Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat is among the best defensive prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. Sweat possesses rare strength and power to clog gaps in the run game. He’s also extremely reliable as a pocket pusher when rushing opposing quarterbacks.
Sweat's maturity and natural leadership helped change the culture at Texas. The program wasn't in terrific standing when he arrived. It was players like Sweat that committed to rehabilitating its reputation, leading Texas to the College Football Playoff in 2023.
Sweat recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about why his size (and weight) shouldn’t scare you, how playing basketball helped develop his athleticism, playing for coach Bo Davis, his pass-rush arsenal, and more.
JM: You were once a 250-pound edge defender in high school. You left Texas as a 360-pound defensive tackle. How did your background playing on the edge help you acclimate to the role you eventually grew into at Texas?
T’Vondre Sweat: I was once 250 pounds in high school, but I was already about 315-320 when I got to Texas. I played my freshman and sophomore years at 340. I played my junior year at about 355. I played this past season at 365.
What really helped me make those changes more than anything was playing basketball. My mom kept me in basketball and football essentially throughout my entire youth. Basketball helped me develop the “sweet feet” you now see on tape (laughs).
Don’t sleep on me because I’m a big guy. I was actually named defensive MVP of the district [as a defensive lineman in 2018]. A lot of people are misinformed because I’m big. I move incredibly well for my size. They see 365 on the scale and it scares them. It never scared me.
Don’t get scared because it’s a big number. A lot of people aren’t used to that number. I understand that. I love to showcase what I can do at that size. I’ve been doing this my entire life. I’ve always been the biggest kid on the playground. This is nothing new to me. It doesn’t phase me.
JM: I love that. I’m so glad that you mentioned playing basketball. Young kids, parents especially, don't always realize how being a multi-sport athlete can help you develop. You don’t have to specialize right away. Look at what playing two sports throughout your entire youth did for you, and how one helped develop the other.
T’Vondre Sweat: You hit the nail on the head, 100%. I’m glad my mom always kept me in basketball. That’s why I always give a big shout-out to mama dukes, man (laughs).
I wouldn’t be in this situation without her. Look at me now, talking to a great person like yourself as I go through this pre-draft process.
JM: You’re far too kind (laughs). You arrived at Texas in 2019 under Tom Herman and there were some difficult seasons under Steve Sarkisian as well. You left the program in a better place, helping Texas advance to the College Football Playoff. How did the culture change throughout your time there?
T’Vondre Sweat: The maturity in our room nowadays, it’s night and day different from what it was when I arrived. We had belief and trust in one another. Me and the guys, there’s nothing we thought we couldn’t do.
This past year, we believed and trusted in our maturity. It was all there for us. It’s like a lightbulb went off in our room. I give all of the credit to the guys that stood next to me. The older guys made sure the younger guys bought in. They believed in what we had going on. It was special.
We capitalized on it, but we had to make some sacrifices first. We made those sacrifices for the better of the team. That’s why we had the season we did. We just had to make a lot of sacrifices along the way. It all started with legitimate belief and trust.
JM: You've been very vocal about how coach Bo Davis helped develop you as a person and player. How did playing for coach Davis make you a better man and player?
T’Vondre Sweat: Coach Bo Davis always told us the NFL stands for “Not For Long.” That’s what makes him so special. He really cares about us as men. It’s about more than football to him. You had to be in our room to understand. What happened in our room stayed there. We were that tight-knit.
Coach Bo Davis is a great person first and foremost. You’ve seen the videos on social media (laughs). He actually cares. He’s extremely passionate about the game of football. I always give the biggest shout to coach Bo. Who am I without him?
His presence was one of the biggest reasons I came back for my fifth year. I give all kudos to him for trusting and believing in me. I loved being coached by him. I have all the love in the world for him.
JM: You posted career highs in tackles (45), tackles for loss (8), and sacks (2) this past season. What led to the uptick in production?
T’Vondre Sweat: I just think the level of maturity on the team is what helped me the most. We believed in our culture. We believed in our coaching staff to put us in the best position possible to have success.
I went through a lot of coaching changes throughout my time at Texas. We all had our ups and downs. Buying into the culture made the world of a difference. It goes back to what I said about sacrificing. I had to sacrifice a lot.
JM: I believe you've wanted to prove to teams that you're more than a run-stopper throughout this process. You've worked hard to add secondary pass-rush moves to your arsenal. How would you describe the way you rush the passer?
T’Vondre Sweat: I think I’m a better pass rusher than people give me credit for. I can push the pocket. That’s what a lot of coaches look for at the next level, somebody that can push the pocket.
If the quarterback doesn’t have enough room to step up into the middle of the pocket, what’s he going to do when he’s under pressure? That puts the passer in a tough spot. I love pushing that pocket. Coaches love it when I do that.
JM: I also feel like you understand that rushing the passer is a privilege. You can't rush the passer if you don't stop the run on early downs. You have to earn that right.
T’Vondre Sweat: 100%. Everybody wants to rush the passer. It’s always about that number of sacks on the stat sheet. How are you going to do that if you can’t stop the run? You’re going to have a long afternoon if you can’t stop the run (laughs).
You still have to stop the run. Having success in that area is what makes rushing the passer so easy. It’s a wrap once you make a team one-dimensional. We can all pin our ears back and get after the quarterback.
It hurts an offense when they know they can’t run the ball. That’s when I put my pass-rushing cleats on (laughs). That’s when everybody else really gets to see your skill set. We preached that this season.
That’s why I looked better rushing the passer this season than ever before. We made teams one-dimensional. Everybody on our defensive line got an opportunity to get after quarterbacks in the passing game.
JM: Talk to me about the chemistry you had with Byron Murphy II and the havoc you caused up front.
T’Vondre Sweat: Byron and I have great chemistry. Everybody knows Byron Murphy is the defensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft. Murph is a great human being as well. Everybody tries to judge him, but you don’t really know him if you’ve never spent extended time around him.
When people actually get to meet Murph, really get to know him, he’s probably one of the chillest, laid-back guys ever. We were unbelievable on the field together. I could push the middle and clog up gaps. We made each other’s job easier.
I had a guy beside me in Murph that was quick and fast. He’s like a baby Aaron Donald. Which one of us are you going to block? Good luck (laughs).
We had great chemistry, but we also had other players on the defensive line that helped us out. Everybody gives Murph and I the credit, but we had amazing players all over the defense. Yeah, Murph and I had the best seasons of our careers, but we had other guys too. We wouldn’t have had the success if it wasn’t a team effort.
It wasn’t just Murph and I. Kudos to those guys as well.
JM: I love that. Have you completed any Top 30 visits, and do you have any more of those coming up?
T’Vondre Sweat: Yes sir, I‘m taking my first in-person visit on April 2. I’m looking forward to the process. We’re sorting through my schedule right now as I prepare to meet with more teams in the days and weeks to come. I’m just enjoying the process.
JM: We've appreciated your time today. I feel like this conversation has highlighted why you're one of the best defensive prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. What kind of impact is T’Vondre Sweat going to make at the next level?
T’Vondre Sweat: I’m going to let my game do the talking for me. I’ve never been a big talker when it comes to my own abilities. I want everybody to see for themselves when I take the field. You’ll see once I get there.
