Only one Longhorn is currently a member of the "spike club"
The “spike club” refers to defensive backs who, when targeted, allow an NFL passer rating of 39.6 or lower. Why 39.6? If a quarterback spiked the ball every single snap, his NFL passer rating would be 39.6. If a defender boasts an NFL passer rating when targeted lower than 39.6, literally grounding the football would produce a better outcome than trying to test that defender.
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Last season, Andrew Mukuba and Jahdae Barron were members of the spike club. Barron’s NFL passer rating against was 34.2. Mukuba’s was an astonishing 12.1.
Through four games this year, only one Longhorn is in that elite fraternity: Jelani McDonald.
McDonald has an NFL passer rating against of 28.1 according to PFF. He’s been targeted 15 times and has given up eight receptions for 76 yards. He has two interceptions, plus one pass PFF lists as a drop by the junior from Waco.
The next closest Texas regular? Graceson Littleton with a 48.6. Texas only having one spike club member should not be cause for concern. Remember Sam Houston State quarterback Hunter Watson? His NFL passer rating is currently 59.2. He had an atrocious day against the Longhorns, but he hasn’t had many great outings this year. Watson posted NFL passer ratings of 70.0 versus WKU, 62.9 versus UNLV, and 43.1 versus Texas.
So knowing what a 59.2 NFL passer rating quarterback looks like, it paints the list of Longhorn defensive backs with NFL passer ratings against of 75.5 or lower in a different light.
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- Jelani McDonald – 28.1 – 15 targets
- Graceson Littleton – 48.6 – 24 targets
- Malik Muhammad – 56.3 – 8 targets
- Wardell Mack – 56.3 – 2 targets
- Jordon Johnson-Rubell – 71.9 – 4 targets
- Jaylon Guilbeau – 75.5 – 13 targets
For reference, Arch Manning‘s NFL passer rating at the current moment is 104.6.
The spike club is an elite group. Currently, 54 FBS players who have played at least 75 coverage snaps this season are in the spike club. A few players are posting ridiculous years so far, including Power Four players like Louisville’s Jabari Mack, Maryland’s Dontay Joyner, and LSU’s Mansoor Delane.
Last season, only 22 defensive players were in the spike club (minimum 250 coverage snaps). Mukuba actually was second in the nation in passer rating against behind James Madison’s Jacob Thomas.
McDonald isn’t just making life difficult for passers, as he has just one missed tackle and five stops according to PFF. He also is a factor on special teams as a mainstay on punt coverage.
McDonald is having a standout season not just among Longhorn defenders, but among defensive backs nationwide. Just ask the quarterbacks that have had to pass against him this year.
