Six Longhorns invited to play in 75th Reese’s Senior Bowl
A six-pack of Texas players – five of them on defense – have been invited to participate in the 75th Annual Reese’s Senior Bowl, to be played on Feb. 3, 2024 in Mobile, Ala. The Reese’s Senior Bowl is the preeminent and longest continually running college football all-star game and an important stage in the NFL Draft process.
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Defensive tackles Byron Murphy II, Alfred Collins and T’Vondre Sweat are joined by linebacker Jaylan Ford and defensive back Jahdae Barron from the Texas defense, which heads into this Saturday’s key Big 12 Conference game at Iowa State ranked 36th in total defense, eighth in rushing defense and 20th in scoring defense.
Offensive tackle Christian Jones is the lone Texas player invited from that side of the ball.
Juniors who declare for the NFL draft will be eligible for three of the college all-star games after this season, including the Senior Bowl.
Murphy, a junior from DeSoto, has 22 tackles, nine of them solo and 6.5 for a loss, 3.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries this season. Collins, a senior from Bastrop Cedar Creek, has 10 tackles, eight of them solo and one for a loss, a sack, two quarterback hurries and two passes knocked down in 2023. Sweat is a senior from Huntsville who’s recorded 35 tackles, 15 of them solo and 7.5 for a loss as well as two sacks, six quarterback hurries and two passes knocked down.
Ford, a senior from Frisco Lone Star and the Big 12’s preseason defensive player of the year, had been among the Longhorns’ leaders this year, amassing a team-high 74 tackles – 35 of them solo and 10 for a loss – a sack, a fumble forced, another fumble recovered, two interceptions, four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
Barron, a senior from Pflugerville Connally, has racked up 48 stops (which is second on the team), 26 of them solo and 4.5 for a loss, forced a fumble, recorded an interception, and has knocked down three passes.
Jones, a senior from Cy-Woods who’s arguably been the Longhorns’ top offensive lineman this season, has started and played at right tackle in nine of Texas’ 10 games and helped the offense gain an average of 347 yards per game.
More than 900 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, and better than 1,100 media members from around the country were credentialed for this year’s Senior Bowl. In the most recent NFL Draft, the game produced 100 total picks for the third straight year, representing 40 percent of the entire draft including 40 players selected on the first two days.
