Heisman candidate or not, Texas defensive end Orakpo is a beast’
By Adam Zuvanich | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Brian Orakpo’s dream is to win the Heisman Trophy.
Only one full-time defensive player has ever won the award – Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson in 1997 – and he also was a punt returner who played a little offense. Another obstacle to Orakpo’s Heisman hopes is teammate Colt McCoy, the Texas quarterback who is widely regarded as the frontrunner.
Orakpo
When a New York reporter told the Longhorns’ defensive end earlier this season that he would vote for the 6-foot-4, 260-pound senior from Houston, Orakpo laughed and said, “At least I’ll get one.”
If the rest of the Longhorns’ defensive players also had a say in the Heisman balloting, Orakpo might be a contender.
“He’s a beast,” Texas cornerback Ryan Palmer said. “We always harass him about how big and strong he is. He’s a great player. He has a lot of speed and power that people don’t think that he has. He’s surprised a lot of tackles when he comes off the ball with his strength. I’m glad to have him on my team.”
Orakpo, or “O-sack-po” as his teammates call him, has been one of the most disruptive defensive forces in the nation this season. He leads the Big 12 Conference with 81/2 sacks and 12 tackles for loss – ranking among the top 15 nationally in both categories – and he’s already gotten the better of highly regarded left tackles Phil Loadholt (Oklahoma) and Russell Okung (Oklahoma State).
Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo has faced tough offensive lines this season, and he's preparing for another challenge on Saturday against Texas Tech's massive offensive line.
It’s the type of season Texas coach Mack Brown has long envisioned for Orakpo, whose development was stunted by a right knee injury suffered in last year’s season opener against Arkansas State. Orakpo had to miss four games and finished the season with 51/2 sacks and nine tackles for loss, only a slight improvement from his sophomore year.
But Orakpo finished 2007 strong, earning defensive most valuable player honors in the Holiday Bowl, and he continued to improve during the offseason. He said one of his most effective regimens was boxing with defensive tackle Lamarr Houston.
“I didn’t want to do it at first, but he talked me into it,” Orakpo said. “The first day I wanted to quit because that stuff was hard. I was sweating like crazy. But we stuck with it all summer. We do it like three to four times a week, any time we’re free in the afternoons.
“It’s helped me a whole lot. I really think my flexibility is the main thing it helped … (and) using that hand speed and quickness.”
Orakpo will put some of those skills to use on Saturday, when he takes part in another heavyweight matchup with Texas Tech left tackle Rylan Reed, a 26-year-old senior who measures 6-7 and 314 pounds. Reed has benched pressed a Tech-record 625 pounds, while the smaller Orakpo benches 515 pounds.
“It’s going to be a good little matchup,” said Reed, who added that he and Orakpo might end up being workout partners after the season. “There’s going to be a lot of muscle out there on the field, so we’ll see what happens.”
“He’s an unbelievable athlete, a great player,” Reed added. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to play against him.”
Orakpo, who used the word “phenomenal” three times when describing Reed, also is geared up for the tussle in the trenches. And whichever team wins the battle up front likely will have the best chance to remain undefeated.
The top-ranked Longhorns are second in the country with 29 sacks, while the mammoth offensive line for the No. 7 Red Raiders has kept Graham Harrell in mint condition. Tech ranks second nationally with only three sacks allowed – two of them came against Kansas last week – despite having thrown the ball 391 times.
Because Tech’s wide splits along the offensive line make it difficult to get to Harrell, Orakpo said the Longhorns aren’t worried about how many sacks they get. They just want to “put pressure on them and try to make Graham Harrell as uncomfortable as possible.”
“We’re very fortunate to have played this team before and been successful, so we have to really study what we’ve been doing in the past and use those splits to our advantage and really use our speed around the edge or inside,” Orakpo said. “… We know they’re going to make some huge plays, but the main thing we have to do is try our best to make them kick field goals and keep them out of the end zone.”
College football
• Who: No. 7 Texas Tech vs. No. 1 Texas
• When: 7 p.m. Saturday
• Where: Jones AT&T Stadium
• Records: Texas 8-0, 4-0 in Big 12; Tech 8-0, 4-0
• Last game: Texas 28, Oklahoma State 24; Tech 63, Kansas 21
• Last meeting: Texas won 59-43 last year in Austin.
• TV: ABC (channel 28; Suddenlink Cable channel 8)
• Line: Texas by 6
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QUESTION… is Orakpo better than Chris Long? The former Virginia star was a top 5 draft pick this past year, and the Tech d-line held him in check for most of the Gator Bowl.
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Chris Long was good and tech didn’t do too god against him in the 1st 3-qtrs as you can remember that tech desided to play in the 4th-qtr, but “O-SACK-PO” is much more destructive. His speed will kill Reed. I can GUARANTEE that UT will blitz blitz blitz. They can’t let Harrell sit back too long so they are going to force him to throw with-in 3-sec.
O-SACK-PO is 6-4 & 260-lbs
Reed is 6-7 & 314-lbs
Looks like a miss match. Not just cuz I’m a HORNS fans but O-SACK-PO is fast and will get by Reed like he has many other tackles.
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Orakpo is not the only person on that defensive line that tech must contend with Sergio Kindle will put his hand on the ground and he moves just as fast if not faster than orkapo. The Texas front four will put a lot of heat on Tech if they can’t slow them down.
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Orakpo is not as good as Chris Long.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QZyrd6KGRg
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I’m excited about the matchup. You have to remember that Reed isn’t just some lumbering fat boy like most college offensive lineman. Reed came to tech as a tight end and is a VERY athletic 315lbs. I think it’s a battle of freaks and I’m stoked to watch it.
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Orakpo is a legit athlete with rare size, speed, stength, and athletic talent. It’s no wonder he has beet so many of the best left tackles in college football this year. However, Reed is almost 27 years old which means he has had a lot more time for his body to mature. Orakpo will be playing against a future NFL starter in Read. If he can beat him like he beet the last three than he should be a Heisman candidate. It won’t happen. Ryan Reed may not dominate him like he has other defensive lineman, but that’s what happens in the NFL. We will get to see two future NFL starters get after each other. The edge goes to Reed because he is playing at home and because of his advtange in age and maturity. Those other left tackles may have had the numbers (6′8″ and 340lbs.) but they have not had the time in the weight room that Reed has. Orakpo will have a long day against Reed and will get frustrated watching Harrell get rid of the football in a hurry. Watch for Reed and the rest of the OL to take over the game late in the 3rd quarter. UT has not seen an offensive line this big, this talented, and this physical all year. If they can beat Techs front 5 than they will play and win a national title.
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Hey Sailor,
I’ve got to give credit where credit is due… Orakpo looks like a great d-lineman. However, here are the facts from the Gator bowl last year so you can see what a great job the Tech O-line did on Chris Long.
Solo Tackles- 1
Assisted Tackles- 2
Pass Break ups- 2
QB Hurries- 1
SACKS- 0 (zero)
Orakpo might be better that Chris Long… but not by much.
By the way…. the left tackle for Tech is back from last year.
GUNS UP!!!
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Either way you slice it up, Horns will beat Tech. Have a lovely evening ladies and gents.
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that is going to be an interesting matchup. texas will need to get really good pressure on harrel but with there front four. they dare not blitz like sailor claims they will be cause harrel will just dump the ball off to batch or one of his other recivers that the linebackers are supposed to be covering long before anyone touches him. better yet try the tunnel screen to crabtree no they will need to pressure with the front four not the linebackers. beware texas you think you have a mean machine in your front four you have never played against anyone as good as the goon squad. wreck em goon sqaud!
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The “goonies”? Wasn’t that a kid movie?
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Texas Tornado lets let them play saturday.
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Blitz Harrell all night long! He is still going to tear it up! Tech’s O-line will dominate the ‘Horns up front. Harrell will be able to pick and choose receivers all night long.
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good points LJE and Anthony.. America has seen and knows how good Orakpo is and he is damn good.. But Rylan Reed is also first round NFL talent and a bad ass.. Anyone who paid attention to the Gator bowl knows how he dominated Chris Long. To me this individual matchup is even… Tech’s whole offensive line is awesome as well. Tech will score quite a few points in this game… I think the biggest key is how much can the much improved Tech defense holds down Texas.. just 2-3 key stops would be huge!! and I think that is very attainable and mix in a few turnovers to boot.
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The Horns have surprised me all year.
If they gave up 35 last year, I think they will give up 28 this year and score about 42.
Texas should win barring any home cooking and of course the dreaded cheap shot knee injury that they are infamous for. Is it really necessary?
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Gator bait, the only home cooking I can remember was for u.t.
Take a step back and be honest with yourself… there have been SEVERAL opposing coaches who have complained to the point of being fined by the Big 12. MAKING YOUR POINT IS ONE THING… BUT TO GO ON ABOUT IT TO THE POINT OF PAYING SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN FINES???
My most vivid memory was when Vince and the horns needed SEVERAL bad calls to beat Kansas the year they won the national championship. (27-23)
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The article references last years score at 59-43…..Thought it was 49-43??? Reed matched up well with Long in the Gator Bowl and didn’t allow any sacks. In my opinion, I would say the match up between Reed and Orakpo will be very similar to that of Reed and Long!
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Rylan Reed’s hit on Orakpo was the dirtiest thing I’ve ever seen in college football and he deserves to be banned from football for life if it costs Orakpo a shot at the NFL. Who cares if you beat Texas, just please don’t cheat your way to it.. Dirt ball.
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