The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
2022 Football Roster
Roster
David Gbenda
- Position:
- LB
- Height:
- 6-0
- Hometown:
- Katy, Texas
- Weight:
- 229
- Class:
- Junior
- High School:
- Cinco Ranch
A sixth-year linebacker who has played in 52 games with 16 starts ... made his debut versus Louisiana Tech in 2019 ... was an All-American in high school ... participated in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game ... a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2020).
SENIOR (2024)
Started in season opener against Colorado State and racked up four tackles (two solo), including a tackle for a loss of one yard ... started in road win at No. 10/9 Michigan, accumulating seven tackles (three solo) and a 0.5 tackle for loss ... collected five tackles (four solo stops), including half a tackle for loss in the win against UTSA ... tallied four tackles (three solo stops), including two tackles for a combined loss of half a yard in the victory against ULM ... led UT in tackles with eight (six solo) to go along with a sack for a loss of one yard in the SEC opening win vs. Mississippi State (Sept. 28).
SENIOR (2023)
Played in all 14 games with eight starts … totaled 50 tackles (23 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries and one pass breakup … made six tackles (three solo) with half a sack against Rice … tallied six tackles (three solo) and a sack for a 10-yard loss at No. 3 Alabama … had this third-straight games with six tackles in a win over Wyoming with half a tackle for loss … made four tackles (two solo) and had one QB hurry at Baylor … recorded three tackles against Kansas … had four tackles (two solo) against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry … posted three tackles (two solo) versus Houston, BYU and Kansas State … appeared in the victory at TCU … made six tackles (two solo), 1.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup at Iowa State … collected four tackles (two solo) and one quarterback hurry against Texas Tech … had one tackle and one quarterback hurry in the Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma State … made a solo tackle in the CFP semifinal against Washington.
JUNIOR (2022)
Played in eight games with one start … totaled 12 tackles (eight solo) ... made two tackles (one solo) against ULM … appeared in the Longhorns’ game against Alabama … had a career-high three tackles (three solo) versus UTSA … started at Texas Tech and made two tackles (one solo) … recorded three tackles (two solo) at Kansas ... had two tackles (one solo) against Washington in the Alamo Bowl.
SOPHOMORE (2021)
Played in 11 games … registered 27 tackles (17 solo) with 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two pass breakups … made five tackles (four solo) in the season-opening win against Louisiana … made a solo tackle at Arkansas … had one tackles versus Rice … tallied a career-high seven tackles (one solo) with one pass breakup versus Oklahoma State … made a tackle for a three-yard loss at Baylor … notched one tackle at Iowa State … recorded four tackles (two solo) with a half a sack and a pass breakup at West Virginia … equaled his career high with seven tackles (seven solo) with one sack in a start versus Kansas State.
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2020)
Played in all 10 games, contributing primarily on special teams ... recorded 19 tackles (10 solo) and one interception ... posted four tackles (two solo) in the season opener versus UTEP ... recorded two tackles against TCU ... tallied four tackles (two solo) in the AT&T Red River Showdown versus Oklahoma ... made two tackles in a home win over West Virginia ... recorded three tackles and his first career interception in the regular season finale at Kansas State ... tallied four tackles in the Alamo Bowl versus Colorado.
FRESHMAN (2019)
Redshirted after playing in four games ... played against Louisiana Tech, No. 6 LSU, Rice and Kansas ... started against the Jayhawks ... briefly transitioned to running back after a slew of injuries but did not see the field ... finished with one tackle against Kansas.
HIGH SCHOOL
An All-American who was an all-state and two-time all-district player ... named 2018 All-USA Texas second team ... participated in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game ... one of three linebackers named 2018 first-team “Tops in Texas” and to the Super Team by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football ... listed as the No. 63 player in the state and as the No. 20 inside linebacker according to Rivals ... ranked No. 237 nationally, No. 28 in Texas and No. 16 at inside linebacker by 247Sports ... the No. 200 player nationally, No. 30 in Texas, No. 38 in the region and No. 5 at inside linebacker according to ESPN ... listed at No. 40 on the Austin American-Statesman’s Fab 55 ... honorable mention 6A All-State by the Associated Press ... named Defensive Player of Year and a unanimous first-team selection in District 19-6A in 2018 ... amassed 79 total tackles (61 solo), 15 tackles for loss, four sacks, two pressures, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one blocked punt as a senior ... also rushed 13 times and scored five touchdowns ... tallied at least six tackles in nine games and at least nine tackles in six games ... notched 10 tackles (nine solo) and one tackle for loss against Jersey Village ... recorded 11 tackles (eight solo), including one for loss against Morton Ranch ... picked up 10 tackles (seven solo), two tackles for loss and one sack against Tompkins ... helped Cinco Ranch to a 3-3 district mark in 2018 ... chosen first-team Super Team and among the Top 25 linebackers by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football entering 2018 ... earned first-team All-District 19-6A honors in 2017 ... posted 56 tackles, including eight for loss and two sacks with seven pressures, while also batting down two passes and rushing for a two-point conversion as a junior ... registered at least five tackles in eight games ... part of a defense that allowed just 17.7 points per game ... collected 12 tackles, one tackle for loss and two pressures against Foster ... helped Cinco Ranch to an 8-2 record, including a 6-1 district mark, and an appearance in the 6A Division 1 bi-district playoffs in 2017 ... played in five games with 11 tackles and seven pressures as a sophomore ... helped Cinco Ranch to an 11-4 overall record, including a 5-2 district mark, and an appearance in the 6A Division 2 semifinals in 2016.
PERSONAL
Son of Tamba and June Gbenda ... has two younger sisters ... is a first-generation American as his parents immigrated from Sierra Leone in 1996 ... aspires to be a sports broadcaster after his playing career is over ... didn't start playing football until seventh grade ... played basketball until 10th grade ... obtained his Bachelor's of Sports Management from Texas.
