Texas LB David Gbenda’s toughness and leadership highlight NFL-level attributes

The veteran linebacker has the toughness and strength required of an NFL player.

Veteran Texas Longhorns linebacker David Gbenda is on the cusp on having his NFL dreams realized at the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.

Gbenda moves on from Texas after a commendable career at linebacker that included appearances in 63 games with 16 starts over six seasons.

Gbenda hails from Katy, where he attended Cinco Ranch and chose the Longhorns over offers from Arkansas, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and about 20 others. A consensus four-star prospect, Gbenda was ranked as the No. 168 player nationally and the No. 11 inside linebacker, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Gbenda’s Texas career was a journey of fortitude and patience that got off to an unusual start in 2019 when injuries at running back forced Gbenda to join quarterback Roschon Johnson in the offensive backfield after position changes. And while the rest was history for Johnson, for Gbenda it was a setback to his development.

In his first four seasons with Texas, Gbenda totaled just 55 tackles in limited action, playing a high of 198 snaps in 2021. With playing time hard to come by behind stars such as DeMarvion Overshown and Jaylan Ford, Gbenda easily could have transferred. Instead, he buckled down and stuck it out.

In 2023, Gbenda started eight games and totaled 50 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries and one pass breakup despite sharing time with Ford and budding star Anthony Hill Jr. Gbenda had a breakout year.

Returning for his sixth and final season, Gbenda continued the momentum, notching a career high in tackles and tackles for loss while giving way to sophomore Liona Lefau as the starter, recording 61 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble against Georgia in the SEC Championship game.

“I just said, ‘No way am I gonna let us roll over.’ I said, ‘Ain’t no way,’ it was the same situation. I was dropping back, but there was a single receiver to my right and we had coverage over there, so I hooked left. But then I saw he was going to throw it so I went back and grabbed it. It was a rush of energy and it cemented that we weren’t going to go down quietly,” Gbenda told Inside Texas of the play.

Gbenda is the epitome of guys you want in your locker room — he’s hard-working, disciplined, a strong leader, and appreciative for whatever his role may be. In returning for a sixth season, Gbenda wanted to lead his teammates by example.

“Coming back, I knew it wasn’t just about me, it was about leading others as well, and understanding that younger guys, they don’t really understand it and really know what to do and how to go about it,” Gbenda said in an appearance on the 3rd and Longhorns podcast.

“So I just wanted to bean example and not to be the voice that everyone has to hear, just sort of the guy like, ‘Oh snap. This is how we do it.’ I don’t have to lead and make a big example out of this. This is what you’re seeing. This is what you’re seeing on the leaderboards. This is what you’re seeing in the game. So there’s not much to be said.”

For Gbenda, the patience and leadership have finally resulted in consistent on field success. NFL scouts have noticed, with seven teams requesting his presence at the NFL Combine and some solid results, including a 4.60 40-yard dash, a 32.5-inch vertical at 235 pounds, and a 4.38 short shuttle.

Gbenda is on the border of hearing his name called at the NFL Draft, but will undoubtedly have the opportunity to compete for a roster spot. Like every other time in his career, he is going to be required to carve out every snap he gets.

No play better epitomizes Gbenda’s effort than coming on a blitz against Alabama in 2023 and cutting cut by running back Jase McClellan, but recovering with fanatical effort to sack quarterback Jalen Milroe.

As a prospect, Gbenda is a strong and fast linebacker that has the balance to aid in run stopping or zone pass coverage. Gbenda is best when he can attack freely, either blitzing or tackling downhill. His motor is relentless and he doesn’t quit, even after being blocked.

After six years in the Texas strength and conditioning program, Gbenda showed off his strength against Michigan, coming downhill and decleating the 310-pound senior center for the Wolverines.

Against the Wolverines, Gbenda put some quality plays on tape.

In the Peach Bowl against Arizona State, Gbenda showed his ability to scrape and close with the play strength to arrest the forward momentum of burly star Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo.

Gbenda does struggle in key areas for every-down linebackers — he can be exploited in man coverage against shifty backs and doesn’t always shed blocks at an ideal rate.

All in all, Gbenda is the type of player that holds a locker room steady and accountable. He is a first-in, last-out type with the right usage and scheme could carve out a career in the NFL after reportedly meeting with more than two-thirds of the organizations in the league during the pre-draft process.

Regardless of what happens in Green Bay, the journey for David Gbenda is far from over.