We sit down with Texas Longhorn legend and NFL Pro Bowler Brian Orakpo. From his Houston roots and late-blooming recruiting journey to dominating on defense, Orakpo shares never-before-heard stories about his time at Texas, his NFL career, and life after football. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Longhorn legends and Texas Football coverage. Meet Our Team: Derrick Johnson: NFL All-Pro and Texas Longhorn legend, providing unparalleled defensive insights. Alex Okafor: Former NFL defensive end, breaking down the line of scrimmage battles. Jeremy Hills: Renowned trainer and former Longhorn running back, discussing player development. Fozzy Whittaker: NFL veteran and special teams ace, offering game day analysis. Rod Babers: Longhorn cornerback great and media personality, sharing insider knowledge. Nick Shuley: Co-founder of Clark Field Collective/Texas One Fund, discussing the business side of college sports. Subscribe to 3rd & Longhorn and never miss an episode. Hit the notification bell to get alerts for our latest uploads. Join us in celebrating the legacy and future of Texas Longhorn Football! 0:00 – Brian Orakpo Joins 3rd & Longhorn Podcast 0:32 – How Brian Orakpo Ended Up at Texas Football 1:14 – From Houston Hoops to Texas Longhorns Football 2:08 – Brian Orakpo Recruiting Story: Late Bloomer to 5-Star 3:04 – Facing Vince Young in High School Football 3:45 – Why Brian Orakpo Chose the Texas Longhorns 4:29 – John Williams & Orakpo Family Recruiting Story 5:24 – Developing Into a Texas Longhorns Defensive Star 6:20 – Brian Orakpo Battling Malaria Before College 7:38 – Arriving Undersized at Texas and Earning Respect 8:16 – Redshirt Year: Learning the Texas Football Way 9:45 – Building the Legendary Texas Defensive Line Trio 12:07 – Brian Orakpo Sets the Standard for Longhorn DEs 12:32 – Mentorship from Tim Crowder, B-Rob & Rod Wright 13:30 – Orakpo’s Leadership Style and Locker Room Impact 15:01 – Transitioning to the Colt McCoy Era at Texas 15:45 – Texas Tough: Mack Brown’s Trust in Orakpo 16:25 – Will Muschamp’s Arrival and Defensive Intensity 17:20 – Brian Orakpo’s Presence and Fear Factor at Texas 18:26 – Training Camp Story: Orakpo Sets the Tone for Freshmen 19:47 – What It Takes to Truly Earn a Texas Football Scholarship 20:00 - Life among stars at Texas 20:16 - Learning real leadership 20:28 - Building a championship culture 20:40 - 12–1 and 12–0 seasons 20:53 - Passing the torch at Texas 21:05 - Motivation from Texas legends 21:17 - Patience, hard work, and waiting your turn 21:52 - Why no one left early in that era 22:11 - First year starting after 2006 championship 22:22 - Leading the team after tough losses 22:42 - Houston barbecue story: “No water” moment 23:20 - Choosing the hard path of grinding 23:43 - Offensive line battles in practice 23:54 - Nigerian roots and family influence 24:36 - Playing through personal challenges 25:07 - Teammates who sharpened his game 25:56 - Blalock, Scott, and the O-line legends 26:22 - Senior year success and NFL Draft 26:49 - Transitioning to Washington and NFL longevity 27:12 - Learning lineba Derrick Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/superdj56 Alex Okafor: https://www.instagram.com/alexokafor Jeremy Hills: https://www.instagram.com/jhills5 Fozzy Whittaker: https://www.instagram.com/fozzywhitt Rod Babers: https://www.instagram.com/rodbabers Nick Shuley: https://www.instagram.com/nickshuley
