Texas Longhorns vs. Vanderbilt Preview: Commodores Defensive Players to Watch

Vanderbilt's defense will have to put up its best work to stop a top-ranked Texas offense in October.

Tennessee tight end McCallan Castles (34) is taken down by the Vanderbilt defense during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, November 25, 2023 in Knoxville, Tenn. / Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY

The Texas Longhorns were unveiled in the top five of the EA Sports College Football 25 offensive rankings with a 91 overall score, tied with No. 3 Alabama.

Five of the top seven ranked defenders in the Commodores program after the 2023 season graduated or transferred schools, including Jaylen Mahoney and De'Rickey Wright, who stayed in the SEC to play with the Texas A&M Aggies.

No. 25 Vanderbilt's defense will have to put up its best work to stop Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and his solid team of running backs and offensive linemen. The Texas offense, however, is coming out of a not-so-successful game against then-No. 5 Georgia but seems ready to bounce back. Vandy's defense allowed unranked Ball State to score 14 points last Saturday.

Here are three players Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea will trust to break down the fourth-ranked Longhorn offense.

1. LB Langston Patterson

Nashville native Langston Patterson started his junior year with honors. Patterson made third and fourth preseason All-SEC teams per two sources.

As a sophomore in 2023, Patterson led the Commodores with 74 total tackles in 11 games, including eight at Tennessee and a team and career high of 12 against Auburn. At Mississippi, he recorded his first career sack, forced fumble and interception and made a team-high nine total tackles.

The 74 tackles showed a massive growth between his two years in the program. As a freshman, Patterson only recorded five tackles after playing all 12 games for the Commodores that season.

Patterson has already recorded 28 tackles for Vanderbilt halfway through the season, including seven total and two solo in the upset against then-No. 1 Alabama.

2. LB Bryan Longwell

Sophomore Bryan Longwell was named Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week following Vanderbilt's win over Alabama, where he recorded eight tackles, five solo.

Longwell leads the Commodores in tackles this season with 36 to his name, 12 solo, as well as one interception and two sacks.

As a freshman, Longwell made it to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll and played in 12 games, recording 36 tackles.  From 36 tackles at the end of the year to 36 on week nine, it's clear Longwell has shown great improvement in his game.

3. S CJ Taylor

Like his teammate Patterson, safety CJ Taylor started his 2024 season making two pre-season All-SEC third teams. Taylor wrapped up 2023 in the All-SEC fourth team.

The rising senior started all nine games he played as a junior and finished third in tackles for the team with 55 and second with 7.5 tackles for loss. Per Pro Football Focus, Taylor ranked fourth among SEC linebackers with a defensive grade of 80.2 and earned a Mid-Season All-SEC defensive honorable mention by College Football Network.

Taylor is one of the most experienced players in this Vanderbilt defense, and though he has never played Texas, he has stats to back up his competence when it comes to protecting the endzone.

So far, Taylor has recorded 23 tackles, including 19 solo for the Commodores, with one defensive interception. The fourth-year safety is going into the Texas game coming out of a season-best with six solo tackles in the win over Ball State last Saturday.

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