Malik Muhammad is ready to build on his career year
During the 2024 campaign, the Texas Longhorns got contributions from everyone on the roster. As they fell two wins short of a national title, their defense was a strength. One player who exceeded expectations was Malik Muhammad. The talented defensive back is now a key veteran who is motivated to prove that last year was no fluke.
In his second season in the Forty Acres, Muhammad was a human highlight reel. He set career highs in total tackles with 36 and pass deflections with eight. Regardless of the matchup, the Texas native made life difficult for quarterbacks. Due to his play, the Longhorns' star has earned national recognition.
Last week, Muhammad, along with Michael Taaffe, landed on the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list. Each year, the award is given to the best defensive back in the nation. It showed just how far the South Oak Cliff High School product has come. That was the first time he landed on the watch list.
While Muhammad faces plenty of competition, he showed just how good he can be during his sophomore campaign. For the first time in his career, he started all 16 games in one of the most competitive conferences in the country. For the Longhorns to reach their ultimate goal, they will need Muhammad to build on his performance from last year.
Now that Muhammad has solidified his spot on the roster, he will be one of Sarkisian's primary weapons on defense. Even though he only has one career interception, he has shown a knack for being in the right place at the right time. With a stacked pass rush in front of him, Texas is not a team many people want to face.
In just a few weeks, the wait for the Longhorns' return will end. They open their season against the defending champs, Ohio State, on August 30th. That represents a perfect opportunity for Muhammad to get off to a hot start against elite competition.
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