Texas Longhorns Add Big Ten Linebacker with 161 Career Tackles

Former Michigan State standout Darius Snow joins Texas for final collegiate season.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:08am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a football player in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes in earthy green, burnt orange, and dark grey tones, conveying the multi-dimensional nature of the player's role.A cubist interpretation of Texas Longhorns linebacker Darius Snow's versatile contributions on the field.Austin Today

The Texas Longhorns have landed former Michigan State linebacker Darius Snow, who will join the team for his seventh and final collegiate season after being granted an additional year of eligibility. Snow, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound defender, brings 48 games and 10 starts of multi-role experience to the Longhorns, having recorded 161 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, and three pass breakups over his career.

Why it matters

Snow's addition addresses depth concerns at linebacker for the Longhorns following offseason departures, and he brings experienced leadership to a unit that lacked numbers heading into the 2026-27 season. His versatility, having played in a wide range of roles, including slot, box, defensive line, safety, and corner, as well as on special teams, will be a valuable asset to the Texas defense.

The details

Snow, a highly regarded prospect out of the 2020 recruiting class, originally chose Michigan State over more than 25 offers, including Texas. After a standout 2021 season, where he recorded 87 tackles, 5.5 for loss, an interception, and three pass breakups, injuries derailed his trajectory, causing him to miss most of the 2022 season and large portions of 2023. However, he returned to contribute in subsequent seasons, amassing 29 tackles in 2024 and 34 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack in 2025, while continuing to be a core contributor on special teams.

  • Snow was a member of the 2020 recruiting class.
  • His most productive season came in 2021.
  • He missed most of the 2022 season and large portions of 2023 due to injury.
  • He returned to contribute in 2024 and 2025.

The players

Darius Snow

A 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker who has been a multi-role contributor for Michigan State, playing in a wide range of positions including slot, box, defensive line, safety, and corner, as well as on special teams. He brings 48 games and 10 starts of experience to the Texas Longhorns.

Rasheem Biles

One of the four linebackers added to the Texas Longhorns roster via the transfer portal this offseason.

Justin Cryer

One of the four linebackers added to the Texas Longhorns roster via the transfer portal this offseason.

Markus Boswell

One of the four linebackers added to the Texas Longhorns roster via the transfer portal this offseason.

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What’s next

Snow will look to make an immediate impact on the Texas Longhorns defense in the 2026-27 season, providing veteran leadership and versatility to a unit that has undergone some offseason changes.

The takeaway

The addition of Darius Snow, a veteran linebacker with extensive experience at multiple positions, is a significant boost for the Texas Longhorns' defense. His ability to contribute in a variety of roles and on special teams will be valuable, as the Longhorns look to shore up their linebacker depth and leadership heading into the 2026-27 season.