It seems that each time Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns faced a new opponent each week, they had bulletin board material. From Iowa State offensive lineman Jarrod Hufford calling out the Horns to remembering what Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire said after the 2022 contest, the Horns had quite a few additional motivators before those contests. Now, UT’s defensive line has a new reason to get up for the Sugar Bowl: winning in the trenches against Washington’s offensive line who received the Joe Moore Award in 2023.
[Join Inside Texas and get ONE MONTH of Longhorn intel for just $1!]
When you boast the Outland Trophy winner, T’Vondre Sweat, and Big 12 defensive lineman of the year Byron Murphy on your defensive interior, you should have a good amount of confidence. Are there any concerns or observations pertaining to Washington’s offensive front?
“I’m not concerned at all,” said Murphy at the availability in New Orleans on Thursday. “At the end of the day, I give credit to those [Washington] guys, they’re a great O-line. It’s a great group of guys and a great unit, but it’s not about what they do. It’s about what we do. They looked good on tape. I’m not taking anything away from them. Come January 1st at 7:45 p.m., it’ll be a great bowl and a great game.”
Texas also has one of the top offensive line groups in the nation. Is UW better than the O-line these guys go against in practice every day?
“I mean, they have a great O-line and we also have a great O-line,” Sweat said. “I’m just here ready for New Years and playing against them. It’s really no pressure, man. We’re out here just playing another
ballgame. You know what I’m saying? So it is what is. We’re just going to go out there and play our
best ballgame.”
Sweat continued about how you just have to view them as your next opponent and ignore the accolades that they might bring with into the game.
“It’s just another O-line to me,” Sweat said. “They’re a great group of guys. And they’re here to
win, just like we’re here to win. I mean, like I said, everybody will see Monday at 7:45.”
[Subscribe to the brand new Inside Texas YouTube channel!]
Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski understands the Huskies’ strengths along the offensive line and how they’ll need pressure on quarterback Michael Penix.
“The Washington offensive line does a really good job,” said Kwiatkowski. “They’re very athletic. They do a good job working together. Obviously, communicate very well, and they don’t — they don’t bust very much. And so, yeah, we’ve got a huge challenge in front of us.”
It’s a challenge in the form of an O-line that brings an award with it. Texas hopes it’s one more challenge they overcome during their season.
