Jahdae Barron plays with a purpose as Texas' difference-making nickel
During Texas’ 31-10 win over Wyoming, the Cowboy offense was on Campbell-Williams Field for 66 snaps. Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron was instrumental in forcing the Wyoming offense to have to leave it on several occasions.
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Across 34 total snaps, Barron recorded nine tackles, six of them solo, with a pass breakup. On four separate occasions Saturday, Barron either made the tackle or play to end the series in its tracks and put Craig Bohl‘s offense back on the sideline.
“Jahdae makes three third down stops for us that were really big plays,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “His physicality at that nickel spot shows up as much as the coverage does. (And) his ability to get people on the ground, tonight he did that as well.”
Pro Football Focus issued Barron a team-high defensive grade of 90.7, almost 16 percentage points clear of David Gbenda, the next closest starter. PFF also has a statistic called “stops,” which is defined as “tackles that constitute a ‘failure’ for the offense.” Seven times in 34 defensive snaps, Barron was the one shutting the Cowboys down for the Longhorns and earning the stop.
“I’m just blessed and appreciate my coaches just putting me in those opportunities,” Barron said. “Sometimes I know that play is coming and I’m just ready to capitalize.”
Those third down stops were critical in the first half. After Wyoming scored on the opening drive of the game, the Longhorns forced a punt on the Cowboys’ five other first-half possessions. Barron made the drive-ending play on three of them. He’d make one more in the second half.
“Third down stops is a big thing,” Barron said. “It helps us get off the field. I know last year we struggled with that sometimes, so Coach Sark hits on third down and getting off the field. I try to preach that to the other guys and capitalize out there on third downs.”
Barron is currently third on the team in tackles this year with 15, two behind second-place Jaylan Ford and three back of team-leader Gbenda. Barron said that trio puts in at least 2-3 extra hours of film study per day in order to be ready for the challenge of the week.
With such intense preparation, Barron works hard in the leadup to a contest so that he can enjoy the time spent on the field.
“I just try to play fast and go out there and have fun,” Barron said. “I’m trying to change the game. I’m trying to be a big piece of the defense.”
Of course, he’s also a team leader for the Longhorns. Not only does he lead by example with quality play and film study, but also energy.
“I just try to be the juice for the defense and the juice for the team,” Barron said. “If I’m hype, it’s going to spread. Obviously it had an effect on everybody. It changed the game. I’m happy that my coaches put my in position to make plays like that.”
Why so much effort?
“I think of it like this: my mom is still working,” Barron said. “I’m trying to get her to stop working one day, so I’m trying to play it, go out there, and have fun.”
Barron said his mom, Techonia Davis, operates a microblading business in Austin. “That’s why my face is so clean,” Barron joked. “I’ve got good skin.”
But because of that, his focus is to play to the best of his abilities not only for his team, but for his family. His goal is to buy a house for his mother, and that type of money comes via a NFL paycheck.
To get to that point, Barron is cognizant of what needs to happen for him at Texas first. That’s his current focus, which means Baylor is his current focus as the Longhorns embark on Big 12 play.
“We’ve got some things to clean up, offense, defense, and special teams, and next week on Saturday we’ve got another championship game,” Barron said.
