Malcolm Roach returning to the ‘Horns for senior campaign

AUSTIN, Texas — The 2019 Longhorns are looking stronger by the hour. Junior Malcolm Roach announced today that he is returning to the Forty Acres for his senior season.

The announcement from Roach comes hours after wide receiver Collin Johnson said that he, too, will be back for his senior season.

Here come the 'Horns.

“Winning the Sugar Bowl was an amazing way to cap off my junior year. We ended on a high note but everyone in that locker room knew that we have unfinished business,” Roach said in his announcement. “I received a great deal of attention from the NFL this season. However, after talking it over with my family, I’ve decided to return for my senior year and earn my degree from the University of Texas. Longhorn Nation I will be back!”

The Baton Rouge, La. native was counted on to be a major pest to start the season, playing mostly at linebacker, garnering six total tackles against Tulsa in the ‘Horns first win.

But he injured his foot in the Sept. 15 win over USC and had to undergo surgery. Initially, coach Tom Herman said Roach might miss the entire season, but the junior rehabbed his way back and returned to the field against West Virginia Nov. 3.

Read more: Expect Roach to be a pest

“His versatility is off the charts,” Texas head coach Tom Herman said earlier this season. “(Roach) can play middle linebacker. He can play our outside linebacker. He can, in a pinch, put his hand down and play defensive end. He can rush the passer. He can drop in zone.”

Video courtesy of The Longhorn Network

Working into form, Roach was moved to defensive end by defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, where he picked up five total tackles against Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game and added four tackles in the Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia.

The Longhorns are quite happy, obviously, to have a veteran presence return to full form as Texas eyes a full return to glory in 2019.

“Malcolm has said some things in team meetings and in front of the team out on the field that, I mean, he sounds like a coach,” Herman said earlier this season. “Which is not surprising based on the fact that his dad is a coach, and he grew up in that environment."

On the season, Roach wound up with 24 total tackles — including 1.5 tackles for loss — and two quarterback hurries.