Advertisement

Texas football's T'Vondre Sweat reveals the NFL players he studies — including an ex-Longhorn

New Orleans Saints defensive linemen Malcolm Roach, right, and Cameron Jordan are among the few NFL defensive lineman that Texas' T'Vondre Sweat says he likes to study. Roach and Sweat were Longhorns teammates in 2019.
New Orleans Saints defensive linemen Malcolm Roach, right, and Cameron Jordan are among the few NFL defensive lineman that Texas' T'Vondre Sweat says he likes to study. Roach and Sweat were Longhorns teammates in 2019.

Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat was asked this week which NFL players he likes to study.

He listed some pros you'd expect a 362-pound defensive lineman to name: Ndamukong Suh, Philadelphia's Fletcher Cox and New Orleans' Cameron Jordan. "Of course everybody watches Aaron Donald, you can't go wrong with him," Sweat added.

But Sweat also said he's been keeping an eye on Malcolm Roach of the New Orleans Saints. Roach, a former Longhorn, was Sweat's teammate at Texas in 2019. Roach, who signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent, has compiled 32 tackles and three pass breakups during his fourth NFL season.

More: These nine Longhorns are freshmen, but should play larger roles for Texas football in 2024

"He's having a heck of a season," Sweat said. "So it's pretty awesome to play with him my freshman year and now see him in the NFL, looking at him how he performed at the next level, so I think that's pretty awesome."

Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat tackles Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks during the Longhorns' 57-7 win last week. Sweat is fourth on the team in tackles this season.
Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat tackles Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks during the Longhorns' 57-7 win last week. Sweat is fourth on the team in tackles this season.

Sweat is having a heck of a season himself. He's fourth on the team in tackles, third in tackles for loss and tied for third in pass breakups. He's got a pair of sacks and is one quarterback hurry off the team lead. He's also a finalist for the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top interior lineman, along with a pair of offensive linemen: Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt and Kansas State guard Cooper Beebe.

Three Longhorns have won the Outland: Scott Appleton in 1963, Tommy Nobis in 1965 and Brad Shearer in 1977. Four others have been finalists — Dan Neil in 1996, Leonard Davis in 2000, Justin Blalock in 2006 and Malcom Brown in 2014.

Not bad for a freshman: Heady Malik Muhammad is making the most of his chances at Texas

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas' T'Vondre Sweat an Outland Trophy finalist. These study habits helped