{"id":249343,"date":"2026-04-14T15:11:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/249343\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T15:11:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:11:09","slug":"the-one-trait-that-makes-every-texas-draft-prospect-draftable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/249343\/","title":{"rendered":"The One Trait That Makes Every Texas Draft Prospect Draftable"},"content":{"rendered":"

Texas Longhorns <\/a>head coach Steve Sarkisian has a penchant for sending his guys to the NFL. While this year’s class will not reach the heights of the record-setting 2024 and 2025 classes, the Longhorns will still be well-represented at the draft.<\/p>\n

Players do not get drafted for just one skill, however they always have at least one trait which stands above the rest.<\/p>\n

Here is that skill for each of this year’s Longhorn draft-hopefuls.<\/p>\n

Anthony Hill Jr. – Power\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas linebacker Anthony Hill runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

When Anthony Hill Jr. <\/a>gets going downhill, he can clobber puller and demolish ballcarriers. <\/p>\n

While Hill is not the biggest or fastest linebacker in the draft, he possesses a compelling combination of the two. Force equals mass times acceleration, and if Hill is anything, it is forcedful<\/p>\n

Whichever team drafts Hill will do so because they believe his power will help them shut down opposing run games. <\/p>\n

Malik Muhammad – Game IQ<\/p>\n

Malik Muhammad <\/a>played in 40 games and made 29 starts during his time at Texas, which shows in his ability to understand the game and developed footwork.<\/p>\n

Muhammad was asked to execute complicated match-coverage schemes, which blend zone principles with man rules, on a majority of his snaps in Austin. That experience fine-tuned his knowledge of coverages, something which defensive coordinators will prize at the next level.<\/p>\n

Muhammad has just adequate speed and questionable size, but all of that can be forgiven because of his superb game IQ.<\/p>\n

Jack Endries – Hands<\/p>\n

Jack Endries<\/a> is the definition of a quarterback-friendly tight end. He finds the soft spots in zone coverage and boxes out his defenders.<\/p>\n

Where he really helps out his passers is on passes outside of his frame, where he uses his big mitts and concentration to pull in passes that are less-than-ideally located. His strength and focus also help him control catches through contact<\/p>\n

That ability will get him drafted in spite of his subpar athletic tools. His solid blocking sense and capable route running will not hurt either. <\/p>\n

Michael Taaffe – Leadership from the Deep Middle\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe in action during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Playoff First Round | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

While highlighting Michael Taafe’s leadership is clich\u00e9 at this point, however that is for good reason. Taaffe has earned every bit of his authority in the secondary, joining Texas as a walk-on and eventually becoming an All-American. <\/p>\n

‘Leadership’ is more than a catch-all way to highlight a player’s story, it is an important, though intangible, skill. Taaffe kept his teammates organized in former defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkoski’s aforementioned complicated match-coverage system. <\/p>\n

Taaffe does not lack athleticism, however he probably only has adequate speed to play centerfield and is undersized. Still, his contribution to the locker room and on-field leadership will land him on an NFL team this June.<\/p>\n

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