Last year, the Texas Longhorns defense under first year defensive-coordinator Manny Diaz finished the season ranked among the top defenses in the country, and they fielded mostly underclassmen.
This season, most of those players are back and the defense, particularly the secondary, is expected to be among the best-if not the best-in college football this year.
Under secondary coach Duane Akina, the Longhorns have always boasted a solid secondary. In his 12 seasons in Austin, Akina’s teams have finished ranked among the nation’s Top 10 in pass defense six times and featured back-to-back Thorpe Award winners in Michael Huff (2005) and Aaron Ross (2006). Nine of his defensive backs are currently playing in the NFL.
Many considered the 2005 group of DBs of Michael Huff, Aaron Ross, Cedric Griffin, and Michael Griffin to be the best in Texas history, but that was before this current group of players came along.
Now, many are claiming that this year’s starting secondary could cement their place in Longhorn history as the greatest to ever wear burnt orange. Here is a look at the four stand-out defensive backs, all poised to have yet another outstanding season:
Quandre Diggs, CB (Sophomore)
Diggs is the younger brother of one of the best DBs in Longhorn history, Quentin Jammer, but Diggs isn’t hiding in his brother’s shadow; instead, he is making a name of his own. Last season, as a true freshman, Diggs tied the school’s freshman interception record with four on the season.
He was tabbed the 2011 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year as well as second team All-Big 12. Diggs was named to the CBSSports.com, FWAA, and Yahoo! Sports Freshman All-America First Teams.
Additionally, Diggs is expected to again be a spark on special teams. Last year he returned 19 kickoffs for 371 yards and nine punts for 181 yards and is a home run threat every time he catches the ball.
Carrington Byndom CB (Junior)
As a sophomore last year, Byndom received First Team All-Big 12 honors and has been named to the Nagurski Tropy watch-list this year, an award given to the nation’s top defender. He has also been tabbed by members of the media as a dark-hourse Heisman Trophy candidate. Many consider Byndom to be the most talented player on a Longhorn team that is drowning in talent.
Adrian Phillips SS (Junior)
Phillips enters into this season as one of the Longhorn’s most under-rated players. Despite the talent surrounding him in the secondary, reports from summer camps have him listed as one of the stand-out players throughout summer practices and poised for a break-out season.
Kenny Vaccaro FS (Senior)
Vaccaro is considered by many to be the heart of this Texas Longhorns team. Despite many scouts claiming that he could have been a late first round/early second-round NFL draft-pick last year, Vaccaro came back to Texas for two things: to win the Thorpe Award and to help his team win a National Championship. He is the fire that ignites those around him, and reports say that he has taken his game to an even higher level this off-season.
If these guys can stay healthy, they truly could go down as the best group of defensive backs to ever take the field for the Longhorns. And if the offense can find a way to be productive this year, this defense is strong enough to carry the Longhorns back to the top of the college football ranks.
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