Christopher Hanewinckel: USA TODAY Sports
In the weeks leading up to the 2013 season-opener against the New Mexico State Lobos on August 31, Rant Sports is previewing various key members of this year’s Texas Longhorns. Today we take a look at senior defensive tackle, Ashton Dorsey.
In his career at Texas, Dorsey, a 6’2″, 295-pound defensive tackle, has played in 30 games with six starts. Last season, though he was hampered with a calf injury and later a concussion which both forced him to miss four games, he saw action in nine games, starting twice. Dorsey was third on the team in tackles for a loss with eleven. His best game of the season, though it was the team’s worst, was against the Oklahoma Sooners when he posted five solo tackles, one for a loss.
This year, Dorsey is expected start on the defensive line along with Jackson Jeffcoat, Cedric Reed, and Malcom Brown.
With fall practices concluding, there are high expectations for Dorsey and the rest of the defensive line. Dorsey has shown flashes of dominance, but, like the rest of the line, has been very inconsistent. In order for this defense to slow down the pass-happy offenses in the Big 12, they must find ways to get pressure on the quarterbacks, particularly considering most teams are breaking in new players at the quarterback position. If they can do that, their size and speed alone could make it very difficult for the high-powered offenses.
As often is the case, games are won and lost in the trenches, and this Texas defensive line has shown that they have what it takes, but Dorsey, along with his teammates, has to be more consistent. If he can figure out how to bring it every down, he could have a break-out season.
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