Hager aims to ‘bring it’ as senior
Linebacker will be needed to rebuild Texas’ defense.
Texas linebacker Breckyn Hager’s trademark blond hair will get longer and wilder in the coming months. The Westlake High School graduate doesn’t plan to have his hair cut until December.
Quarterback Sam Ehlinger better get those scissors ready.
“Got to win the Big 12,” Hager said. “Got to have Sam cut it on that podium holding the trophy.”
Yep, that’s Hager’s dream scenario. The Longhorns rule the Big 12 while Ehlinger oversees the barbershop. “We’ve all got goals,” Hager said.
At the end of his junior season, Hager was starting to come into his own as a pass rush specialist in UT’s “lightning” package. He had four tackles and a fumble recovery in the Texas Bowl. It felt as if he were everywhere, though.
The Longhorns lost defensive playmakers all over the depth chart. It’s a unit that desperately needs some new faces to fill the void. Enter Hager, who has morphed into a hulking, athletic speedster off the edge and has won over Tom Herman’s coaching staff in the process.
“Every time I hear the UT Tower ding, my time’s running out,” said Hager, who will be a senior this fall. “So I’ve got to bring it here; I’ve got to bring it with everything I’ve got; whether that’s in the weight room, practice, film room, I don’t care what it all is, I’m leaving it out there.”
Herman and defensive coordinator Todd Orlando weren’t sure what to make of Hager initially. He played two seasons under Charlie Strong’s staff and had 13½ tackles for loss and six sacks, all in his sophomore year.
When Texas fans talk about those who “bleed orange,” picture Hager. The son of All-America linebacker Britt Hager, a tackling machine for the Longhorns in the 1980s, Breckyn has lived his entire life wanting to excel at UT. This is the same player who was so distraught after losing at Oklahoma State in 2016, he was visibly shaking.
On Tuesday, Hager practiced so well that Herman thanked him. “I’m glad he’s on our team,” Herman said.
Hager also sees a team coming together.
“I see a team that is different than all the teams I’ve been a part of,” Hager said. “I see an offense and defense both clicking with their chemistry. I see an offense and defense destroying each other. It’s always been one-sided in these spring scrimmages. Now it’s actually somewhat of a fight, and I’m impressed.”
Watching Malcolm Roach: One of the most intriguing personnel moves this spring has been Malcolm Roach’s shift to the rover linebacker spot from defensive end. It’s the same position Malik Jefferson played last season, one that gave Jefferson the freedom to roam and make plays and boost his profile with NFL scouts.
To be sure, Roach is getting this opportunity mostly because of injuries to Gary Johnson and Edwin Freeman. Still, Roach (6 feet 3, 270 pounds) is showing serious versatility.
“He’s instinctive. He’s just a playmaker,” Orlando said. “He’s got really good vision. It’s my best not to screw him up, to be honest with you. I’m very thoughtful about moving him around to different spots and how hard I coach him so we can teach him.”
Said Hager: “We could put Malcolm anywhere. That man, he’s got some speed. I love that kid.”
Rodriguez is back: The Horns had high hopes for offensive lineman Elijah Rodriguez last season, but the projected starter got his ankle rolled in a pileup during a preseason practice and needed surgery. He didn’t play again until the Texas Bowl.
Rodriguez is back working at right guard. He’ll probably be a starter there between center Zach Shackelford and right tackle Derek Kerstetter. He’s another senior who wants to finish his career on a high note this fall.
“What I learned is that I put the team before myself,” Rodriguez said, “because instead of wallowing in ‘woe is me’ and ‘I can’t be on the field,’ I started looking at how I could benefit the team, whether it’s encouraging guys or coaching guys or doing whatever it takes to help the guys out there be their best.”
Briefly: Running back Kyle Porter (ankle) and offensive tackle Patrick Hudson (knee) returned to practice Thursday in limited roles. Both participated in individual drills but were held out of team work . ... The Longhorns got to wear shorts for Thursday’s workout, not full pads, because Herman believed the team had been practicing well. Contact Brian Davis at 512445-3957. Twitter: @BDavisAAS