Brian Orakpo News

No one covers University of Texas sports like the American-Statesman beat writers.

Several nights per week, the biggest, toughest members of the Texas Longhorns defense gather in the living room of nose tackle Ben Alexander's off-campus house, which he calls "the kick-it spot." They show up for Alexander's 60-inch TV and locally famous Rotel cheese dip.

Junior defensive end Sam Acho has been selected as a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy, which honors the nation's top defensive impact player.

Lamarr Houston looked everybody in the eye. Everybody in front of him, at that moment, was a judgmental member of the media ready to pounce.

Last spring, an Austin American-Statesman beat writer used her cell phone to stealthily snap a photo of the Wall of Champions inside Texas' training facility.

Let that marinate for a second... The Texas wideout is in the midst of having the best season by a receiver in school history.

AUSTIN, Texas Lamarr Houston had to get out of Colorado Springs. For the son of ministers, life in the Rocky Mountains just didn't offer much to do.

Share + Oct 7, 2009 3:38 pm US/Mountain AUSTIN, Texas Click to enlarge 1 of 2 Ryan Palmer #13 of the Texas Longhorns is congratulated by teammates Lamarr Houston #33 and Rashad Bobino #44 after his the third quarter sack of quarterback Cody Hawkins #7 of the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on Oct.

The steadiest performer for the 2009 Texas Longhorns is someone who almost never found his balance.

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Great, It may have been the most devestating play in Texas Longhorn history.

Famous Celebrities 'Share the Passion' For Local Down Syndrome Awareness Calendar LOCAL CALENDAR SHOWCASES: Adam Yauch, Jimmie Vaughan, Brian Orakpo, Sandy McIlree & many more celebrities featured with local Austin children in 2010 Down Syndrome Association Awareness Calendar AUSTIN, Texas -- The Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas' "Share ...

This Season's Sleeper in the NFL Sometimes NFL sleepers can be perfectly obvious because of one reason or another and, as a gambler when you find one, if you can jump aboard the train early you might just be able to ride it all the way to the bank.

Muhammad Ali once said, "I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark." Brian Orakpo is faster.

Sam Acho considers himself an overachiever, but not because he always ends up doing what he sets his mind to.

Coming off a 39-point win in the first game, it could be easy for No. 2 Texas to coast right into their trip to play Wyoming.

Five things to look for today. We'll answer them on Sunday: 1. Meeting expectations Texas is more than a 40-point favorite tonight.

Each year at least one explosive defensive rookie makes a name for himself, but generally it's not until his second or third year that most mature enough or get enough regular playing time to really make an impact at the NFL level.

Before third downs last season, Texas defensive ends Brian Orakpo and Sergio Kindle broke from the huddle like a pair of college students who had just determined where to spend a Saturday afternoon.

'I'll meet you at the quarterback,' they said to each other before embarking on mad dashes toward the offensive backfield for a Longhorns defense that led the nation with 47 sacks. Orakpo was the star of the unit, a status validated by the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded annually to college football's best defensive player, and by the Washington Redskins, who selected Orakpo in the first round of April's NFL draft.

Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has spent fall drills test-driving potential starters on a unit that must replace most of its primary pass rushers from last season.

Defensive end Sergio Kindle plans to graduate early to focus on next year's NFL draft.