WATCH: Texas Longhorns' Malik Muhammad Recovers Blocked Punt for TD vs. Oklahoma
The special teams and defense are taking command for both sides early in Saturday's meeting between the No. 3 Texas Longhorns and No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl.
After faking a punt on their second drive of the game, the Longhorns were stopped at the goal line after a deflected pass from Quinn Ewers was intercepted in the red zone. Still down 7-0, the Texas defense then forced a three-and-out to quickly set up an Oklahoma punt, but Sooners punter Josh Plaster was going to have to boot it out of his own end zone.
As a result, Longhorns defensive back Kitan Crawford got through the line and blocked the punt in the end zone. True freshman cornerback Malik Muhammad made the easy recovery to help Texas tie the game at 7-7.
Take a look:
Muhammad, who entered this season as one of the most exciting incoming freshman in the 2023 class, played at IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) his sophomore year but came back to Texas to play for South Oak Cliff where he won back-to-back state championships in his final two seasons.
In his junior season, Muhammad fished with 68 tackles, three interceptions and six passes defended.
Texas Longhorns Defensive back Malik Muhammad during Texas Longhorns football spring practice at the Frank Denius practice fields in Austin.
© Ricardo B. Brazziell, Austin American-Statesman
During his last state title run, Muhammad finished with 58 tackles, 12 passes defended and an interception, which was returned for the game-sealing touchdown in the 6A state championship game.
Now, he's making huge plays in the biggest game of his young college career. The Longhorns will look to ride the momentum of the touchdown throughout the rest of the first half.
