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Now that college is in his rearview mirror, Texas graduate Vernon Broughton is looking for his first job.
In the past few weeks, Broughton has attended a large job fair in Indianapolis and another one in Texas. Among others, he's talked with companies based in Atlanta, Denver, Detroit and Miami.
Broughton, who graduated last spring with a degree in physical culture and sports, isn't necessarily trying to find a job within his major. He's looking for work in the NFL. A 6-foot-5, 311-pound defensive lineman, Broughton hopes to hear his name called in this month's NFL draft.
And if Broughton is drafted, that will complete a whirlwind year for the Houston product.
Broughton was baptized at Austin's Greater Mt. Zion Church on April 14, 2024 and he married the former Camille Griffin the following weekend. Last fall he enjoyed a breakout season on Texas' defensive line. He then moved to Dallas to train for the draft.
By itself, that would make for one memorable year. But there's more. In November, he and Camille announced that their baby boy is coming this May.
"It's been a blessing," Broughton said last month. "I couldn't do none of this without my Lord and Savior, but it's been a rollercoaster because I didn't see myself accomplishing so much just from on and off the field. I was not expecting all of this to happen in a short amount of time, because stuff like this takes years, and really this stuff happened all in a year. My life has been changed around so much, just because of my Lord and Savior. It's been wild, but it's been amazing."
MORE:Is Quinn Ewers NFL-ready? Texas' quarterback thinks so | Golden
A four-star prospect who signed with Tom Herman's Texas staff during the 2020 recruiting cycle, Broughton mostly had a reserve role over his first four years as a Longhorn. But after Byron Murphy II and T'Vondre Sweat were selected in the first two rounds of the 2024 draft, playing time became available in the middle of the line.
Those holes were filled by Broughton and Alfred Collins, another fifth-year senior. Collins started all 16 of UT's games. Broughton would have started 16, but he had to sit out the first half of the Florida game because of a targeting penalty that he drew late in the 27-24 win at Vanderbilt. Collins has said the talk about replacing Murphy and Sweat was used by him and Broughton "as fuel."
As Texas reached the College Football Playoff semifinals, Broughton produced 39 tackles, four sacks and an SEC-best three fumble recoveries. He also was named a team captain for both games against Georgia and the rout of UTSA.
Broughton's standout performance came as Texas and Texas A&M resumed a rivalry that hadn't been played since 2011. In a 17-7 win in College Station, Broughton had two sacks and a fumble recovery as UT secured a spot in the SEC championship game. He was named the SEC's co-defensive player of the week for his efforts.
"Alfred and Vernon are really versatile players because a, their length and their athleticism, but both those guys have really worked at their craft to be very good run defenders for us, which was something we challenged them on all offseason," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said after the A&M game. "They have the ability to rush the passer because of athleticism and their length. And Vernon obviously showed up tonight with a couple really big plays."
Broughton is rated by NFL.com as the No. 23 defensive tackle prospect in the draft. ESPN projected him as a fifth-round pick in its seven-round mock draft last month. CBS Sports also recently predicted that Broughton would get drafted in the fifth round.
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein wrote that "Broughton has first-step quickness to penetrate and above-average range as a tackler. He has an adequate anchor but needs to improve his upper-body strength to press and shed downhill blocks. He’s an instinctive rusher with a diverse plan and is outstanding at causing havoc with his length and footwork. His rush alone creates rotational value as a three-technique or odd-front defensive end."
Collins, who's also a projected middle-round pick, and Broughton would soon continue a trend in the Texas trenches. In each of the previous two years, two UT defensive tackles have been drafted. Murphy (first round, Seattle) and Sweat (second round, Tennessee) were drafted in 2024 while Keondre Coburn (sixth round, Kansas City) and Moro Ojomo (seventh round, Philadelphia) went in 2023.
Being the next NFL-bound defensive lineman wasn't necessarily something that Broughton expected when he first arrived at Texas. But it may soon become a reality.
"When I first got into college, I definitely didn't see any of this happening. I was just trying to just learn the ropes at the time as a young fellow," he said. "Now that I've grown, especially in the past two years, I definitely see myself playing at the next level if it's in God's will."
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: NFL draft prospects include Texas defensive lineman Vernon Broughton
Continue reading...
In the past few weeks, Broughton has attended a large job fair in Indianapolis and another one in Texas. Among others, he's talked with companies based in Atlanta, Denver, Detroit and Miami.
Broughton, who graduated last spring with a degree in physical culture and sports, isn't necessarily trying to find a job within his major. He's looking for work in the NFL. A 6-foot-5, 311-pound defensive lineman, Broughton hopes to hear his name called in this month's NFL draft.
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And if Broughton is drafted, that will complete a whirlwind year for the Houston product.
Broughton was baptized at Austin's Greater Mt. Zion Church on April 14, 2024 and he married the former Camille Griffin the following weekend. Last fall he enjoyed a breakout season on Texas' defensive line. He then moved to Dallas to train for the draft.
By itself, that would make for one memorable year. But there's more. In November, he and Camille announced that their baby boy is coming this May.
"It's been a blessing," Broughton said last month. "I couldn't do none of this without my Lord and Savior, but it's been a rollercoaster because I didn't see myself accomplishing so much just from on and off the field. I was not expecting all of this to happen in a short amount of time, because stuff like this takes years, and really this stuff happened all in a year. My life has been changed around so much, just because of my Lord and Savior. It's been wild, but it's been amazing."
MORE:Is Quinn Ewers NFL-ready? Texas' quarterback thinks so | Golden
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Vernon Broughton enjoyed a breakout 2024 season
A four-star prospect who signed with Tom Herman's Texas staff during the 2020 recruiting cycle, Broughton mostly had a reserve role over his first four years as a Longhorn. But after Byron Murphy II and T'Vondre Sweat were selected in the first two rounds of the 2024 draft, playing time became available in the middle of the line.
Those holes were filled by Broughton and Alfred Collins, another fifth-year senior. Collins started all 16 of UT's games. Broughton would have started 16, but he had to sit out the first half of the Florida game because of a targeting penalty that he drew late in the 27-24 win at Vanderbilt. Collins has said the talk about replacing Murphy and Sweat was used by him and Broughton "as fuel."
As Texas reached the College Football Playoff semifinals, Broughton produced 39 tackles, four sacks and an SEC-best three fumble recoveries. He also was named a team captain for both games against Georgia and the rout of UTSA.
Broughton's standout performance came as Texas and Texas A&M resumed a rivalry that hadn't been played since 2011. In a 17-7 win in College Station, Broughton had two sacks and a fumble recovery as UT secured a spot in the SEC championship game. He was named the SEC's co-defensive player of the week for his efforts.
"Alfred and Vernon are really versatile players because a, their length and their athleticism, but both those guys have really worked at their craft to be very good run defenders for us, which was something we challenged them on all offseason," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said after the A&M game. "They have the ability to rush the passer because of athleticism and their length. And Vernon obviously showed up tonight with a couple really big plays."
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Where does Vernon Broughton rank in his draft class?
Broughton is rated by NFL.com as the No. 23 defensive tackle prospect in the draft. ESPN projected him as a fifth-round pick in its seven-round mock draft last month. CBS Sports also recently predicted that Broughton would get drafted in the fifth round.
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein wrote that "Broughton has first-step quickness to penetrate and above-average range as a tackler. He has an adequate anchor but needs to improve his upper-body strength to press and shed downhill blocks. He’s an instinctive rusher with a diverse plan and is outstanding at causing havoc with his length and footwork. His rush alone creates rotational value as a three-technique or odd-front defensive end."
Collins, who's also a projected middle-round pick, and Broughton would soon continue a trend in the Texas trenches. In each of the previous two years, two UT defensive tackles have been drafted. Murphy (first round, Seattle) and Sweat (second round, Tennessee) were drafted in 2024 while Keondre Coburn (sixth round, Kansas City) and Moro Ojomo (seventh round, Philadelphia) went in 2023.
Being the next NFL-bound defensive lineman wasn't necessarily something that Broughton expected when he first arrived at Texas. But it may soon become a reality.
"When I first got into college, I definitely didn't see any of this happening. I was just trying to just learn the ropes at the time as a young fellow," he said. "Now that I've grown, especially in the past two years, I definitely see myself playing at the next level if it's in God's will."
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: NFL draft prospects include Texas defensive lineman Vernon Broughton
Continue reading...
