The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
T’Vondre Sweat drafted by Tennessee Titans
04.26.2024 | Football
Texas DL T’Vondre Sweat was selected in the second round with the 38th overall pick.
DETROIT – Texas defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday.
Sweat is the first Longhorn drafted by the Titans since safety Michael Griffin picked in the first round of the 2007 draft. He is the third Longhorn selected among the first 38 picks, the second-most in program history. The only time Texas had more players drafted in the first 38 picks was 1980 when the Horns had a school-best three first-round selections and three of the first 24 picks overall. He and Byron Murphy II become the first Texas defensive tackle duo selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft since Casey Hampton (1st Round/Steelers) and Shaun Rogers (2nd Round/Lions) in 2001.
"T'Vondre's a great choice for the Tennessee Titans and has a bright future in the NFL," said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. "He's a guy that brings a lot of value because he can do a multitude of things. He's not your prototypical big guy – line him up and put your nose over the center – there's much more to his game than just that. You see the big body, but what makes him truly special is he's an extremely athletic guy who's at his best when he's moving around, slanting, penetrating, and making plays. He's more than capable of lining up and holding the point of attack, and we did plenty of that, but because he was a big man that can move like he does, he was able to make really big plays at critical moments. Time and time again, he used his quickness and strength in key short-yardage and third and fourth down situations to make plays. He was making plays for us at critical moments where he always had enough in his tank to go and do that and be a really impactful every down player for us. The thing I loved about it the most was T'Vondre is a guy who really grew into his body. He wasn't always 350-plus pounds. He grew into that, so he was finding his way early in his career here, but in the end, became one of the most reliable guys on the team. His teammates voted him team captain, they voted him team MVP, he's an All-American, and he won the Outland Trophy.
"T'Vondre has a bright future because he's an extremely talented player with a really high football IQ. He can diagnose blocking schemes, will take on double teams, has an innate ability of getting off blocks and making plays, especially at critical moments. And he has unique pass rush ability for a guy his size because of the athleticism he possesses. T-Sweat is going to be a tremendous player that brings a lot of energy to the locker room and will be a great teammate for the Titans. I'm really looking forward to watching him in the NFL."
The 2023 Outland Trophy winner and unanimous All-American, Sweat appeared in 62 career games with 18 starts for the Longhorns, tallying 128 tackles (47 solo) with 17.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, 14 pass breakups, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and one blocked kick. The 2023 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, he was also a Walter Camp Player of the Year and Bednarik Award semifinalist. He was the fourth Longhorn to earn the Outland Trophy and fifth Texas defensive tackle to be a unanimous All-American.
A native of Huntsville, Texas, Sweat earned All-Big 12 first team honors after establishing career highs with 45 tackles, 18 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, two sacks and four pass breakups, while adding a blocked kick that led to a scoop-and-score for Texas. Sweat also caught a two-yard touchdown pass in the Longhorns' Big 12 Championship Game victory over Oklahoma State.
Sweat and the Texas defense led the Big 12 in third-down defense (26.6 percent) and rushing defense (82.4 ypg), respectively ranking second and third nationally in each category. The Longhorns were also seventh nationally in red zone defense (73.8 percent), 15th in scoring defense (18.9 ppg) and 25th in total tackles for loss (85).
A three-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, Sweat graduated with a degree in youth and community studies.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
On the feeling:
It was amazing. I've been working for this all my life. I'm so glad the Titans believed in me, and Tennessee, I'm coming home, and I promise there won't be a letdown. Tennessee fans, let's rock 'n' roll.
On the phone call:
The phone call was, 'Let's get to business, let's do it, and put all the other stuff aside. We're getting you, and we believe in you and we trust you.
On feeling prepared coming out of Texas:
My experience at Texas was awesome. Texas prepared me for this. I can't take anything away from it. I love the University of Texas, I love all my Longhorn fans. For Longhorn Nation, hook 'em for life.
On his family's reaction:
Just a lot of tears, a lot of tears. It's the biggest moment of my life, so they were so happy and had so many tears. It meant so much to me, and because of that the tears came to me, so it was all tears.
On his Longhorn family:
I want to for sure thank coach Bo (Davis) for coming into my life as a father figure. I respect him all the way. Big Murph (Byron Murphy), the whole D-line, Alfred (Collins), everyone I played with. Then Malcolm Roach, Ta'Quan Graham, all those guys, I appreciate them for teach me the ways of being a Longhorn. And I can't do nothing but that Coach Sark and his staff.
On the defensive tackle tradition and being drafted with Byron Murphy II:
It feels amazing. All I can say is I love all my Longhorns, and I appreciate them I'm them, and I'm so glad they've all accepted me as being part of the defensive line.
On being reunited with Keondre Coburn:
Aww, Big Coburn, I can't wait to get down there and play next to him. That's going to be awesome to play next to him and Jeff (Simmons), oh wee, I feel sorry for the league (laughing).
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
👀👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/XhrDuPTLEH
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) April 27, 2024
Oilers legend @WMoon1 with the pick announcement
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) April 27, 2024
📺: 2024 #NFLDraft on @NFLNetwork, @ABC, & @ESPN pic.twitter.com/EzYuHZ5H7Y
Welcome to Nashville, T'Vondre 👋@TvondreSweat x #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/uHKM3xaSML
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) April 26, 2024
ATX 🤝 TN #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/1dtouACuen
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 26, 2024
Sweat is headed to Tennessee! 🤘@TvondreSweat x @Titans pic.twitter.com/ohw9rRV7i2
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 26, 2024
