The Armband Bandit: Texas LB DeMarvion Overshown Ready For NFL
INDIANAPOLIS -- DeMarvion Overshown laughs at the question. He knew it was going to be a subject of conversation during the NFL Scouting Combine.
"Why so many armbands?"
Overshown, the star linebacker for Texas, had plenty of nicknames over his time in Austin. Agent Zero was a fan favorite. D-Mo was another.
But the "Armband Bandit" only came to life following Texas' win over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl back in 2020. After fans gravitated to the look, he elected to keep it for the remainder of his career.
"It was a fan engagement thing, "Overshown said Wednesday inside the Indianapolis Convention Center. "I'm real big on fan engagement, so it's just fun. I've always been one of those that is an accessory guy and it never kept me from playing the way that I played."
Overshown will have the opportunity to boost his draft stock Thursday during linebacker drills at Lucas Oil Stadium. A projected mid-round pick, the 6-4, 225-pound linebacker could very well crawl his way up leaderboards and into the early second-round conversations.
But back to the main point. Why so many armbands? There's a reason for that.
His cousin.
A former player himself, Overshown's cousin passed away in 2020 prior to the breakout season on the Forty Acres. On the night of the Alamo Bowl, Overshown displayed seven white armbands running up and down the left side.
Who knew that would become an identity three years later?
Indentity is key for all teams looking to add talent over the span of three days. Where does a player fit? Is he the right target? What traits stand out enough to make them worthy of a selection?
For Overshown, it's versatility. Coming out of Arp High School, he was scouted as a safety. Two years and a conversation with then-coach Tom Herman later, Overshown was working linebacker drills, and the rest is history.
"I wasn't able to get a full offseason or a full summer at the position, so it was really like being thrown right into the fire," Overshown said. "After that first game and a couple of fall camp practices, it all felt natural to me."
Natural is one word Overshown could use. Consistent might be better. In his first season, he recorded 60 tackles. A year later, the number expanded to 74. Last season, Overshown posted a career-high 96 stops and tacked on four sacks to bring his total to nine.
Yes, rushing the passer is something Overshown plans to do at the next level. It's why he spends hours watching the tape of Dallas Cowboys' phenom Micah Parsons whenever he gets
Ok, so maybe Overshown won't be the clone of Parsons. No one will. One player he could draw comparisons to is Indianapolis Colts phenom Shaquille Leonard, another human highlight reel that seems to have a knack for finding the football.
"He came in as an undersized linebacker and people were questioning him on if he was going to be able to play," Overshown said of the Colts' star nicknamed "The Freak." "He's balling. It's hard not to see him on the field or miss him. He's going to be a legend one day."
One day Overshown hopes to have that word synonymous with his name. Legend. To achieve that goal, he must build off his success and hone in on their craft whenever they get the moment.
It was one of the reasons Overshown elected to head back for a fifth season rather than enter the draft. Despite being one of the top tacklers on the roster, Overshown said he left "too much on the field" during his junior and senior seasons and wanted another chance to better his stock.
The result; a first-team All-Big 12 nod and career highs in nearly every category.
"I was able to show more versatility," Overshown said. "Get bigger, get more comfortable playing the linebacker position. It really helped my stock and helped my team."
Agent Zero will soon be playing on Sundays. Will the Armband Bandit make his debut come Week 1? That's likely out of his control. During the pre-draft interview with the Denver Broncos, Overshown said that new coach Sean Payton wasn't too keen on the look.
Maybe another team will? Whose to say at this point through an eventful six months leading up to the regular season?
Overshown has more on his mind than what color bands could be portrayed on his arm next season. And if the legacy ends in the pros, so be it. At least Texas fans will remember the 16-banded bruiser as a staple of Longhorn football.
Overshown will remember as a tribute to someone that changed life. And perhaps in more ways than one.
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