Texas adds former NFL defensive back to support staff

Longtime NFL cornerback William Gay is joining the Texas staff as an analyst. He'll be a senior defensive analyst working with the defensive backs.

While support staff spots are unlimited, it doesn't take the intellect of Robert Oppenheimer to connect the dots here. 

Texas was set to bring former defensive backs coach Duane Akina back in a support staff role until Jedd Fisch took the Washington job, which led to Brent Brennan becoming the next Arizona head coach, which led to Akina "returning" to Arizona as defensive coordinator. 

And so now Gay will assist Terry Joseph and Blake Gideon in coaching the Longhorns secondary. 

A fifth-round pick out of Louisville, he played 11 seasons in the NFL. Gay won a Super Bowl as a Pittsburgh Steeler, posted 13 career interceptions, and scored six touchdowns. Following his 2018 retirement, Gay spent 2019 as an intern for the Steelers and 2020 as the defensive backs coach at Missouri State. 

Pass defense will be an area of focus as Texas looks to capitalize on its Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff debut into the SEC. The Longhorns return starting cornerbacks Malik Muhammad and Terrance Brooks, starting safeties Derek Williams and Michael Taaffe, and starting nickel back Jahdae Barron. Texas added Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba in the portal and, as of this writing, is in the running for Washington cornerback Jabbar Muhammad. 

As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.