When Brad Spence decided to defect from a scuffling Arkansas program and enter the transfer portal last offseason, the Texas football coaching staff identified an athlete who could create new possibilities with his versatility.
On early downs, the Razorbacks deployed him as a linebacker. In third-down situations, he shifted to an edge-rushing role.
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Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) leaps over Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Randon Fontenette (2) to earn a first down in the second quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) celebrates the team’s 34-31 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Emmett Mosley V (3) catches the ball to score a touchdown in the third quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Bryan Longwell (11) brings down Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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The ball slips through the fingers of Texas Longhorns wide receiver Emmett Mosley V (3) in the end zone during the fourth quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Young Texas fans line up to see the team run out ahead of the Longhorns game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) runs toward the student section to celebrate as the final whistle signals a 34-31 win for the Longhorns over the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Emmett Mosley V (3) tries to stay up under a tackle from Vanderbilt Commodores cornerback Kolbey Taylor (3) as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas takes the field for the second half of the game as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) celebrates the team’s 34-31 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Emmett Mosley V (3) carries the ball as Vanderbilt Commodores safety CJ Heard (8) and linebacker Bryan Longwell (11) tackle him in the fourth quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Fireworks go up behind Texas cheerleaders at the end of the third quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) dives for a touchdown during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) runs the ball as Vanderbilt Commodores cornerback Jaylin Lackey (27) arrives to defend in the third quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) celebrates the team’s 34-31 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) celebrates a touchdown during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian celebrates the team’s 34-31 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) and wide receiver Parker Livingstone (13) celebrate a touchdown in the second quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Vanderbilt defensive and Texas offensive players attempt to catch a Hail Mary pass from Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) the game at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns linebacker Colin Simmons (1) celebrates a tackle for a loss during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) runs the ball in for a touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) celebrates a run with Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Trevor Goosby (74) in the second quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Ryan Wingo (1) runs the ball for a touchdown during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Ryan Wingo (1) evades a tackle by Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Langston Patterson (10) and runs the ball for a touchdown during the game at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Ryan Wingo (1) evades a tackle by Vanderbilt Commodores safety CJ Heard (8) and runs the ball for a touchdown during the game at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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The Texas Longhorns take the field ahead of the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns tight end Jack Endries (88) flips over Vanderbilt Commodores safety CJ Heard (8) as he catches a pass while linebacker Randon Fontenette (2) runs in to defend in the third quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) hands the ball off to Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) in the fourth quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Parker Livingstone (13) warms up as the Longhorns prepare to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. (0) warms up as the Longhorns prepare to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Longhorns prepare to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) arrives at the stadium ahead of the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian puts his horns up as he enters the stadium ahead of the Longhorns game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas mascot Bevo enters the stadium as the Longhorns prepare to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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A truck pulling Bevo’s trailer is decorated with the skeleton of an Oklahoma player as the Longhorns prepare to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Randy Baker is dressed as an orange monster on Bevo Boulevard as the Longhorns prepare to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) arrives at the stadium ahead of the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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The Texas Marching Band performs ahead of the game as the Longhorns prepare to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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A Texas Longhorns fan dressed as the Grinch holds up the sign of the horns ahead of the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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A young Texas fan gets a better view to see the Texas Marching Band parade down Bevo Boulevard as the Longhorns prepare to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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The Texas Marching Band performs ahead of the game as the Longhorns prepare to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Actor Matthew McConaughey greets Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian ahead of the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns running back CJ Baxter (4) celebrates a touchdown during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns running back CJ Baxter (4) catches a pass in the endzone for a touchdown during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Connor Robertson (62) celebrates a touchdown by running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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The Texas Longhorns celebrate a touchdown by running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Ryan Wingo (1) runs out of a tackle from Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Langston Patterson (10) to run the ball in for a touchdown on the first play of the game as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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The Texas defense take down Vanderbilt Commodores running back Sedrick Alexander (28) in the first quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Vanderbilt Commodores running back Makhilyn Young (22) eyes the landing as he goes down in the first quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns running back CJ Baxter (4) runs the ball in the first quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns linebacker Ethan Burke (91) pressures Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) in the second quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns mascot Hook ‘Em crowd surfs during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (5) dives for more yards during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Vanderbilt Commodores wide receiver Tre Richardson (6) is tackled during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Daylan McCutcheon (17) avoids a tackle by Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Randon Fontenette (2) during the game at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Vanderbilt players huddle on the field during the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) throws a pass during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns receiver Ryan Niblett (21) runs the ball during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Emmett Mosley V (3) is tackled during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns linebacker Trey Moore (8) pressures Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) during the game at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Emmett Mosley V (3) dives for a catch during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin. The catch was ruled an incomplete pass.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian disputes a call during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns place kicker Mason Shipley (49) kicks a field goal during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns linebacker Ethan Burke (91) sacks Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) during the game at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns linebacker Ethan Burke (91) and Texas Longhorns linebacker Brad Spence (14) celebrate a sack during the game against Vanderbilt at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) evades a sack by Texas Longhorns linebacker Brad Spence (14) during the game at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns running back CJ Baxter (4) runs the ball in the fourth quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Cheer run the flags across the field to celebrate a touchdown in the first quarter as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Ryan Wingo (1) celebrates a touchdown on the first play of the game with his teammates as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas takes the field for the second half of the game as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Texas takes the field for the second half of the game as the Longhorns take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 1, 2025.
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Saturday, up against one of the country’s most elusive quarterbacks in Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, the Longhorns asked Spence to add yet another tool to his already bursting Swiss army knife. On the first play of the second half, Texas took one of its interior defensive linemen off the field in favor of Spence on a key third down — an act they’d repeat several times throughout the game. Spence, after failing to break through with his initial rush, identified the space where Pavia intended to scramble and filled it, bringing Pavia down for his third sack as a Longhorn.
Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) evades a sack by Texas Longhorns linebacker Brad Spence (14) during the game at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 in Austin.
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Late in the fourth quarter, Spence executed a similar play. The Longhorns lined him up on the interior of their defensive line — this time with a hand in the dirt. He shot past Vanderbilt’s left guard, then made an athletic play to wrangle Pavia before he could step through the pass rush and out of trouble. Pavia just managed to get his pass away on that occasion, but it fluttered harmlessly to the ground.
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GOLDEN: QB Arch Manning looks nothing like he did early this season as Texas keeps surging
Texas defensive end Ethan Burke, who registered two sacks in the Longhorns’ 34-31 win, described Spence’s role on Saturday as something approximating a quarterback spy. The 27 snaps he played marked a season high.
“We have really athletic guys, and a lot of them can spy,” Burke said. “A guy like Brad used to play linebacker; he’s built for something like that. You see him break the pocket, go get him. He does a really good job of that.”
How the Texas football defense wrangled Diego Pavia
Vanderbilt had allowed just seven sacks in eight games entering this week’s contest. While the Commodores have built an offensive line capable of competing in an SEC loaded with elite pass rushes, that statistic is mostly attributable to Pavia’s escapability. Including data from Saturday’s game, Pavia has now been pressured on 101 dropbacks this season and gone down just 13 times.
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Thanks in part to Spence’s efforts spying Pavia, Texas solved that issue.
“I think he’d been doing it in previous weeks, but we really wanted to hone down on it this week to make sure (Pavia) doesn’t get out of the pocket, and he doesn’t make some of those Diego-type plays that he makes,” Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. said postgame.
“He’s an elite football player,” Hill added. “His tracking, how fast he is, is really good. So in those situations, we want to have Brad there because we know he’s a physical, smart football player.”
With Pavia penned in, the Longhorns compiled a six-sack game. And they needed all of them. When Pavia wasn’t running for his life, he was torching Texas’ secondary, throwing for 365 yards and three touchdowns.
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MORE: How Emmett Mosley V changed everything for Arch Manning and the Texas football offense
It gave the Longhorns yet another game-wrecking pass-rushing performance to add to their recent collection. In their first five games — three of which were played against Group of Five teams — the Longhorns managed just nine sacks. In four games since, they’ve got 25. Suddenly, Texas is the second-best pass rush in the country from a sacks-per-game perspective, trailing only Texas A&M.
Inside a key adjustment for Steve Sarkisian, Texas football offense
It took one play for Texas coach Steve Sarkisian to discover a truth that led the Longhorns to victory: Vanderbilt could not tackle Texas’ wide receivers in space.
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Ryan Wingo caught a screen pass, broke an arm tackle and sprinted 75 yards to the end zone on the Longhorns’ first play from scrimmage. So Sarkisian altered his offensive game plan, which he said originally included a lot of two-tight end looks that would have taken a wide receiver off the field.
“I felt like, when the ball got on the perimeter early in the game, they had a hard time tackling our guys,” Sarkisian said. “I thought our guys were playing fast in space. And so I kind of shifted even more in that direction. It was part of the plan, but it became even more part of the plan once I realized they were having a hard time getting us on the ground.”
ARCH MANNING: Texas football QB shows out for second straight game
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The move helped counter a Vanderbilt defense that blitzed Arch Manning on more than 52% of his dropbacks, attempting to replicate a strategy used to great success by other defenses in recent weeks.
In total, 70% of Manning’s passes targeted receivers who were less than 10 yards downfield. That’s the highest rate of the season, surpassing the 60% short target rate Manning registered against both Ohio State and UTEP. Against Vanderbilt, Texas receivers collected 258 yards after the catch.
Texas football QB Arch Manning finally gets time to throw thanks to lineup change
For the first time since a Week 3 victory over UTEP, Manning didn’t take a sack. The quick-hitting approach the Longhorns applied in the passing game certainly helped, but, when Manning needed time to stand in the pocket and wait for plays to develop downfield, he often got it.
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Vanderbilt managed to pressure him on just 17.6% of his dropbacks, by far the most effective performance in pass protection by the Longhorns’ offensive line this season.
The Longhorns’ tackles played outstanding football. Neither Trevor Goosby nor Brandon Baker allowed a pressure. A big change came on the interior, too.
Cole Hutson, who started the year as Texas’ center, returned from injury Saturday. But instead of thrusting him back into his typical role, Sarkisian persisted with Connor Robertson at center and lined Hutson up at guard, moving overmatched freshman Nick Brooks back to the bench.
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Brooks had allowed 20 pressures in four weeks since stepping in as UT’s primary left guard. Hutson surrendered just one Saturday.
Texas football safeties have no answer for Eli Stowers
Already down an All-American in Michael Taaffe, the Texas secondary lost its other starting safety when Jelani McDonald departed with an injury after just 11 snaps.
That put the Longhorns in several situations where their second-string safeties were forced to match up against Eli Stowers, who might be a Day One selection as a tight end in the upcoming NFL Draft.
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Stowers accumulated a game-high 146 receiving yards on seven receptions, finding the end zone twice. Five of those receptions and 119 of those yards came when matched up against Texas safeties, per Pro Football Focus.
The biggest play came on an apparent Texas miscommunication with Vanderbilt chasing a fourth-quarter deficit. Jaylon Guilbeau, likely believing he had help from a safety over the top, passed Stowers off to an empty zone that he was expecting to be filled.
Nobody was there. Stowers waltzed into the end zone with a 67-yard TD.
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MORE: Texas football nearly lost composure, lead but stayed alive in SEC by beating No. 9 Vanderbilt
The Texas football true freshman report
Nine Longhorn rookies appeared in Saturday’s game. As usual, the most heavily involved was defensive back Graceson Littleton, who occupied his typical role as the Longhorns’ primary slot corner.
Kaliq Lockett, Jonah Williams, Kade Phillips, Justus Terry, Daylan McCutcheon, Lance Jackson, Nick Townsend and Josiah Sharma all also received playing time.
Williams’ participation was notable. The former five-star recruit played defense for the first time since a blowout over Sam Houston in Week 4, lining up at safety for seven snaps following injuries to McDonald and Taaffe. He finished the game with a tackle.
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That brings Williams up to four appearances, meaning he cannot play in another game this season if he hopes to preserve his redshirt. The Texas coaching staff faces a similar decision with Lockett and Sharma, who both also made their fourth appearances of the season last Saturday.
Littleton’s three tackles were the most statistically significant contribution made by the freshman class to the win. McCutcheon also caught a pair of passes and picked up 18 yards.