All-American. His 57 career pass breakups rank No. 2 in school history.
Backup CB1: Nathan Vasher
Ronald Martinez /Allsport
Nathan Vasher played both cornerback and safety for the Longhorns. He recorded 26 pass breakups, 43 tackles, six interceptions and five tackles for loss as a senior.
Starting CB2: Aaron Ross
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Aaron Ross is one of only two Thorpe Award winners as the nation’s top defensive back in UT history.
Backup CB2: Johnnie Johnson
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Johnnie Johnson was a consensus All-American in 1978 and 1979. Throughout his collegiate career, he recorded 1,004 return yards and 13 interceptions.
Starting S1: Earl Thomas
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Earl Thomas was a a consensus first-team All-America selection and recorded 149 tackles (101 solo), eight tackles for loss, 10 interceptions, 33 pass breakups, five forced fumbles and a blocked punt for his career.
Backup S1: Quandre Diggs
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Quandre Diggs was a four-year starter who ended his career tied for ninth on the UT all-time interceptions list (11). He did not miss a game in his career and was a three-time All-Big 12 selection (2011, 2013, 2014).
Starting S2: Jerry Gray
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Jerry Gray was considered for consecutive consensus All-American honors in 1983 and 1984
Backup CB2: Michael Huff
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Huff holds the Texas record for most pick-sixes in a career with four. He is also tied for the most interceptions leading to a touchdown in a single season with two. He did it in both the 2002 and 2003 seasons. He was named to the first-team All-Big 12 twice as well as being named a unanimous All-American and won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2005.
