- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,206,536
- Reaction score
- 59
Texas football is just 55 days away from the Longhorns taking the field against Texas State. We’ve made our way back to “Breakout Sunday” and today, it’s about an under-the-radar player. Zina Umeozulu, the third-year edge rusher, appeared in 12 of the 13 games, finishing the season with 13 tackles, 3 TFLs and 2 sacks. I expect him to take another step forward and possibly double those numbers this season.
The Texas pass rusher is predicated off one player, Colin Simmons. He’s as impactful a player as the sport has to offer and it’s going to be Lance Jackson across from him as the other starter. There is an opening at EDGE3 and it seems Umeozulu could be taking that role. His length and athleticism was clear last season and in Muschamp’s system, he’ll be in more attacking positions.
Umeozulu measures in at 6-5, 265lbs, nearly a carbon copy of former Longhorn EDGE, Ethan Burke. However, unlike Burke, I believe Umeozulu might have more to his pass rush game. He got home just twice in 2025 but I’d expect that to elevate to least five sacks this season. I expect he and Lance Jackson to rotate quite a bit across from Simmons, and Umeozulu will make the most of his reps.
Zina Umeozulu is a name most Longhorn fans know by this point in his career. I don’t believe many people outside the fanbase are circling his name heading into the season. According to offseason reports, he’s taken the next step forward and is ready to step up in the EDGE room. I believe he’ll do just that and earn true national praise by the end of the season.
We are far from out of breakout candidates for the Longhorns, so we’ll be back next week with another name to watch. Tomorrow, we’ll zero in on the room Umeozulu is a part of, the EDGE room. Colin Simmons clearly leads the way, but how does the depth fit around No. 11? I believe there are a few players that need to step up but the ceiling of this unit is remarkably high.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: EDGE Zina Umeozulu set for breakout season
Continue reading...
The Texas pass rusher is predicated off one player, Colin Simmons. He’s as impactful a player as the sport has to offer and it’s going to be Lance Jackson across from him as the other starter. There is an opening at EDGE3 and it seems Umeozulu could be taking that role. His length and athleticism was clear last season and in Muschamp’s system, he’ll be in more attacking positions.
Umeozulu measures in at 6-5, 265lbs, nearly a carbon copy of former Longhorn EDGE, Ethan Burke. However, unlike Burke, I believe Umeozulu might have more to his pass rush game. He got home just twice in 2025 but I’d expect that to elevate to least five sacks this season. I expect he and Lance Jackson to rotate quite a bit across from Simmons, and Umeozulu will make the most of his reps.
Zina Umeozulu is a name most Longhorn fans know by this point in his career. I don’t believe many people outside the fanbase are circling his name heading into the season. According to offseason reports, he’s taken the next step forward and is ready to step up in the EDGE room. I believe he’ll do just that and earn true national praise by the end of the season.
We are far from out of breakout candidates for the Longhorns, so we’ll be back next week with another name to watch. Tomorrow, we’ll zero in on the room Umeozulu is a part of, the EDGE room. Colin Simmons clearly leads the way, but how does the depth fit around No. 11? I believe there are a few players that need to step up but the ceiling of this unit is remarkably high.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: EDGE Zina Umeozulu set for breakout season
Continue reading...
