{"id":412827,"date":"2026-08-21T11:48:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T11:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/412827\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T11:48:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T11:48:08","slug":"texas-football-lance-jackson-gives-defense-another-threat-on-edge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/412827\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas football: Lance Jackson gives defense another threat on edge"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas edge Lance Jackson (40) grabs the uniform of linebacker Justin Cryer (28) while running a drill as Texas holds their second practice of the summer in preparation for the 2026 season, Aug. 6, 2026.<\/p>\n

Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Longhorns edge rusher Lance Jackson (4) sings a poster for a fan on fan day at Darrell K Royal\u2013Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aril 18, 2026 in Austin.<\/p>\n

Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Longhorns defensive end Lance Jackson (40) blocks Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Brady Norton (70) in the fourth quarter of the Citrus Bowl against the Wolverines at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, Dec. 31, 2025.<\/p>\n

Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Longhorns defensive end Lance Jackson (40) tries to make a play against Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in the Lone Star Showdown in Austin, Texas, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.<\/p>\n

Ricardo B. Brazziell\/Austin American-Statesman\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Hero Kanu (93) talks to edge rusher Lance Jackson (40) during the game against UTEP at Darrell K Royal\u2013Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025.<\/p>\n

Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n

AUSTIN \u2014 Lance Jackson<\/a> is hardly a newcomer to this Texas football team<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Even if his roster designation says he\u2019s only been here a year.<\/p>\n

In actuality, the sophomore edge rusher from Texarkana is just a new version of himself from last season. A better version, at that.<\/p>\n

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He showed up very well as a freshman and was so promising he\u2019s all but ticketed in as the starting defensive end opposite Colin Simmons<\/a>. You may have heard of Simmons. And you\u2019re going to hear a lot more of Jackson in Year 2 and beyond.<\/p>\n

BOHLS: Nine things and one crazy prediction<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cMainly for me, I was just focused on getting bigger, focused more on the IQ of the game,\u201d Jackson said last week. \u201cJust trying to be smart.\u201d<\/p>\n

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He\u2019s seriously addressed every facet of his game and intent on developing a stronger mindset, both physically and mentally.<\/p>\n

Like most freshmen, even including the uber-talented Simmons in his first year<\/a>, Jackson had no real clue what he was doing in his first season. Oh, he was good doing whatever he did, relying mostly on instincts and raw ability.<\/p>\n

When Simmons was asked Thursday when he had his breakthrough moment, he laughed and said, \u201cI don\u2019t know. That\u2019s a good question actually. I think I just said, \u201cScrew it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is that what he\u2019s also advising Jackson and backup Zina Umeozulu to do?<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, screw it,\u201d Simmons said. \u201cGo make a play. Go be yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

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That mindset worked pretty well for Simmons, who had nine sacks as a freshman and an SEC-high 12 last season. His 21 leave him just 13\u00bd shy of the modern\u00a0 SEC record of 34\u00bd, set by Alabama All-American and current Houston Texans star Will Anderson Jr. <\/a>(Sacks weren’t an official NCAA stat until 2000, and Bama’s Derrick Thomas had 52 from 1985-88.)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is breaking Anderson’s mark a goal of Simmons in what is certain to be his final college season before becoming a top 10 NFL Draft pick next spring?<\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t never thought about that,\u201d he said Thursday. \u201cIf it happens, it happens. It\u2019s doable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jackson played in all 13 games and registered 16 tackles last season. His two sacks tied him for 14th with Kade Phillips, a freshman cornerback from Missouri City. There are a lot more sacks where those two sacks came from. Jackson also was credited with four quarterback hurries.<\/p>\n

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But he hardly knew the strategy behind what he was asked to do.<\/p>\n

So how does he describe his first season in a Longhorn uniform?<\/p>\n

\u201cJust being out there,\u201d Jackson said matter of factly with a chuckle. \u201cI feel like I know what\u2019s going on now. I can scan the offense and kind of get an idea of what\u2019s going on. Last year I was just playing hard. Now I know what to do, and then I can also look at the offense and maybe see what\u2019s coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

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I tell you. Lance Jackson is coming.<\/p>\n

So is true freshman Richard Wesley, who figures to see a lot of action in 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just got it all,\u201d Simmons said. \u201cFrom the run, from the pass, from how he carries himself on and off the field. how he takes his notes. He\u2019s a dawg. I always tell Richie he mess around, he\u2019ll be better than me. Honestly. Truthfully.\u201d<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s not get ahead of ourselves and label either Wesley or Jackson a star in the making quite yet. But the latter reshaped his body, added some pounds to his 6-5 frame to now weigh 175 pounds, up 20 pounds at the end of last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ate a lot of Chick-fil-A,\u201d he said, \u201cbut trying to eat clean, too. So I\u2019m not just getting fat.\u201d<\/p>\n

And quite frankly the tanned, curly-haired player looks chiseled and looks the part of a guy who could replace Simmons in 2027. But first things first.<\/p>\n

Simmons looks more muscular as well and seems to have added strength.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe I\u2019m stronger,\u201d Simmons said. \u201cI don\u2019t really know what I bench (press). I just feel stronger. I feel it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked what is the strength of this Texas defense, Simmons said, \u201cThe defensive coordinator. The coaches set the tone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Texas knows Simmons and Jackson can rush the passer, but new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp<\/a> wants his ends to ratchet up their run defense and not just focusing on the more glamorous stat that is sacks. The Longhorns have been stout in that area ever since Steve Sarkisian and deposed defensive boss Pete Kwiatkowski arrived in Austin in 2021.<\/p>\n

Since their first season when Texas got ripped for 202 yards a game on the ground to rank 114th nationally and gave up 26 rushing touchdowns, the Longhorn defense was elite in that category under Kwiatkowski. It never ranked below 33rd in the country and was rated 14th, 13th and third the last three years and never allowed more than 110 yards a game.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re definitely focusing on the run a lot right now,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cChamp wants us to focus on the run a lot. We really haven\u2019t gotten to our full bag with the pass rush. We\u2019re just focused on stopping the run right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Texas has had its share of top players up front from NFL star Byron Murphy II and All-American T\u2019Vondre Sweat and Alfred Collins as well as Keondre Coburn and Moro Ojomo.<\/p>\n

Jackson should emerge as one as well sooner than later. He has as big an upside as his older brother Landon, an All-SEC edge rusher for Arkansas who was a third-round pick by the Bills in 2025. Big brother\u2019s been a big resource for Lance just like he is for Wesley and other Longhorns now.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s fine-tuning his game and being asked to go after offensive tackles like newcomer Melvin Siani from Wake Forest, who\u2019s been described as a \u201cnasty\u201d blocker up front.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s really good,\u201d Jackson said of Siani. \u201cReally hard worker. He\u2019s never going to back down from a fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

When I asked Jackson if his grasp of what Muschamp wants makes him feel like a veteran already, he said, \u201cOh yeah, I do. I feel way older. I\u2019m taking people under my wing. Like Richard Wesley. He\u2019s really a dawg. He\u2019s going to be a really good pass rusher this year. He\u2019s going to get to play a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wesley is a five-star freshman who initially committed to Oregon before shifting to Texas. He was ranked the eighth best prospect in the nation by ESPN. He showed out in the spring game and should press for some quality minutes in Muschamp\u2019s rotation.<\/p>\n

Texas is loaded in its defensive front with stalwarts like returnees Hero Kanu and Alex January in the starting lineup. The depth is noticeable with returner Maraad Watson and Umeozulu along with Arkansas transfer Ian Geffrard and rising sophomore Justus Terry.<\/p>\n

Simmons labeled the 6-5, 289-pound Terry \u201can NFL talent.\u201d Jackson said the massive second-year player from Manchester, Ga., is \u201ccreating havoc a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

At times, Jackson will shift inside as well to give offenses different looks, get a quicker athlete in the middle and allow Muschamp to insert another talented pass rusher like second-year end Brad Spence from Arkansas on the field to get added pressure on the quarterback. Spence had six sacks last year in limited play in his first year as a Longhorn.<\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely want to be able to stop the run,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cI mean, I feel like I got bigger for a reason. That\u2019s the main reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019ll get no argument from Muschamp, who will be much more aggressive than his predecessor and bring pressure from more angles. That\u2019s not lost on his players.<\/p>\n

Jackson and Simmons love the scheme and style of play Muschamp is teaching. And demanding. Simmons called it \u201cjust violence and up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jackson too revels in the more aggressive approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just feel like we\u2019re in your face, getting after it, blitzing,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cI feel like for a lot of teams, it\u2019s going to be hard to pick up all of our people. Somebody\u2019s going to be open all the time. We\u2019re coming.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Texas edge Lance Jackson (40) grabs the uniform of linebacker Justin Cryer (28) while running a drill as…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":412828,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[66615,27,29,28],"class_list":["post-412827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-dallas-sharing","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/412827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=412827"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/412827\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/412828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=412827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=412827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=412827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}