AUSTIN, Texas — As the Texas Longhorns get ready to face Oklahoma State in a high-stakes Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday, some of the team's most important players are being honored for their outstanding seasons.
On Wednesday, the Big 12 announced its regular season award winners – and the Longhorns are leaving the conference with some individual hardware.
Senior defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year for 2023. Sweat anchors a defensive line that currently ranks first in the Big 12 and fifth in the nation against the run, top of the nation on third down and among the top in the nation in red zone efficiency.
The Huntsville native has 40 tackles on the season, paired with eight tackles for loss, two sacks and a blocked kick.
With Sweat in the middle of the defensive line, the Texas defense has held seven of its 12 opponents to under 100 yards rushing – including a five-game stretch against Houston, BYU, Kansas State, TCU and Iowa State.
Sweat was also named a finalist for a pair of national awards, the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation's top interior lineman. If he wins, he would be the school's fourth Outland Trophy winner.
In addition to Sweat, junior defensive lineman Byron Murphy was named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year. Murphy has 24 tackles and five sacks on the season to go along with a receiving touchdown he scored in Week 3 against Wyoming.
Another defender getting kudos is linebacker Anthony Hill, who was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year. The Denton native has 57 tackles, four sacks and two pass defenses on the season while patrolling the middle of the Longhorns' defense.
And it wasn't just the guys on defense who were honored, as wide receiver A.D. Mitchell was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. The Georgia transfer has been a godsend for the Longhorns offense, hauling in 45 catches for 704 yards and nine touchdowns while becoming one of quarterback Quinn Ewers' favorite targets in the process.
The Longhorns finished the regular season with an 11-1 record, the school's best regular season record since the 2009 season, when they finished 12-0. They will now look to parlay that regular season success into a Big 12 Championship win over Oklahoma State on Dec. 2.
While it isn't necessarily likely, a win for the Longhorns could potentially result in a College Football Playoff berth if enough results break their way.