Longhorns' D-Line 'Working,' Not 'Worrying About The Hype'

The Texas Longhorns defensive line recorded 27 sacks a season ago, but is not buying into the hype heading into 2023, focusing more so on working together and improving.

The Texas Longhorns obviously have a lot of expectations placed on them with Quinn Ewers entering year two and the weapons he has around him.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Big-12-favorite Longhorns return their top tackler, best sack artist and best ballhawks. Defensive lineman Byron Murphy II said the Longhorns aren't buying into the outside noise, having his mind honed in on one thing.

"I'm ready, but right now I'm not worrying about the hype," Murphy said. "I'm focused on winning, helping my team win and that's all that really matters to me right now."

Every championship team needs great leaders and Murphy said the defensive line has that in himself, defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat and edge rusher Barryn Sorrell.

"Barryn Sorrell's been a great leader in the offseason, summer," Sorrell said. "Sorrell's just being straight up, just being honest and truthful about what we got to do and what we got to get done to try to win this season."

Texas was fifth in the Big 12 with 27 sacks last season, getting 5.5 from Sorrell and two from linebacker Jaylan Ford. All the other returning Longhorns combined for 4.5 sacks in 2022.

Every national champion in the College Football Playoff era has recorded at least 35 sacks in a season.

Murphy, who had one sack last year, said to boost the sack numbers the defensive line needs to work together.

"Being on the same page, getting better at technique, having better understanding what the O-line is doing, what they're giving us, what they're showing us," Murphy said.

Murphy listed Sorrell and sophomore edge rusher Ethan Burke have impressed him early on in fall camp.

"We've got plenty of depth," Murphy said. "We've just got to keep working. Just continue to get better each and every day, but I feel like everybody can play. We all can play. I don't see a drop off."

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You can follow Casey Smith on Twitter @casey_smith2419

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