The Tennessee Titans began retooling the defensive front by picking Texas DT T’Vondre Sweat with the 38th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. This comes after the Titans selected Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham with pick No. 7 in Round 1.

Sweat will bring immediate size to the defensive line, standing at 6-foot-4 and 362-pounds. He won the Outland Trophy last season, which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football as Texas made it to the college football playoff semifinal, falling to Washington.

Here’s a look at Sweat’s college highlights:

T’Vondre Sweat highlights: Tennessee Titans NFL Draft second-round pick highlights

Sweat played in 62 games in five seasons at Texas, starting in 18 games, eight of which came last season. He recorded career highs in tackles (45), tackles for loss (8), solo tackles (18) and sacks (2) last season.

Given his size, Sweat doesn’t possess an explosive burst off the line. But with his size, opposing defensive lineman will be hard pressed to prevent his pressure. That size helped Sweat bully his way inside and record four pass breakups and one blocked kick last season.

He became the fifth defensive tackle from Texas to be a unanimous All-American selection and was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

More: Meet T’Vondre Sweat of Texas, the Tennessee Titans’ second-round 2024 NFL Draft pick

More: Tennessee Titans drafted a project in JC Latham because of trust in Bill Callahan | Estes

T’Vondre Sweat scores lone career touchdown

Sweat’s highlights consist of bursts of strength as he bullies his way inside, yet he showed off his hands in the Big 12 championship game against Oklahoma State last season.

Sweat hauled in a touchdown reception last season, becoming the fifth Texas lineman in history to score an offensive touchdown.

Sweat hit the Heisman pose after the reception and although he wasn’t a candidate for that award, he did take home the Outland Trophy, being named the best interior lineman in college football last season.

What is T’Vondre Sweat’s weight

Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing over 350-pounds, Sweat’s frame is perhaps his greatest weapon.

While not exceedingly mobile, Sweat possesses the ability to shed his defender in large part due to his elite strength. When the opposing quarterback or ball carrier scurries into Sweat’s path, more likely than not he’s wrapping them up and taking them down.

With just over 33-inch arms, Sweat’s reach coupled with his height not only allows him to push past his defender but then quickly swallow whoever is in his sights.

Harrison Campbell covers high school sports and more for The Daily Herald. Email him at hcampbell@gannett.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @hccampbell7.

The Tennessee Titans selected Texas Longhorns defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat with the No. 38 overall pick in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday.

An April arrest for driving while intoxicated appears to have not had much impact on Sweat’s draft stock.

The Huntsville, Texas, native had 45 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 18 solo tackles in 2023. He was the Outland Trophy winner and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts. He played five seasons at Texas.

Sweat was also named a unanimous All-American and went viral after he struck the Heisman pose following a 2-yard TD reception in the Big 12 championship game. He won a conference title last season, played a big part in Texas’ first appearance in the four-team College Football Playoff.

Find more Texas coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Re: “Child rapists should be sentenced to death. That’s why I backed this Tennessee Senate bill,” by Sen. Jack Johnson, April 22.

Legislation sponsored by Tennessee Senator Jack Johnson and passed by the Tennessee General Assembly would expand the death penalty system in Tennessee.

The system is already unfairly applied, costs taxpayers millions more than the alternative sentences, and risks the execution of the innocent. Since 1972, in fact, 197 people have been exonerated from death rows across this country after evidence of their innocence was finally considered, including three from Tennessee. 

Expanding the death penalty for a non-lethal crime will only expand the number of innocent people sent to death row. The damage of false accusations and imprisonment, let alone execution, can never be undone. 

William Arnold Jr. was falsely accused of one of the crimes that would be eligible for the death penalty under this bill. (Re: “District attorney won’t retry child rape case overturned by appeals court,” June 29, 2020).

He spent seven years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. If this legislation was law, he could have received the death penalty and been executed for a crime he didn’t commit. He is just one example. 

How many innocent lives are we willing to risk when we already have sentences like life without parole for those who commit this heinous crime, a sentence that costs taxpayers less than the death penalty?

Davis Turner, Nashville 37215

Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@tennessean.com. Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation.