Texas is reshuffling its defense after Ty’Anthony Smith’s dismissal, moving Jordon Johnson-Rubell from safety to linebacker to add much-needed depth.
Texas didn’t wait long to react to a sudden problem at linebacker.
After the dismissal of Ty’Anthony Smith, the Longhorns have moved junior safety Jordon Johnson-Rubell to linebacker in an effort to stabilize a position group that suddenly looks much thinner heading into the 2026 season.
The move is notable because Texas is now down to just seven scholarship inside linebackers, and Smith had been expected to play a meaningful role alongside Rasheem Biles, Justin Cryer and Brad Spence.
Highly regarded freshman Tyler Atkinson is also part of the group, but asking freshmen to immediately absorb major snaps in the SEC is never ideal.
That’s where Johnson-Rubell comes in.
The former IMG Academy standout arrived in Austin as a highly recruited defensive back in the 2024 class after choosing Texas over programs such as Michigan, Ohio State and TCU.
Now he’s getting a new assignment.
At 5-10 and 212 pounds, Johnson-Rubell is undersized compared with a traditional linebacker, but the gap isn’t as dramatic as it might appear. Smith was listed at 6-1 and 216 pounds, meaning Johnson-Rubell has already added enough mass to make the experiment believable.
That transformation didn’t happen overnight, either.
Johnson-Rubell reportedly entered the offseason at around 189 pounds before bulking up to 212, a significant change that should give him a better chance to withstand contact near the line of scrimmage.
The move could also fit his skill set better than safety did.
Johnson-Rubell’s defensive role diminished last season as Jonah Williams and Xavier Filsaime moved ahead of him on the depth chart.
He had some difficult moments in coverage, including allowing a 43-yard reception against San Jose State and surrendering four catches on five targets for 47 yards against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
But coverage wasn’t always his best attribute.
Johnson-Rubell has shown a willingness to tackle in space and play downhill against the run, traits that could translate more naturally to the WILL linebacker spot in Will Muschamp’s Texas defense.
For Steve Sarkisian, this looks less like a desperate position change and more like a calculated attempt to turn surplus safety depth into linebacker help.
Texas still has questions at the position, but Johnson-Rubell now has an opportunity to reinvent his role.
And after getting squeezed out at safety, that opportunity may be exactly what he needed.
