Barryn Sorrell worked hard to improve his own game, and the entire Texas defense has benefitted

During his true freshman season in 2021, Texas defensive end Barryn Sorrell was only on the field for 93 snaps across six games. The New Orleans native had a handful of moments in 2021, including a four tackle day in the blowout of Texas Tech. But he lacked the consistency to be on the field for all three downs, and Texas elected to dip into its interior defensive line depth and slightly alter the structure of its defense rather than deploy Sorrell at the “JACK” defensive end position.

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In order to take hold of that role, often tasked with setting the field-side edge on the line of scrimmage, Sorrell knew he needed to better his game ahead of the 2022 season. He prided himself on his motor, and still does, but there were other facets he needed to work on in order to be a mainstay on first, second, and third downs.

“I needed improvement in everything,” Sorrell said Monday. “Watching my games from last year was one of my biggest things, just focusing on everything, bringing that to fall camp, then bringing that even into the season going week by week.”

It’s safe to say Sorrell has done exactly that. His 11-tackle performance versus TCU included 3.0 TFLs and 1.5 sacks. For the season, the sophomore out of New Orleans’ Holy Cross School has 8.0 TFLs, good for second on the Longhorns, plus a team-leading 5.5 sacks in 494 total snaps.

“He’s earned the right, that’s why he’s on the field more,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday. “I think there’s a real comfort level for him of defending the run, defending the pass, understanding the scheme, being disciplined in the scheme, and what Barryn has done is I think he’s playing a lot faster. I think he’s playing more physical.”

Sarkisian also mentioned Sorrell “looked the part.” Sorrell said Monday he added 10 pounds during the offseason and is up to 258 pounds to pair with his 6-foot-4 frame. He mentioned pregame meal of choice is spaghetti with meat sauce. “Old reliable,” he calls it. Whether it’s from the TANC or from home, the pasta has been fuel for Sorrell’s motor, which ran hotter than ever in his game against TCU.

“I attack every game that way,” Sorrell said. “I’ve just been preparing, and I was actually able to cut it loose on Saturday. I was happy about that.”

Sorrell’s second-year surge has been a tremendous boost for Sarkisian and Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. After paltry team sack totals last year, Sorrell is one of five Longhorns with at least 2.5 sacks and one of six with at least 5.0 TFLs.

Sarkisian credited Sorrell for his ability to be a versatile edge defender, and said that skill set is crucial in helping set up the rest of the defense for success.

“You can play the run when he’s out there,” Sarkisian said. “You can rush the passer when he’s out there, and now that gives us a lot of versatility with he and Ovie (Ogoufo) out there together. Both those guys are well-equipped to do multiple things. Couple that with what’s going on in the interior, and then the versatility of the two linebackers with (DeMarvion Overshown) and Jaylan (Ford).

“That front has performed at a high level, and a lot of credit to Barryn because he’s allowing us to do that. We don’t have to sub him out.”

In addition to his conventional stats, Sorrell has 30 total pressures and 18 total “stops,” or plays that constitute a failure for the offense, according to Pro Football Focus. For the season he has an overall grade of 63.5, a significant jump from his 54.9 grade in his limited 2021 action.

What Sorrell does on his own is notable, but what he allows for the rest of the defense to do has helped Texas improve by leaps and bounds between Year 1 and Year 2 under Kwiatkowski.

His efforts have made a position of obvious weakness last season into one that opponents have to plan for, if not respect.

“Now he’s really cutting it loose,” Sarkisian said.

He’s done just that regularly this season. It’s the only way he knows how to play football. Asked to be more descriptive about his best asset that’s helped him this season, Sorrell put it this way

“Just going after the ball and being relentless to the ball every play,” he said.