Texas bringing DeMarvion Overshown along slowly

Tim Verghese (1)by:Tim Verghese08/19/21

TimVerghese

Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is in a new system and expected to be a key playmaker and leader for the Longhorns heading into his fourth season. Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and staff are bringing him along slowly as he gets back from a shoulder injury he suffered in the spring.

Kwiatkowski is excited about what Overshown brings to the table and highlighted the senior as a key playmaker for the Longhorns defense this season.”

“We’ve been bringing him along because of his shoulder deal through the spring,” Kwiatkowski said to media Wednesday. “When he finally got out there the other day, the guy is super fast, super explosive. You can tell the way he plays he loves football. He likes contact. He’s a very dynamic explosive guy.”

Overshown projects to play all over the field for the Longhorns.

Prior to last season, Overshown moved down from defensive back to linebacker. Having an entire offseason to key in at linebacker could see him elevate his game to another level, even after the 2020 season he had.

“Last year, I really didn’t get a chance to learn the linebacker position before fall camp,” Overshown said. “So basically getting a full offseason at the position I feel like what people saw last year was not even close to what they’re gonna see this year.”

Growing at a new position

Last season in his first year playing linebacker, DeMarvion Overshown started all ten games. He finished the season with 60 tackles, eight tackles for loss, including one sack and led the team in pass breakups with seven and interceptions with two.

He capped off the season earning Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP honors in Texas’ bowl win over Colorado.

Entering his senior season, DeMarvion Overshown is taking a step as a leader. He projects to start alongside Luke Brockermeyer on one of the more experienced defenses in the Big 12.

“It’s really just be the best you can be,” Overshown said to media on Aug. 7 “It’s the same as what I was last year, inside the box or sometimes outside the box. But just being the leader that they know I am, being one of the old-heads on the defense. That’s what I gotta do being my fourth year here, just taking the younger guys and leading them and just teaching them what I know.”

Behind Overshown and Brockermeyer, there isn’t a lot of experienced depth. Between backups Jaylan Ford, David Gbenda and Jett Bush, there’s a combined one start and just 45 game appearances among the three. That makes Overshown in particular, all the more crucial to the Longhorns defensive efforts this season.

Prior to his position switch, Overshown played in 17 games over his first two seasons in Texas. As a sophomore, Overshown recorded 18 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and four pass breakups.