Although Texas couldn’t secure the win against Alabama, many Longhorns in the NFL had impactful Week 1 performances. With the NFL officially underway, here are some of the top Longhorns in the NFL for Week 1 of the 2022 season.

Devin Duvernay, WR, Baltimore Ravens:

After receiver Marquise Brown was traded to the Cardinals in the offseason, the Baltimore Ravens were in need of another wideout to step up. Former Texas star wide receiver Devin Duvernay did just that on Sunday. The speedy wideout hauled in four catches on four targets for 54 yards. But most importantly, Duvernay logged two touchdowns in the Ravens’ 24-9 win over the New York Jets. The two touchdowns tie him for the most of any receiver in the NFL after Week 1, and a third year breakout looks imminent for the former Longhorn, who had 1,300 yards to his name back in 2019. 

Brandon Jones, S, Miami Dolphins:

The Dolphins made a statement in Week 1, taking out Bill Belichick’s Patriots and allowing just one touchdown in their 20-7 victory. The defense was the most impressive part of the Dolphins team, and that started with former Texas safety Brandon Jones. Jones was the standout player for the Dolphins on Sunday, registering 11 total tackles — six of which were solo — as well as a sack and a pass defended. The defensive back, who is seen as one of the best blitzing safeties in the league, was all over the field making plays behind the line of scrimmage to tackle Patriots QB Mac Jones. Jones was one of the best defensive players on the 2018 and 2019 Texas teams, which won two bowl games under Tom Herman. He’s settled in as one of the most underrated safeties in the NFL.

Jordan Hicks, LB, Minnesota Vikings:

Jones wasn’t the only Texas grad to lead his team in tackles in a win, as former Longhorn linebacker Jordan Hicks and the Minnesota Vikings took out last year’s NFC North Champions Green Bay Packers in Lambeau Field. Hicks, who spent the last three years as an Arizona Cardinal, slid right into the Vikings defense as a field general alongside middle linebacker Eric Kendricks. Hicks registered 14 tackles, nine of which were solo, and a sack while holding last year’s MVP Aaron Rodgers to under 200 yards and the entire Packers offense to just one touchdown. The new and improved Vikings defense is headed by the new veteran presence of Hicks, alongside players like Kendricks, safety Harrison Smith, and edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith. This Vikings defense could be one of the best in the NFC in 2022.

DeShon Elliott, S, Detroit Lions:

Yet another UT safety had a big week in the NFL on Sunday, as DeShon Elliott and the Lions nearly upset the heavily favored Philadelphia Eagles. The 38-35 final score was far from a defensive shootout, but the former All-American slotted perfectly into his new team. Elliott played mostly special teams and large defensive back packages for the Ravens over the past three years, but his new role on the Lions allows him to play a lot more freely over the top. His six tackles, all solo, ranked fifth on the team, but his main strength was in his ability to cover the deep ball. The Eagles had zero passing touchdowns despite scoring 38 points, and third year quarterback Jalen Hurts was forced to force-feed the ball to A.J. Brown because of Elliott’s coverage in the middle of the field.