Former Arkansas DB Jalen Catalon Could Be “Missing Link” For Texas Longhorns In 2023

Jalen Catalon as soon as thought of the Texas Longhorns his “dream vacation spot” when popping out of Mansfield Legacy Excessive Faculty in 2019. Generally the street extra traveled will present higher outcomes in the long run. 

Catalon introduced Monday that he can be transferring to Texas for his ultimate season of eligibility. The previous Arkansas security elected to enter the portal after one other injured-plagued season in Fayetville. 

When wholesome, Catalon has the abilities to be one of many extra harmful playmakers in each protection and in opposition to the run. A 3-year starter for the Razorbacks, Catalton registered 159 tackles and 5 interceptions over 21 video games from 2020-22. 

Accidents, nonetheless, would be the largest concern to his profession transferring ahead. Previous to the beginning of the common season, Catalon was thought of by some as a fringe first-round expertise. Regardless of coming off a shoulder harm that restricted him to 6 video games in 2021, scouts beloved his bodily demeanor and run-stopping abilities close to the road of scrimmage. 

After Week 1, Catalon by no means performed one other for the Hogs following one other shoulder harm that required reconstructive surgical procedure. Since 2020, the senior has missed 21 video games as a result of put on and tear on the physique. 

Even earlier than arriving within the SEC, Catalton’s bodily play triggered him to overlook time. Throughout his highschool senior season, he suffered a torn ACL. As soon as on campus, Catalon sustained a number of shoulder accidents and performed a lot of the 2021 season with a damaged hand. 

Nonetheless, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is betting on Catalon’s upside reasonably than his laundry listing of harm considerations. When wholesome, he is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker who constantly finds our bodies to put down within the open area.

Expertise is one factor. Pedigree is one other. Teammates voted on Catalon earlier than the beginning of the 2022 season as one of many crew captains for his efforts on and off the sector. Razorbacks’ coach Sam Pittman spoke extremely of Catalon’s character and understood his reasoning for coming into the portal following the season. 

“I simply suppose he needs a recent begin. I talked to him about, if he was going to go away right here, if he needed my recommendation, I might simply declare for the NFL and provides it that sort of likelihood,” Pittman informed reporters following the season finale loss to Missouri. “However he had a unique view on it, and no matter he needs to will we’ll be positive with it.”

Ought to Catalon’s well being be a non-factor, the Longhorns will probably give him an opportunity to start out reverse Jerrian Thompson instead of Anthony Prepare dinner for the 2023 season. Prepare dinner, who completed with 61 tackles and 5 cross breakups, used up his ultimate 12 months of eligibility this previous fall. 

Texas remains to be in positive form on the security place even when Catalon have been to overlook time. Michael Taaffe and Kitan Crawford each earned enjoying time with the first-team protection all through the common season as a result of harm. Taaffe, a walk-on from Austin Westlake, totaled 26 tackles in 2022 whereas Crawford tacked on 25, together with a career-best seven stops within the Longhorns’ 41-34 win over Oklahoma State. 

In a way, Catalon may very well be seen as an “further coach” for the security room. Expertise ought to enable him to garner significant reps, however his information of the sport may gain advantage younger prospects seeking to grow to be the face of this system transferring ahead. 

The Longhorns have added 4 security prospects of their earlier two recruiting cycles, together with SI All-American’s No. 32 recruit Derek Williams from New Iberia (La.). 

Final season, Texas completed ninetieth nationally in cross protection, permitting opponents to common 241.3 yards per sport. The Longhorns allowed 18 touchdowns in protection and compelled 10 interceptions, 5 of which got here from linebackers Jaylan Ford and Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey. 

Ought to Catalon stay wholesome by way of a full season, he’ll stay a consider third-year defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s quarters-match protection scheme. And possibly a change for each side is what the physician ordered on the Forty Acres for subsequent 12 months in any case? 

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