Texas Longhorns T'Vondre Sweat, Byron Murphy and Xavier Worthy Named AP All-Americans
Texas Longhorns star defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat keeps reeling in the postseason awards. Only this time, he wasn't alone.
On Monday, Sweat, alongside fellow Longhorns defensive lineman Byron Murphy and wide receiver Xavier Worthy, were named Associated Press All-Americans.
Sweat earned first-team honors, while Murphy and Worthy were both third-team selections.
With the selection, Sweat is now a consensus All-American, and well on his way to being a unanimous selection.
“I give all kudos to Coach (Bo) Davis," Sweat said. I know he ain’t going to like it, but without that guy teaching me stuff I know I wouldn’t be up for that. If I didn’t believe in Coach Sark, I feel like I wouldn’t be up for all that.”
T'vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy celebrate vs. Texas Tech
Mikala Compton/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK
Sweat, who recently won the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman, has established career highs with 40 tackles, 16 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, and four pass breakups, already this season, playing in all 12 games with seven starts. He also blocked a critical kick against Iowa State on an extra point that was taken back for two, providing a major momentum swing in the game.
Murphy was also a big part of the defense, finishing the season with 26 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and five sacks.
Together, Murphy and Sweat formed arguably the best interior defensive line in college football in 2023.
In fact, Murphy and Sweat helped lead the Texas defense to the nation's best third-down defense (26.3 percent) and red zone defense (68.8 percent).
The Horns also rank fourth in rushing defense (85.0 ypg), 12th in scoring defense (17.2 ppg), and 27th in first down defense (210).
Worthy, meanwhile earned his third-team honors in the 'all-purpose' category, thanks in large part to his production in the punt return game.
Worthy finished the season with 73 catches for 969 yards and five scores, as well as 21 punt returns for 358 yards and a touchdown. He also had multiple return touchdowns called back for penalties.
"The efficiency that he's playing the game with right now, I'm really proud of him," Sarkisian said of Worthy earlier this fall. "He's playing with an extreme amount of toughness, he’s playing physical, he’s winning one-on-one matchups and Quinn trusts him.”
