A look at the Longhorn linebackers that have been taken in the NFL Draft
The selection of University of Texas linebackers in the NFL Draft has been a constant presence over the past 85 years, with many of those men who wore the burnt orange and white for the Longhorns continuing on to make huge impacts at the highest level of the sport.
[Get Inside Texas Plus for just $29.99 until 8/31/23!]
The Longhorns’ DeMarvion Overshown is set to be next in the line of linebackers to be selected in the draft, likely on the third day. When Overshown is drafted he will be the first Texas linebacker to be picked since Malik Jefferson in 2018.
Overshown, a 6-foot-4, 225-pounder, played in 50 career games in five seasons on the 40 Acres and made 33 starts. As a super senior in 2022, he established career highs with 96 tackles (49 solo), 10 tackles for loss and four sacks and added two quarterback hurries and five pass breakups.
That production was enough for Overshown to be named first-team All-Big 12 at linebacker by conference coaches and the Associated Press in 2022 after being a 2022 Butkus Award semifinalist.
With this year’s NFL Draft beginning on Thursday, we decided to take a look at the list of linebackers that have been selected to play on Sundays through the years.
The list includes Butkus Award and Nagurski Trophy winner Derrick Johnson (both in 2004) and Outland Award winner Tommy Nobis (1965).
In all, 29 Longhorns linebackers have been selected in the draft, with 23 of those since 1961. Three of linebackers have been taken in the first round, and one – Nobis – was the first player taken in the draft, in 1966.
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Tom Stolhandske-1953-1-10-10-San Francisco 49ers
Tommy Nobis-1966-1-1-1-Atlanta Falcons
Bill Zapalac-1971-4-6-84-New York Jets
Randy Braband-1973-17-1-417-Houston Oilers
Glen Gaspard-1974-10-10-244-San Francisco 49ers
Rick Fenlaw-1977-12-21-328-St. Louis Cardinals
Robin Sendlein-1981-2-17-45-Minnesota Vikings
Bruce Scholtz-1982-2-6-33-Seattle Seahawks
Kiki DeAyala-1983-6-12-152-Cincinnati Bengals
Ed Williams-1984-2-15-43-New England Patriots
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Jeff Leiding-1984-5-17-129-St. Louis Cardinals
Mark Lang-1984-12-6-314-Kansas City Chiefs
June James-1985-9-6-230-Detroit Lions
Ty Allert-1986-4-13-95-San Diego Chargers
Chris Duliban-1986-12-2-307-Dallas Cowboys
Britt Hager-1989-3-25-81-Philadelphia Eagles
Brian Jones-1991-8-18-213-Los Angeles Raiders
Boone Powell-1992-9-28-252-Washington Redskins
Winfred Tubbs-1994-3-14-79-New Orleans Saints
Derrick Johnson-2005-1-15-15-Kansas City Chiefs
Player-Year-Round-Pick-Overall-Team
Sergio Kindle-2010-2-11-43-Baltimore Ravens
Lamarr Houston-2010-2-12-44-Oakland Raiders
Roddrick Muckelroy-2010-4-33-131-Cincinnati Bengals
Sam Acho-2011-4-6-103-Arizona Cardinals
Keenan Robinson-2012-4-24-119-Washington Redskins
Emmanuel Acho-2012-6-34-204-Cleveland Browns
Alex Okafor-2013-4-6-103-Arizona Cardinals
Jordan Hicks-2015-3-20-84-Philadelphia Eagles
Malik Jefferson-2018-3-13-78-Cincinnati Bengals
