Texas will enter the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl matchup against Michigan significantly shorthanded on defense, with six players opting out of the postseason game. The Longhorns’ defensive unit will look dramatically different from the one that anchored their 2025 season.

Complete list of Texas defensive opt-outs

According to Chip Brown, Texas will be without the following defensive players for the Citrus Bowl:

• Michael Taaffe (Secondary)
• Anthony Hill Jr. (Linebacker)
• Manny Muhammad (Defense)
• Ethan Burke (Defensive Line)
• Trey Moore (Edge)
• Jaylon Guilbeau (Secondary)

The concentration of departures on the defensive side represents the loss of multiple starters and key contributors who carried significant weight throughout the season.

Why Texas players are opting out

Most opt-outs follow predictable NFL draft preparation patterns. Hill Jr., Taaffe, Moore, Burke, and Guilbeau are all NFL-bound or NFL-adjacent prospects protecting their draft stock and health heading into the pre-draft process.

Manny Muhammad’s decision stands out as the lone exception. Unlike the other five players, Muhammad still had remaining eligibility. His opt-out suggests he may be moving on to the next stage of his career sooner than expected, potentially marking his final appearance in a Texas uniform.

Key departures and their impact

Anthony Hill Jr. projects as a future NFL centerpiece at linebacker and has been central to Texas’s defensive scheme.

Michael Taaffe served as steady connective tissue in the secondary throughout the season.

Ethan Burke departs after four seasons as a fixture on the defensive front, compiling 52 career games and 114 tackles. His reliability defined his tenure with the Longhorns.

Trey Moore was brought in to stabilize the edge position and filled a hybrid role that helped the defense through transition periods.

Jaylon Guilbeau provided veteran reliability on the back end of the defense.

What Steve Sarkisian gains from Citrus Bowl

While losing six defensive contributors appears damdaging on the surface, the Citrus Bowl presents opportunities for Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian.

2026 preview and player evaluation

The bowl game forces accelerated evaluation of younger players who will anchor the 2026 defense. Sarkisian gets live game action to assess how the roster responds when experience gives way to athleticism and upside.

At linebacker: Liona Lefau steps into expanded responsibility with Anthony Hill Jr. sidelined.

In the secondary: Xavier Filsaime gets an opportunity to prove he’s ready for more than a rotational role.

On the defensive line: Burke’s absence opens snaps for younger edge defenders who have waited behind the four-year veteran. These players can now demonstrate they belong at this level.

At edge: Ty’Anthony Smith is next in line after Trey Moore’s departure and receives a full stage rather than limited snaps.

Texas’s roster building strategy

Sarkisian has recruited with attrition in mind for multiple cycles, stacking blue-chip talent behind veterans while accepting that success brings turnover. These opt-outs aren’t signs of program erosion—they reflect Texas’s relevance and ability to produce NFL-caliber talent.

The Citrus Bowl won’t serve as a referendum on what Texas accomplished in 2025. Instead, it previews what the program is becoming: younger, faster, less proven, but still dangerous.

The Citrus Bowl is a transition moment

Michigan will face a Texas defense that looks nothing like the unit that played through the regular season. For Sarkisian, the game provides something more valuable than a bowl victory—clarity about his roster’s future.

The Longhorns’ defensive performance against Michigan will reveal where the roster bends under pressure and where it breaks. These answers matter more in December than preserving the status quo with players already looking toward the NFL.

Texas knew these opt-outs were coming. Now they’ll discover what comes next.

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Nick Wright