The college football season in Texas starts a week earlier than normal with a Week 0 matchup between North Texas and UTEP. To celebrate us making it through another off-season, we’re counting down the 50 most important players in Texas every day until Aug. 27. The list isn’t necessarily about which players are the best, though talent plays a major factor in most important.

No. 31: DeMarvion Overshown, Texas senior linebacker 

The History

Overshown, a five-star recruit and prep All-American, was part of the 2018 recruiting class that was supposed to return Texas to its DBU moniker. The then Tom Herman led Longhorns signed Caden Sterns, B.J. Foster, Anthony Cook, Jalen Gren, Overshown, and D’Shawn Jamison in that cycle. Sterns is in the NFL. Foster and Green transferred. Cook and Jamison remain in Texas’ secondary, but Overshown’s move to linebacker after the arrival of Steve Sarkisian gave the Arp native a new lease on defensive life. 

Overshown found consistent playing time hard to come by as a freshman and sophomore. He palyed in nine games and had one tackle in 2018. He started in two of the eight games he played in 2019, missing four games due to injury. Overshown ended the year with 18 tackles. Things began to change as a junior in 2020 when he earned All-Big 12 honorable mention after starting all 10 games and racking up 60 tackles. 

Overshown was a Butkus Award semifinalist as a senior in 2021. He gets an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID year. In 2021, Overshown started 10 games and led the Longhorns with 74 tackles. He also recorded two sacks, two fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick. Entering 2022, Overshown has played in 38 games and started 22 times. 

The Skillset 

The former safety is a head-hunter who can get sideline to sideline thanks to his history as a safety. Overshown was always destined for a move to linebacker due to his 6-4, 224-pound frame, but he resisted the change for the first half of his career. He looked like a natural at times in 2021. Overshown is a disruptive presence who can make plays against the run, as a pass rusher, or in coverage. That’s a rare trio of traits for linebackers. He’s the prototypical modern linebacker who can stay on the field against tight formations and spread offenses. Durability is an issue, but a healthy Overshown is Texas’ best defender. 

The Impact 

The Longhorns must take a step forward for Sark’s second year to end with a winning record. The offense should score plenty of points thanks to returners such as Bijan Robinson and Xavier Worthy, along with additions such as Quinn Ewers and Isaiah Neyor. The defense isn’t as settled. Texas allowed more than 31 points per game and five yards per rush in 2021. Texas only registered seven interceptions on 377 attempts by opponents. Overshown’s growth as a linebacker is a critical evolution for Texas’ defense. He needs to be a game-breaker who plays at an All-Big 12 level for Texas to take any step towards competing for the Big 12. 

PREVIOUSLY ON THE LONE STAR 50 COUNTDOWN