Three Texas Longhorns Named To Sporting News All-American Roster
Three more Texas players have earned All-American honors after breakout seasons on the Forty Acres.
Longhorns receiver Xavier Worthy and defensive linemen T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy were named to The Sporting News All-American team on Wednesday. Sweat was named a first-team defensive tackle while Murphy earned second-team recognition at the same position.
Worthy was named the second-team punt returner.
Sweat could become the 24th Longhorn to become a unanimous All-American should the American Football Coaches Association vote him to the roster. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year recorded 42 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks, a blocked kick, and four pass breakups. He also caught a touchdown pass during the first quarter against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship earlier this month.
Along with being named the conference's top defensive player, Sweat won the 2023 Outland Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top interior lineman.
Texas Longhorns celebrate a sack
© Ricardo B. Brazziell, Austin American-Statesman
Murphy, who was also named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press, totaled 26 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and five sacks. Murphy was also named the Big 12 defensive lineman of the year by the league’s coaches.
The duo led the way for a dominant year in the trenches for Texas' defensive line, especially defending the run. The Longhorns rank fourth nationally in run defense, holding 80.8 yards per game. Texas also excelled on third down stops, holding opponents to a conversion rate of 26.5 percent.
Worthy, who led Texas in receptions (73) and receiving yards (969), ranked second in the nation in yards per punt return with 17.9. He also averaged 8.8 yards per rush attempt
Worthy was named a first-team All-Big 12 selection and a third-team selection as an all-purpose player by the AP.
The No. 3 Longhorns take on No. 2 Washington in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024, in New Orleans, La., at Caesars Superdome.
