Texas senior Jahdae Barron knew that switching jersey numbers this year came with high expectations. If you’re going to wear someone’s number who is still in the football building, you better perform.
And if you’re going to make an impressive interception, like Barron did Saturday against Colorado State, you better return it for a touchdown.
Michael Huff wore jersey No. 7 and made it famous by becoming the first Longhorns player to win the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. Huff was also the defensive MVP in the 2005 national championship win over USC. He’s now on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame.
When people talk about Texas and its history of “DBU,” they’re thinking primarily of Huff.
Huff is now an assistant director of player development with the Longhorns. He’s working with Barron every day, pushing the defensive standout to be his best. So when Barron made an impressive pick with 3:32 remaining before halftime and returned it only 30 yards, he was going to hear about it on the sideline.
“It was a trick play,” Barron said. “But at the end of the day, I’m wearing No. 7, so I’ve got to make plays like Huff. So I’ve got a hard task. Got a hard task. I’m just trying to be the best version of myself on and off the field to represent Huff in a tremendous way.
What did Huff think?
“I mean, he told me that was a horrible job,” Barron said. “I should have scored. He said he would have scored. So I didn’t do a good enough job.”
NFL scouts will sure be impressed. Plays like that are a big reason why Barron is among the top safety picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Barron shouldn’t feel too bad. The Texas pass defense was tremendous in the 52-0 season-opening victory. Colorado State finished with a paltry 74 passing yards and future NFL wideout Tory Horton had just five catches for 31 yards. He was a total non-factor.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian praised Barron for his work, saying the senior could have played multiple positions in the defensive backfield. The Longhorns just need him most at cornerback on Saturday. That could change going forward based on the matchups.
Related: Texas Longhorns look solid as Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning romp in 52-0 blowout over Colorado State
Barron said the Longhorns “had a successful day on the perimeter” with Anthony Hill Jr. and Jaylon Guilbeau roaming the secondary. The entire defensive line played well, he said, “and everybody flying around and having good eyes and playing as a team and as a family.”
The Texas pass defense got beat up in the offseason. It was a sore spot for last season’s Big 12 champions. Barron said as long as the Horns keep playing with this level of effort, their defense should be fine.
“We talk effort first, so it’s effort before anything, before you get the play call and those things like that,” Barron said. “So I saw everybody playing with tremendous effort today, and that’s what we need throughout.”
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