3 Texas defenders that could pose real threat to Carson Beck in 2024 SEC championship game

Georgia's upcoming SEC championship game against the Texas Longhorns will put Carson Beck's hot run to the test on Saturday. Beck has been on fire, with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in his last three games, including five TDs in Saturday’s eight-overtime marathon win over rival Georgia Tech.

The second-ranked Longhorns (11-1) have the top passing defense in the FBS, allowing 143.7 yards per game. Beck has already had a taste of the Texas D, as he was limited to 175 passing yards and three interceptions in the Georgia Bulldogs' 30-15 win on Oct. 19.

With four straight weeks limiting its opponents to 17 points or under, including throttling Texas A&M 17-7 in Saturday's much-anticipated rivalry game, the Texas defense is also playing its best football at a crucial time.

Three Texas players who could threaten Carson Beck

For Saturday’s game, the Longhorns will rely on their defense to rattle the Georgia quarterback again and get a win this time.

#1, Anthony Hill Jr., linebacker

The sophomore has been a one-man wrecking crew for Texas. Hill leads the team with 79 total tackles and 7.5 sacks. He has also added an interception.

With sideline-to-sideline speed, he has posed a problem for nearly every opponent Texas has faced this year, as he's posted at least eight tackles in five of his last seven games.

As noted by his sack total, Hill is also adept at blitzing. In the regular season matchup against the Bulldogs, he was second on the team with eight total tackles and got the Longhorns’ only sack of Carson Beck.

#2, Jahdae Barron, cornerback

Not only is Barron tied for the Texas lead in interceptions with four, but he had two of those coming directly against Carson Beck during their meeting in October.

Barron is a big part of why the Longhorns boast the nation's best passing defense. The senior is also enjoying his finest season as he had three interceptions in four years before 2024.

While Barron has added only one more pick since the loss to Georgia, he continues to be efficient in coverage and a dangerous presence on the back end.

#3, Colin Simmons, linebacker

Simmons has been a consistent presence in the Texas opponent’s backfield with seven sacks. However, the true freshman failed to make an impact in the first tilt against the Georgia Bulldogs. On that occasion, the pass rusher had no sacks or tackles in 27 snaps.

Simmons has been a steadier force in the last few games. While he did not get a sack against Texas A&M, he was second on the team in tackles, with five. A week earlier he got six quarterback pressures and a sack against Kentucky.

The Dallas native will be looking for some measure of revenge. With 10 tackles and three sacks in his last three games before the SEC championship game, he seems to be in a better position to make an impact this time around.