Predicting Texas Longhorns Statistical Leaders: Defense

by Scipio Tex on Aug 28, 2025 7:09 PM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Football

Let's have your individual/unit predictions for the 2012 defense. Then we'll look back in January, 2013 and laugh at how wrong we were. Projected numbers include the bowl game (that's 13 games).

INDIVIDUAL

Leading Tacklers

Jordan Hicks - 116
Steve Edmond - 110
Kenny Vaccaro - 91

Jordan Hicks will play a key clean-up role behind a gap-charging front seeking to disrupt offenses early. Steve Edmond is a mutant, but his ability to read and flow is outstanding for a 255 pounder. Kenny Vaccaro will see quite a bit of time near the LOS as a slot eraser and RB disgracer.

Interceptions

Adrian Phillips - 5
Quandre Diggs - 4
Kenny Vaccaro - 4

I'll take the least heralded member of the 2012 Longhorn secondary to lead us in interceptions. Phillips does a good job of keeping his eyes on the QB and he'll cover more ground that his predecessor. Diggs has a great knack for drifting opportunistically in coverage and high-pointing. Vaccaro has soft hands despite his punishing reputation. Byndom won't lead us in interceptions, primarily out of QB respect.

Sacks

Jackson Jeffcoat - 11.5
Alex Okafor - 8.5
Chris Whaley - 5.0

Jeffcoat is our most technically proficient pass rusher. Okafor our most powerful. Whaley will be a problem inside attacking the gaps. Steve Edmond, Demarco Cobbs, our other defensive tackles, and Jordan Hicks are all capable of contributing 3+ sacks.

Tackles For Loss

Jackson Jeffcoat - 21.5
Alex Okafor - 16.5
Steve Edmond - 16.0

Jeffcoat and Okafor can create their own disruption, but they'll benefit from interior mayhem and bounce outs. I like Edmond a lot as a run-blitzer.

UNIT PREDICTIONS

268.3 yards per game allowed, #4 in CFB
15.6 points per game allowed, #6 in CFB
#2 rushing defense
#4 passing efficiency defense
No DT will make more than 50 tackles. Four will make at least 20
The Texas secondary will have 20+ interceptions on the year

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Read More: Chris Whaley (DT - Texas), Kenny Vaccaro (S - Texas), Alex Okafor (DE - Texas), Adrian Phillips (CB - Texas), Demarco Cobbs (LB - Texas), Jordan Hicks (LB - Texas), Jackson Jeffcoat (DE - Texas), Quandre Diggs (CB - Texas), Steve Edmond (LB - Texas), Texas Longhorns

Comments

Hicks

has to be the choice to lead in tackles. Everything I know about Diaz defenses and our personnel says he cleans up a lot.

You’re very bullish on Edmond. I expect more of a 80 tackle, 15 TFL type season where has a big impact but he isn’t making the pursuit tackles before Hicks or the DBs get there.

Also worth considering: LSU’s leading tackler had like 75 last year. Sometimes the overall defensive speed and excellence means the numbers are somewhat dispersed.

by Nickel Rover on Aug 28, 2025 8:04 PM CDT reply actions

Hicks hasn't done shit.... Yet...

We’ll see. At least he interviews well enough. Hope he doesn’t turn into our next “Smart Player” (aka Gideon).

by BevoBytheHorns on Aug 28, 2025 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Smart players

yeah hate those…

He’s our most experienced linebacker in a defense designed to funnel plays to the LB corp. If he doesn’t lead the team in tackles I’m concerned or he’s hurt.

by Nickel Rover on Aug 28, 2025 8:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Shit

Hicks has done some of it.

by LonghornScott on Aug 28, 2025 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions 6 recs

Don't be a tard.

Or don’t come around.

Follow @BarkingCarnival

by Sailor Ripley on Aug 29, 2025 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

This guy...

…is a tool who’s shown his ass already on BON.

by danielt on Aug 29, 2025 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Having a hard time deciding if you're an aggy troll

Or just a very dull unpleasant person with no friends.

@ccommand3r

by CMDR on Aug 29, 2025 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

prediction - #1 defense in adjusted stats

by Texastough on Aug 28, 2025 8:05 PM CDT reply actions

Love this prediction

So ridiculously extreme. But made it myself on a boozey night not too long ago. AND might have made a related bet or two. Recommended sites for good adjusted stats / arbiters of truth? Huckleberry’s, of course. And Football Outsider’s look good. Who else’s?

by tearaway20 on Aug 29, 2025 1:01 AM CDT up reply actions

The departures of RGIII and Weedon make this a more reasonable pick . . . Here’s hoping Geno Smith’s arrival doesn’t override that.

by Cirque Du Salado on Aug 29, 2025 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Over/under on heads ripped off

by lurkerinthedark on Aug 28, 2025 8:35 PM CDT reply actions

Vaccaro 3.5

Edmond 2

by Flipteach on Aug 29, 2025 12:55 AM CDT up reply actions

,5

Santos with the other .5

by HarleyHorn82 on Aug 29, 2025 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions

nice.

This makes me want Diaz to come up with some sort of Hell Package that has Vaccaro, Edmond and Santos on the field all at the same time. Don’t see it happening, but it could be fun.

by Flipteach on Aug 29, 2025 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Hell Package = Goal line Package

by Where'sWaldo on Aug 29, 2025 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Edmonds is such a beast

that I think teams will scheme him off the field with lots of 4 wide sets, even if that makes them more vulnerable. The only team on the schedule that has any chance of running on us with Edmonds in the game is KState (and maybe not then).

by burnt in ny on Aug 28, 2025 8:43 PM CDT reply actions

LBs on the sack totals?

I could see Hicks or Cobb as third on the sacks total. Acho had three last year (good for 3rd), and I get the impression that Diaz wants to take advantage of LB speed as a disruptor more this year.

Whaley absolutely has the ability to get there, but I wonder if his opportunities will be limited by our depth at DT. It does seem like his job will be to “sic ’em” on passing downs, so you might be right.

by Flipteach on Aug 29, 2025 1:03 AM CDT reply actions

That video was great

How many sacks and TFL’s did we get against Cal? 27?

by Nickel Rover on Aug 29, 2025 10:44 AM CDT reply actions

After watching that video

I feel fairly confident in predicting that our avg. yards allowed per game will be right around 0.

by Horncasting on Aug 29, 2025 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions

it truly is

but I like that the D doesn’t wait for the ball carrier but meets him. They hit him moving.

by mdhorn on Aug 29, 2025 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions

If Jeffcoat gets 11.5 sacks

and another 10 tackles for a loss then he’s probably foregoing his Senior year to enter the draft.

by mdhorn on Aug 29, 2025 10:54 AM CDT reply actions

Watching the video

One thing that’s amazing is how often the opposing pulling guard doesn’t even get to the hole before the ball carrier is tackled. Sometimes the guard is more or less running backwards trying to catch a penetrating defender. You don’t run Power on the Texas D!

by matonmacs on Aug 29, 2025 11:06 AM CDT reply actions

On the zone read

the QB’s read on the DE is “Oh shit he’s tackling me now”

by matonmacs on Aug 29, 2025 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions

How many human hearts will Steve Edmond eat?

I’ll go with 3.

Follow @BarkingCarnival

by Sailor Ripley on Aug 29, 2025 12:14 PM CDT reply actions

Depends

On if he gets the Sankara Stones away from Jones and the pesky Asian kid.

@ccommand3r

by CMDR on Aug 29, 2025 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Remember the days...

When the Texas DTs used to lead the team in tackles and have 20+ TFLs? Damn this game has changed.

Follow @druceleroy

by Drew Kelson on Aug 29, 2025 12:20 PM CDT reply actions

yeah

looking back at those early 00’s years is crazy. Hampton with 70 tackles, 25 or so behind the line.

BUT, Ndamukong Suh led Nebraska in tackles in 08 and 09. Changed game didn’t stop him. Arguably the greatest defensive player in the history of the Big 12.

by Nickel Rover on Aug 29, 2025 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions