Advertisement

T'Vondre Sweat becomes the fourth Texas Longhorn to win the Outland Trophy as top lineman

thomas jones, austin american-statesman
·2 min read
1

Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat powered his way into opponents’ backfield plenty of times this season. On Friday, he pushed his way into UT's history books.

More: They're baaack: Texas pounds Oklahoma State for Big 12 title, makes its case for CFP bid

Sweat became the fourth Longhorn to win the Outland Trophy, one of college football’s most prestigious honors, recognizing the top interior lineman in the nation. He’s the first UT player to win the Outland since defensive tackle Brad Shearer in 1977.

More: Texas football receiver Isaiah Neyor enters transfer portal before CFP game vs. Washington

Defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat celebrates a stop during the Longhorns' 49-21 win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship game. On Friday, the All-American senior won the Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman on either side of the ball.
Defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat celebrates a stop during the Longhorns' 49-21 win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship game. On Friday, the All-American senior won the Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman on either side of the ball.

Defensive tackles Scott Appleton (1963) and offensive guard/linebacker Tommy Nobis (1965) also won the award for Texas.

The Outland Trophy, which dates back to 1946 and is college football’s third-oldest award, was part of ESPN’s annual presentation that recognizes all of college football’s individual award winners except for the Heisman Trophy, which was set to be presented to the nation's best player in its own ceremony Saturday night.

More: Looking for new Longhorns? Players in transfer portal that Texas football could pursue

Sweat, a 6-foot-4, 362-pound senior from Huntsville, is in his first season as a full-time starter and has earned multiple All-American honors from various publications while playing his way into consideration for a high pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He has racked up 43 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, seven quarterback hurries, four pass breakups and a blocked kick.

More important, he teamed with players such as fellow defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, defensive ends Barryn Sorrell and Ethan Burke, and linebackers Jaylon Ford, David Gbenda and Anthony Hill Jr. to help form the nation’s third-best rushing defense.

Texas (12-1), which will face Washington in a College Football Playoff semifinal Jan. 1, gives up just 80.8 yards rushing a game, which ranks behind only UCLA (69.6) and Penn State (69.7).

Sweat beat out fellow semifinalists Joe Alt (offensive lineman, Notre Dame) and Cooper Beebe (offensive lineman, Kansas State) for the Outland Trophy.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas football's T'Vondre Sweat wins the 2023 Outland Trophy