David Gbenda to return to Texas for the 2024 season
Texas linebacker David Gbenda will return to the Longhorns for the 2024 season using his COVID-19 year of eligibility, he announced on Tuesday.
[Get ONE MONTH of Texas Longhorns inside intel for just $1!]
“I want to thank God for the blessings and opportunities that he has given me throughout my journey. I also want to thank my family for the tremendous support they have shown. I also want to thank the coaches that have helped me get to this point in my career.
“My time at UT has been filled with great memories and lessons but throughout those trials and tribulations I have grown as a player and as a man. With that being said, the job’s not done yet. I will be returning to UT.”
Gbenda posted career-best numbers in 2024. He tallied 50 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a pass defended.
He also was honored along with Jett Bush as the Gaskamp Award recipient.
Paul Wadlington on David Gbenda
Few plays better encompass the never-quit attitude that embodies the Gaskamp.
Since first earning playing time in 2019, the 5-11, 225 pound Gbenda struggled with consistency and had even seen his rotational playing time diminish in 2022 from prior years. Coming into this year, he was seemingly being written off, but Gbenda had other ideas. After a strong spring and summer, Gbenda turned in his best year at Texas with career highs in snaps (381), tackles (49, 4th on the team) and game impact to include 9 QB pressures, 2 sacks, 3 QB hits and a PBU.
Gbenda’s relentless energy, effort and quickness make the 2023 Longhorn defense better.
Could Gbenda be the first Gaskamp Winner to return?
Possibly.
[Subscribe to the brand new Inside Texas YouTube channel!]
COVID years have gummed up the works, but a 5th year senior is a 5th year senior. But definitionally, a player can only win the Gaskamp once. Beyond the rules structure, awarding any player the Gaskamp twice would be too great a responsibility for any man, a burden comparable to bearing Tolkien’s Ring of Power in LOTR.
