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Texas coach Steve Sarkisian knows he must get his defensive front SEC-ready | Golden

Steve Sarkisian understands the formula for success in a conference he coached in for years.

With the Horns preparing for their first season in the SEC, Sarkisian echoed a similar sentiment from his debut at Texas: size matters.

“The depth on the defensive line is not where we need it to be,” he said after Saturday’s Orange-White spring game.

Texas offensive lineman Cameron Williams, right, grabs the uniform of edge rusher Ethan Burke during the second quarter of Saturday's Orange-White spring game at Royal-Memorial Stadium. Texas' defensive line is in a rebuilding mode with the loss of soon-to-be-NFL players T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II.
Texas offensive lineman Cameron Williams, right, grabs the uniform of edge rusher Ethan Burke during the second quarter of Saturday's Orange-White spring game at Royal-Memorial Stadium. Texas' defensive line is in a rebuilding mode with the loss of soon-to-be-NFL players T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II.

The Horns need more larger human beings, particularly at tackle where Outland Trophy winner T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II are about to be cashing NFL paychecks.

While tackle Vernon Broughton was off getting married, interior mate Alfred Collins caught a bouquet of sorts off Ethan Burke’s deflection and scored on a 32-yard interception return. The Horns will need game-changing plays from players like those two, transfer Tiaoalii Savea and Sydir Mitchell to replace that girth inside.

With spring football now over, Sarkisian will turn his attention to the transfer portal.

Bigger can only make them better.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas football's spring game focus look at the defensive line