A former standout of Texas football and current prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft has encountered legal issues, as former Longhorns defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat was arrested for a DWI offense over the weekend.
Sweat was taken into custody at 2:12 p.m. on Sunday and booked into the Travis County Jail in Austin, Texas, charged with driving while intoxicated, classified as a Class B misdemeanor. He was subsequently released on a $3,000 bond shortly after 4 p.m., as reported by NBC affiliate KXAN in Austin.
As a unanimous first-team All-America pick, Sweat notably earned the Defensive Player of the Year award in the Big 12 last season. Additionally, he claimed the prestigious Outland Trophy, presented annually to college football’s premier interior lineman. His contributions were pivotal in guiding Texas to its inaugural College Football Playoff appearance.
During the previous season, Sweat accumulated 45 total tackles, including eight for loss, and secured two sacks, anchoring the Longhorns’ defense, which concluded the regular season as the third-ranked run defense in the nation.
Since declaring for the NFL Draft, Sweat has garnered attention from analysts who project him as a probable Day 2 selection, possibly even earlier. However, this recent incident may impact his draft stock.
NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein has suggested that the Houston Texans could reconsider Sweat as a potential draft pick due to his legal issues. The Texans struggled with their run defense last season, ranking among the league’s weakest, and are seeking to bolster their interior defensive presence.
Despite this setback, Sweat has engaged in a positive meeting with the Dallas Cowboys, describing the encounter as favorable.
