Week one of the NFL is in the books, and the former Texas football players made their mark on the world stage. Fans saw a pair of touchdowns on opening night from rookie Xavier Worthy, a triumphant return to Cowboy football by DeMarvion Overshown and more. With 31 former Longhorns on NFL rosters today, The Daily Texan reviewed how a few rookies fared in their professional football debut.
DeMarvion Overshown: Drafted by the Cowboys a year ago in the bottom of the third round, Overshown tore his ACL in the second preseason game of the year. The safety-turned-linebacker made his regular season debut this season, playing in 58% of snaps, the second most of any linebacker. He also garnered 11 total tackles, including one sack. The 11 tackles grabbed by Overshown led the Cowboys defense. NFL network’s Peter Schrager mentioned that the Cowboys have “a new household name” emerging on their team when discussing the game Overshown displayed in week 1. He still has a lot to prove, but the future is bright for the 24-year-old.
Xavier Worthy: The 28th pick of the 2024 NFL draft debuted for the Chiefs in electric fashion. In the first quarter, Worthy wrapped around the field, taking a handoff from the left side of the field before exploding right, straight to the end zone. He ran untouched for six points on a 21-yard run for the Chiefs’ first touchdown of the season while flashing why he broke the 40-yard dash record at last year’s combine. The NFL posted a blurry photo on Instagram of the run with the caption being “Clearest photo we could get of that Worthy TD.” In the fourth quarter, Worthy caught his first touchdown of the season, sealing the Chief’s win.
Byron Murphy II: The highest drafted Longhorn of the 2024 NFL draft at pick No. 16 by the Seattle Seahawks had a quiet debut in his first professional football game. Only finding two total tackles with one being solo, the debut by the former Longhorn was not a loud one. Murphy played 40 total snaps, or 58% of all defensive plays, which was tied for the third most on the team. The season is young, but Murphy has a lot to do to make sense of the Seahawks first round draft selection.
Adonai Mitchell: Mitchell played just one season for the Longhorns last year after playing a pair of seasons for the Georgia Bulldogs, and now finds himself on the Indianapolis Colts after being selected 52nd overall in the 2024 NFL draft. Mitchell played in 64% of offensive snaps in week one, third most behind Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce, and caught just one reception for two yards on five balls thrown his way. With the five targets being the second most on the team, Mitchell might have a louder season then what week one may have reflected.
T’Vondre Sweat: The former second round pick in 2024 may not have shown up on the box score, but the new defensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans did not lack playing time. Playing in 68% of defensive snaps in his debut, Sweat only played less on the defensive line to one player, two-time All-Pro Jeffery Simmons. There is a lot of the season ahead for Sweat to find his rhythm and plenty of opportunities for him to do so.
