Top PFF grades from No. 7 Texas' 33-30 OT win over No. 23 Kansas State
After the No. 7 Texas Longhorns’ 33-30 win over No. 23 Kansas State from Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Inside Texas takes a look at the Pro Football Focus grades on offense and defense after the Longhorns moved to 8-1 for the first time since 2009.
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OFFENSE
QB – Maalik Murphy, 41.3
Murphy made his second career start on Saturday and played well early, but was a little rough until the team’s final drive in regulation. He went 19-of-37 passing for 248 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Him and Adonai Mitchell have shown a remarkable connection together.
RB – Jonathon Brooks, 77.5, Cedric Baxter, 67.8
The duo of Brooks and Baxter tallied 208 total rushing yards and two touchdowns, including Brooks eclipsing the 1,000-yard rushing mark in 2023 and Baxter’s fourth down scoring jaunt.
More from Mr. Baxter.
WR – Adonai Mitchell, 81.1
The passing game opened up more, with Mitchell continuing to be a top target for Murphy on Saturdays. Mitchell had 149 yards receiving and one touchdowns on eight catches.
TE – Ja’Tavion Sanders, 52.2
Sanders was clutch on Saturday. He only tallied 21 yards receiving on two grabs on 41 snaps, but his fourth-down reception on UT’s final drive of regulation was huge in the win.
OL – Kelvin Banks, 64.2, Jake Majors, 65.2, Hayden Conner, 65.8
Offensive linemen Kelvin Banks (76 snaps) and Hayden Conner (74 snaps) paced the O-line attack up front. Conner’s 86.5 pass-blocking grade and Banks’s 68.8 run-blocking grade led all the offensive linemen.
DEFENSE
DL/EDGE – T’Vondre Sweat, 88.0, Byron Murphy, 87.3, Ethan Burke, 75.4
Sweat (41 snaps) and Murphy (41 snaps) once again led the Horns defense, with Sweat notching four tackles, one tackle for loss, and a number of pressures. Murphy lead the defense with 84.3 pass-rush grade. Burke led all defenders with two sacks, in addition to three tackles.
LB – Jaylan Ford, 60.2
The Frisco (Texas) Lone Star product continues to pace the linebacking crew, grabbing eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss on 74 snaps.
CB/N – Malik Muhammad, 65.5, Ryan Watts, 63.0
Watts (57 snaps) led the back seven with eight tackles on Saturday, while Muhammad (19 snaps) was like glue with 65.2 pass-coverage grade.
S – Michael Taaffe, 64.5, Derek Williams, 74.2, Jerrin Thompson, 73.2
For the third consecutive week, Taaffe snagged a critical second half interception in addition to seven tackles on 65 snaps. Williams added a 80.5 tackling grade and two tackles in 21 snaps as the true freshman from the Pelican State continues to see his playing time increase. Thompson led the safeties with 63 snaps on Saturday.
