2025 Texas Longhorns football preview: The secondary looks to take another step forward

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian talked about “incremental growth” the Longhorns’ defense as a whole has made throughout his tenure, and perhaps the best example of that was the team’s pass defense last season.

The biggest piece of that was the improvement of the primary pass defenders in the secondary, and while 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba are in the NFL, the Longhorns’ defensive backfield is going to be a strength again this season.

2025 Texas Longhorns positions previews

• Offensive Line
• Defensive Line
• Running Backs
• Linebackers
• Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
• Quarterbacks
• Special Teams: Coming soon

Anchored by senior safety Michael Taaffe, who began at Texas as a walk-on and worked his way into an All-America distinction last season, the secondary was vital in making the Longhorns one of the best teams against the pass in 2024. The Longhorns tied BYU for the FBS lead in total interceptions, picking off 22 passes, and they were seventh in passing yards allowed, giving up an average of 173.8 yards per game. They were one of three FBS teams to allow fewer than 10 passing touchdowns for the season, allowing nine with Florida International and Kentucky.

With the amount of experienced players and depth returning, the expectations for the pass defense to not simply replicate those statistics, but to make another big leap, are high.

Taaffe, alongside Malik Muhammad and Jaylon Guilbeau, return as the veteran core. The trio combined for 172 tackles and 21 pass breakups last season, and Taaffe is the unquestioned leader of the unit. Sarkisian said his path is “probably the coolest story on the team right now.” Taaffe had scholarship offers to go to other schools following his stellar high school days with the Westlake Chaparrals, but he took a chance on himself to walk on at Texas. Things worked out for him.

“All he did was work hard. He never put a ceiling on himself,” Sarkisian said. “I think in his mind, he always expected to be an All-American safety at the University of Texas as a captain representing us at SEC media days. I think that’s how this guy thinks, and that’s how he’s wired.”

Jelani McDonald, Derek Williams, Kobe Black and Warren Roberson should all get plenty of time, and during spring practices, Sarkisian was especially pleased with the progress of Roberson, who appeared in all 16 games last season as a redshirt freshman.

“He’s had an impact for us on special teams here, but now we’re starting to see the value of him on the defensive side of the ball,” Sarkisian said of Roberson.

Jonah Williams, a 5-star recruit from Galveston Ball, should be an exciting player to watch. He flashed his speed and athleticism with the Longhorns’ baseball team after enrolling in the spring last school year, and now fans will get to see him on the gridiron. According to 247Sports, Williams is the top safety and the No. 6 overall player in the country for the 2025 class.

Jordon Johnson-Rubell, Xavier Filsaime and Wardell Mack should factor into the rotation, and Sarkisian moved Ryan Niblett — again — to help fill in. Nibett began his career at Texas as a receiver and was moved to the offensive backfield to help with depth there last season. He’s also been a mainstay on special teams.

As a whole, Sarkisian said this is the most depth he’s ever had on defense, and the secondary is perhaps the most representative of that. He and defensive coordinator Pete Kwaitkowski love to rotate defensive players to keep fresh legs on the field as much as possible, and they shouldn’t have any issues doing that.