The University of Texas football team has been lead defensively this season by defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat. Jeffcoat, who stands 6 feet 5 inches and weighs 250 pounds, has been impressive in his senior year with the Longhorns. He led the team with 85 tackles and 12 sacks, which gives him the third-highest total in the FBS. Jeffcoat took time during finals week to talk about the season he has had, why he is excited to play in the Alamo Bowl and what he expects from Oregon.
How has your season gone?
The season has gone well. We didn’t accomplish what we wanted in terms of winning the Big-12 championship, but we fought through a lot of adversity. Guys kept fighting hard and playing hard, that is the most important thing. We were able to get into a bowl game. A lot of teams don’t make it to bowl games.
What is it like playing for Coach Mack?
It is incredible. Coach Brown actually cares about us. He really loves and can relate to us. He is funny, enjoys his job and football. He inspires us to do better things, not just on the field but also off the field, to be great men.
You were named the AP Big-12 Defensive Player of the Year. What does that mean to you?
It means a lot. Last year I had to recover from an injury. I suffered a torn pectoral muscle. So I did a lot of hard rehabbing. Thanks to our strength and conditioning staff and medical staff I was able to get back onto the field playing. So it is a blessing. It is very special to me because there are a lot of great players in the Big-12 that are deserving of the award. I am just happy that I was able to win it.
You are projected to go in the third round of the NFL draft. What would you bring to an NFL team?
I am a smart football guy. I play hard and work hard. Study the film and the game of football. I always want to learn, always want to get better. So I am constantly working to improve my game any way I can. Competition is what I love to do because I grew up in a competitive family.
What are your feelings playing in the Alamo bowl?
It is exciting to play there again, a great bowl. We went there last year. I didn’t get to play in the bowl but I got to do some of the activities that they have and it was a lot of fun. Swimming with beluga whales, just a lot of great stuff to do. Everybody there is welcoming to all the teams that come in.
What will it be like playing in front of such a great fan base?
We are playing in the state of Texas, lots of Texas fans and Texas graduates living in San Antonio. Lot of people that are big Texas fans will come out to that game. So it is fun to play for people that supported us from the beginning to now playing in a bowl game.
Looking ahead to the matchup against Oregon, such a fast team, what are you going to do to try and slow them down?
Well, we have been known as a fast defense as well. It is an exciting challenge to play a team as fast as Oregon. A lot of people call them a track team because of how fast they run. We have to contain them and not let them get out on the edges. Try and make them run up the middle where we are strong as a defense. That is the most important thing. We can’t let them get loose and take advantage of their speed. We have to keep them in small spaces and gang-tackle them.
Is there a Duck player you are focusing on trying to stop?
We haven’t watched much film yet, but I know Marcus Mariota is a talented player. We are going to have to make sure we get after him. Tons of running backs, great wide receivers, I know (De’Anthony) Thomas is one of the running backs that can play. So we are going to have a challenge ahead of us, but we are excited to play against the No. 10 team in the country.
Follow Chris Keizur on Twitter @chriskeizur