Texas football, particularly the defense, earned high praises from NFL Network analysts during the final day of the 2018 NFL Combine.

With CB Holton Hill on the field going through the 'gauntlet'; the analysts decided to take the conversation away from what Hill brings to the table, and onto the changes being made with the Longhorns' defense.

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"I'll tell you what, Texas is going to be good in a couple of years," said NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah. "What they do defensively, scheme-wise, I like the way they're going."

Another analyst chimed in, taking the praise for Todd Orlando's defense and the Longhorns' talent to another level.

"If you want to talk about Texas; Oklahoma quarterback, (Baker) Mayfield, Oklahoma State quarterback, (Mason) Rudolph, and USC quarterback (Sam Darnold), all three of them played Texas this year," said NFL analyst Mike Mayock.

"I thought Texas defensively, because of scheme and players, played all three of them as tough as they got played. And all three of them struggled against Texas.

"If you want to watch some good film of three quarterbacks that are highly rated against the same defense, do that."

The Longhorns' defense made a complete 180 from the previous two seasons. Texas topped records in a negative way in 2015 and 2016, when it ranked among the worst statistical defenses in program history.

But Orlando's philosophy and scheme helped end the two-year defensive skid, and appears to have made a believer out of at least one expert, who compares it to an NFL-style of defense.

"They don't play just quarters like most of college football, especially the Big 12," Mayock said. "They play NFL style coverages and they bring pressure."

While having three underclassmen defenders invited to the NFL Combine is a major testament to Orlando's success, the defensive coordinator will need to find adequate replacements for the departures of Malik Jefferson, DeShon Elliott and Holton Hill.

The good news for Texas fans is Tom Herman has a stacked cupboard returning to the team, in addition to a major influx of defensive talent heading to Austin from the 2018 signing class, which makes many believe brighter days could be on the horizon for Texas football.

"You can watch Texas, they make adjustments defensively throughout the game," Jeremiah said. "They get a feel for what you're doing and they take that away. The wins weren't there yet, but I'd be betting on their future."

The Longhorns return to the field March 20 to kickoff spring practice.

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