Texas lands number of SEC superlatives after win over Oklahoma
After the No. 21 Longhorns (4-2) knocked off No. 14 Oklahoma, 23-6, from the Red River Shootout in Dallas, they had a number of players named for SEC superlatives for Saturday’s performance.
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DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Malik Muhammad, DB
- Muhammad pulled in two interceptions along with recording a tackle for loss and a pass breakup to help the Texas defense keep rival No. 6 Oklahoma out the end zone in a 23-6 victory in the Allstate Red River Rivalry in Dallas. The interceptions were the second and third of Muhammad’s career as he became the first Longhorn to secure multiple interceptions against the Sooners since 2016.
- His first interception came in the first quarter at the Texas 42 to stop that drive and set up a field goal attempt for the UT offense. The second interception came in the end zone at the end of the second quarter as Oklahoma was attempting to score before halftime from the Texas 30-yard line.
- That kept the score at 6-3 in favor of OU before the Longhorns’ defense went on to shutout the Sooners in the second half. Oklahoma would be limited to only 258 total yards in the game, including just 88 in the second half after entering the game averaging 415.2 yards per and 33.8 points per game.
- Muhammad’s pass breakup also forced a fourth down on OU’s final drive of the game that the Sooners then went for and did not convert.
- Oklahoma entered the game with three interceptions thrown for the season, and Texas doubled that number with three in the game.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Niblett, PR
- Niblett registered the first punt return touchdown of his career with a 75-yard score that put Texas up 20-6 with just under 10 minutes to play in the game in an eventual 23-6 victory over No. 6 Oklahoma in the Allstate Red River Rivalry in Dallas.
- It was one of two touchdowns scored in the game and just the third punt return touchdown by a Longhorn all-time against Oklahoma with the last coming in 2013 by Daje Johnson, and the one prior to that being in 1932 by Bohn Hilliard.
- For the season, Niblett now leads the SEC and ranks third in the nation in punt return average at 21.6 yards per return.
- Niblett also posted a 22-yard kickoff return in game and leads the SEC and ranks 11th nationally in combined kick return yards with 328.
CO-DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Colin Simmons, EDGE
- Simmons collected 2.5 sacks as part of five tackles to help the Texas defense keep rival No. 6 Oklahoma out the end zone in a 23-6 victory in the Allstate Red River Rivalry in Dallas.
- First sack came early in the second quarter with Oklahoma having reached the UT 24-yard line. It was for five yards and set the tone of the series that eventually ended in a stop by the Longhorns to hold the Sooners to just a field goal and a 6-0 lead.
- His next sack came in with 6:23 left in the fourth quarter and Texas leading 20-6. Oklahoma was at the UT 35-yard line with a 3rd-and-20 and it forced a fourth down that Oklahoma went for but failed to convert to give the ball back to Texas.
- His final half sack came on the Sooners’ final drive for a loss of 12 yards resulting in a 3rd-and-22.
- Oklahoma would be limited to only 258 total yards in the game, including just 88 in the second half after entering the game averaging 415.2 yards per and 33.8 points per game.
(via SEC release)
