The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 3/3/3 Football trio garners SEC weekly honors
11.18.2024 | Football
The Longhorn trio of Jahdae Barron (Co-Defensive Player of the Week), Alfred Collins (Defensive Lineman of the Week) and Hayden Conner (Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week) picked up weekly honors from the Southeastern Conference office Monday.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas football (9-1, 5-1 SEC) seniors Jahdae Barron, Alfred Collins and Hayden Conner earned weekly honors from the Southeastern Conference, the league office announced Monday. Collins was named the conference's defensive lineman of the week, Barron was selected as the co-defensive player of the week and Conner was tabbed co-offensive lineman of the week.
The trio guided No. 3/3/3 Texas to a 20-10 road win at Arkansas on Nov. 16. The victory marked UT's 10th-straight true road win – the longest active streak in the FBS.
With Collins and Barron taking charge, Texas leads the FBS in total defense (249.0 ypg) and passing yards allowed (136.7 ypg). The Longhorns also rank second nationally and lead the SEC in passing efficiency defense (91.19), and first down defense (148). Texas leads the SEC and ranks fourth in scoring defense (11.9 ppg), leads the SEC and ranks seventh in passes intercepted (15), are sixth in the nation in turnovers gained (22), and 13th in third-down conversion percentage defense (0.310). As a team, the defense limited Arkansas to 231 total yards, 149 passing yards and 82 rushing yards with the total yards and passing yards being their lowest outputs of the season, and the rushing yards the second lowest. The Razorbacks entered the game ranking fifth nationally in total offense (483.6), 11th in passing offense (292.3) and 32nd in rushing offense (191.2).
Collins generated seven tackles (four solo), including one sack and two tackles for loss, along with a critical forced fumble in the fourth quarter, as Texas won a renewed rivalry game on the road against the Razorbacks. With the Longhorns leading, 20-10, with seven minutes to go in the game and Arkansas driving into Texas territory at the 39-yard line, the Hogs completed a screen pass when Collins gave full extension and was parallel to the ground in reaching out and punching the ball free as the receiver turned up field. Teammate Michael Taaffe recovered, and the offense then melted away the final 6:55 of the game, preventing Arkansas from another opportunity on offense. In the first quarter, Collins was at full extension again as he reached out and sacked the quarterback for a 12-yard loss on first down that backed up Arkansas from the Texas 38 to midfield to stop a Razorbacks' scoring threat. Three plays later Arkansas was forced to punt. Collins then helped stop another Arkansas drive to start the second half when he notched a seven-yard tackle for loss on a screen pass that created a 3rd-and-17 before the Razorbacks had to punt. The Bastrop, Texas, native has five pass breakups this season from his defensive tackle position, which is tied for second on the team.
Barron compiled seven tackles (six solo), including one sack and two tackles for loss, along with a tone-setting interception, one pass breakup and one QB hurry against the Razorbacks. Barron's interception came a little over five minutes into the game at the Texas 39-yard line, and from there, the offense went on to score the first points of the game on a touchdown for 7-0 lead, which the Longhorns would not relinquish the rest of the game. On the very next series, Barron secured a tackle for loss on a 3rd-and-3 to provide a three-and-out. The Austin, Texas, product later posted a sack on the last play of the first half with 19 seconds remaining to ensure Arkansas would not have a scoring opportunity from their 38-yard line, and that Texas would maintain a 10-0 halftime lead. Barron disrupted the quarterback again in a critical situation in the fourth quarter. With the Longhorns leading, 13-7, and Arkansas close to the red zone on the Texas 26, Barron pressured an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-10 that forced a field goal to keep the game at 13-10. The Longhorns then extended their lead back to 20-10 on the next offensive possession. A semifinalist for the Thorpe Award for the second consecutive season, Barron now has four interceptions, which rank seventh nationally and lead the SEC, while his 12 passes defended are 13th in the nation and second in the SEC.
Conner, a native of Katy, Texas, graded as the team's top offensive lineman in the game. Conner allowed no sacks, no quarterback pressures and no tackles for loss from his left guard position, while the line as a whole only gave up two sacks and just one pressure. The Texas offense posted 139 rushing yards against an Arkansas defense that entered the game ranked 38th nationally in rushing defense. Behind the offensive line, Texas was able to run out the last 6:55 of the game, earning four first downs in the process, to prevent Arkansas from having another possession and secure the win. Conner has started all 10 games at left guard this season and has played in 45 games with 37 starts in his career. He has earned a place on this year's AFCA Good Works Team and is a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy. This season, Texas ranks ninth nationally in team passing efficiency (162.81), 12th in passing offense (288.6), 13th in completion percentage (67.9 percent) and scoring offense (37.0 ppg), and 18th in total offense (450.2 ypg). The line has protected QB Quinn Ewers, who also sits amongst the nation's best in several individual statistical categories, including 13th in completion percentage (68.4 percent), 16th in passing touchdowns (21), and 18th in passing efficiency (156.2).
The Texas Longhorns tangle with the Kentucky Wildcats at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 23, inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will broadcast on ABC with Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst) and Katie George (sideline) on the call.
