Brian Orakpo | Texas Longhorn Legend Talks Leadership, his NFL Career, NIL & more | 3rd & Longhorn

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 Podcast0:32 – How Brian Orakpo Ended Up at Texas Football1:14 – From Houston Hoops to Texas Longhorns Football2:08 – Brian Orakpo Recruiting Story: Late Bloomer to 5-Star3:04 – Facing Vince Young in High School Football3:45 – Why Brian Orakpo Chose the Texas Longhorns4:29 – John Williams & Orakpo Family Recruiting Story5:24 – Developing Into a Texas Longhorns Defensive Star6:20 – Brian Orakpo Battling Malaria Before College7:38 – Arriving Undersized at Texas and Earning Respect8:16 – Redshirt Year: Learning the Texas Football Way9:45 – Building the Legendary Texas Defensive Line Trio12:07 – Brian Orakpo Sets the Standard for Longhorn DEs12:32 – Mentorship from Tim Crowder, B-Rob & Rod Wright13:30 – Orakpo’s Leadership Style and Locker Room Impact15:01 – Transitioning to the Colt McCoy Era at Texas15:45 – Texas Tough: Mack Brown’s Trust in Orakpo16:25 – Will Muschamp’s Arrival and Defensive Intensity17:20 – Brian Orakpo’s Presence and Fear Factor at Texas18:26 – Training Camp Story: Orakpo Sets the Tone for Freshmen19:47 – What It Takes to Truly Earn a Texas Football Scholarship20:00 - Life among stars at Texas20:16 - Learning real leadership20:28 - Building a championship culture20:40 - 12–1 and 12–0 seasons20:53 - Passing the torch at Texas21:05 - Motivation from Texas legends21:17 - Patience, hard work, and waiting your turn21:52 - Why no one left early in that era22:11 - First year starting after 2006 championship22:22 - Leading the team after tough losses22:42 - Houston barbecue story: “No water” moment23:20 - Choosing the hard path of grinding23:43 - Offensive line battles in practice23:54 - Nigerian roots and family influence24:36 - Playing through personal challenges25:07 - Teammates who sharpened his game25:56 - Blalock, Scott, and the O-line legends26:22 - Senior year success and NFL Draft26:49 - Transitioning to Washington and NFL longevity27:12 - Learning linebacker in a 3–4 defense28:01 - Culture shock of losing in the NFL29:07 - Developing new pass rush moves30:16 - Staying healthy and overcoming injuries30:56 - Offseason grind with fellow Longhorns31:50 - The art of the pass rush mindset32:53 - Why rushing is unorthodox and instinctive33:22 - Point A to Point B—anger and urgency34:09 - Reputation as “The Closer”34:38 - Mentality of power and explosiveness34:50 - Draft realities and team needs35:01 – Draft dynamics and landing spots35:26 – Hoping to be drafted by the Texans35:43 – Loving the journey in Washington and Tennessee36:13 – NIL and the moneDerrick Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/superdj56Alex Okafor: https://www.instagram.com/alexokaforJeremy Hills: https://www.instagram.com/jhills5Fozzy Whittaker: https://www.instagram.com/fozzywhittRod Babers: https://www.instagram.com/rodbabersNick Shuley: https://www.instagram.com/nickshuley