Spring football is peaking from around the corner as February dissolves into March. The state of Texas is primed for a memorable year of football at the FBS level with Baylor and UTSA coming off conference championships, Houston returning most of its key players from a 12-2 squad, and Texas A&M loading up on five-star recruits. 

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football will look at the 10 best players at each position on the football field continuing with the defensive line. We began the series by examing the top 10 quarterbacks in the FBS ranks on Monday. 

Previous positions: QB | RB | WR | OL | TE | DL 

1. KD Davis, North Texas 

2021 review: 121 tackles, 16 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 2 FR

2022 outlook: The numbers for Davis look fabricated, like a high school linebacker padding his stats for All-State selection. But this is no mirage, Davis is a flat-out stud in the middle of the Mean Green defense. He’s the ultimate vacuum, cleaning everything up from sideline to sideline. He also provides leadership and physicality to the defensive side of the ball. Davis has recorded 284 tackles over the last three seasons, earning All-Conference USA honors in each of those seasons. 

2. Breon Hayward, UTEP

2021 review: 108 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 3 PBU, 1 FR

2022 outlook: The UTEP defense helped the Miners reach a bowl game for the first time since 2014 and only the second time since 2011. Hayward was a big piece of that puzzle as the team’s leader in tackles. Hayward was the first UTEP defender to tally more than 100 tackles in three years. Those numbers allowed him to earn second-team All-C-USA honors after the season. Hayward recorded at least 10 tackles in four of his team’s 13 contests, including 11 against Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl. 

3. Dillon Doyle, Baylor 

2021 review: 89 tackles, 9 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FF

2022 outlook: An Iowa transfer, Doyle started his career at Baylor in 2020 by starting all nine games at linebacker to finish second on the team with 56 stops. He was often overshadowed by a talented group of defenders in 2021 such as Terrel Bernard, Jalen Pitre, JT Woods, and Kalon Barnes. Doyle will be the main man at the second level for the Bears in 2022 as Baylor tries to repeat as Big 12 champions. Doyle doesn’t only contribute defensively. He scored two touchdowns as a fullback in the win over BYU. 

4. DeMarvion Overshown, Texas 

2021 review: 74 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 FR

2022 outlook: The former safety found a home at linebacker, and he’s one of the most electric and athletic second-level defenders in college football when healthy. The Arp native was a Butkus Award semifinalist and an All-Big honorable mention as a senior despite only playing in 10 games. Overshown decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility and return to campus, providing the Longhorns with a fifth-year leader on defense to help turnaround a program that went 5-7 in 2021. His 74 tackles were most on the team. 

5. Donavan Mutin, Houston 

2021 review: 77 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FR, 3 FF

2022 outlook: Mutin was back to patrolling the Houston defense in 2021 after missing most of 2020 with an injury. His 74 tackles led a Cougars defense that terrorized opponents and allowed Houston to go on an 11-game winning streak and reach the AAC championship game. Mutin filled the stat sheet in 2022, compiling multiple sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles. He also recovered a fumble. Mutin returned from a scary-looking injury against Memphis to play in the final two games of Houston’s season. 

6. Dee Winters, TCU

2021 review: 74 tackles, 5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT

2022 outlook: Like most of the TCU defense, especially the front seven, Winters underperformed in 2021. The Horned Frogs allowed 34.92 points per game and 5.8 yards a carry to opponents in Gary Patterson’s final season in charge. Winters enjoyed a strong sophomore season in 2020 and was expected to lead a talented Horned Frogs defense in 2021. That never materialized for the team, but Winters should bounce back in a new system in 2022. He recorded 11 more tackles than anyone else on the team in 2021. He’s also above-average in coverage. 

7. Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M

2021 review: 58 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks

2022 outlook: Cooper was fourth on the team in tackles with 58 despite only officially starting one of the 12 games he participated in as a redshirt freshman in 2021. Cooper earned SEC All-Freshman honors for his contributions and should take on a much bigger role in 2022 with the Aggies needing to replace numerous starters in the front seven. He was named the most improved player on the defensive side of the ball and honored with the Defensive Aggie Award for strength and conditioning at the annual team banquet. He’s poised for a real breakout season in 2022. 

8. Trevor Harmanson, UTSA

2021 review: 57 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FF

2022 outlook: The Dickinson product started his career at Blinn CC before arriving in San Antonio prior to the 2019 season. He started the final eight games in 2019 to rank third on the team in tackles. He was honorable mention All-C-USA as a junior in 2020 after finishing second on the team in tackles. Harmanson was an honorable mention selection again in 2021 and should form a powerful linebacker duo alongside Jamal Ligon. 

9. Krishon Merriweather, Texas Tech

2021 review: 52 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1 sack

2022 outlook: Merriweather led the team in tackles in 2020, his first year at Texas Tech. Those numbers dipped in 2021 to fifth on the team. He’ll need a resurgence in 2022 as a super senior with the Red Raiders losing fellow linebackers Collin Schooler and Riko Jeffers, both of which ran out of eligibility. Merriweather, a St. Louis, Missouri native, began his college career at Garden City Community College in Kansas. 

10. Isaac Slade-Matautia, SMU

2021 review: 31 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 FR

2022 outlook: Injuries and rotations kept Slade-Matautia from putting up huge numbers in 2021. His role, and snaps, should increase in 2022 with a new staff. Many people around the SMU program expect Slade-Matautia to be the most-improved player on the team in 2022. The Hawaii native began his career at Oregon and should be more comfortable in his surroundings in year two as a Mustang. Slade-Matautia’s two interceptions led the team.