From one weight room-loving lineman to another, Texas Tech left tackle Rylan Reed welcomes the incoming competition Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo brings.
"He benches what? 510 pounds? That's not normal," Reed said of Orakpo, who leads the Big 12 Conference with 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. "So I mean he kind of possesses everything. You gotta watch speed. You gotta watch bull rush, spin moves. You gotta watch everything. He's an all-around player."
It's ironic how the 6-foot-7, 305-pound Reed, who bench pressed a Tech record 625 pounds this past summer, is calling someone else's bench press abnormal. However, he may have a point considering Orakpo's size. The Houston native is 6-foot-4, 260 pounds and can bench 515, squat 600 and power clean 380 pounds.
"I tell you what, it's gonna be a good little match up," said Reed, whose No. 6 Red Raiders play No. 1 UT at 7 p.m. Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. "There's gonna be a lot of muscle out there on the field, so we'll see what happens."
UT's senior defensive end, known as "Osackpo" to his teammates, leads the Longhorns' dominant defensive line against Tech's massive, nearly impenetrable offensive line.
The match up in the trenches almost seems like destiny.
Texas ranks second in the nation with 29 sacks, and Tech ranks second in sacks allowed, with three in a span of 391 passing attempts.
Reed said this UT defensive line presents the toughest challenge of the season for the Red Raiders front five.
Reed, better known as "Incredible Hulk," and Orakpo, who goes by "Osackpo," will highlight one of the more exciting matchups in a game filled with playmakers.
"I'm still studying the way he plays," Orakpo said. "He's a phenomenal player, phenomenal tackle, phenomenal blocker, but I'm still studying his habits and his blocking techniques."
This seasonw, Orakpo has blossomed into the versatile, game-changing defensive end UT always thought he could become. Last season, Orakpo was on his way to fulfilling that potential before a chop block against Arkansas State in the first game of the season injured his knee, causing him to miss the next four games.
Orakpo has seen his fair share of talented left tackles this season, and he undoubtedly has out-played every single one of them. In a 45-35 win against then-No. 1 OU three weeks ago, Orakpo gained the upper hand over left tackle Phil Loadholt, racking up two sacks. That's a standout performance considering Loadholt is 6-foot-7, 340 pounds and one of the best tackles in the country.
Two weeks later, Orakpo ran through Oklahoma State's premier left tackle Russell Okung for another sack and six tackles. As a reward, Orakpo gets Reed for an encore.
This year, Orakpo said it is not as simple as just trying to sack Harrell.
UT's defense will have its hands full in trying to stop running backs Baron Batch and Shannon Woods. The tandem is among the top five in the country in production from one position with an average of 190 yards per game from scrimmage this season. Tech's average of 138.5 yards per game is the most since 1999.
"Tech's been doing something different this year, they're running the ball a little more efficient this year," Orakpo said. "Using those gaps to an advantage and really hitting the gaps with the running back is really making some huge plays on the ground."
With questions regarding a lack of depth in the defensive backfield, the pressure the defensive line has forced this season has sped up the development of a young UT secondary. Throw in the production of junior linebacker Sergio Kindle - whose six sacks are tied for fourth in the Big 12 - and the Longhorns have a shot at wreaking havoc on Tech's Heisman Trophy hopeful, quarterback Graham Harrell.
Orakpo said there is no team in the nation that uses offensive line splits as wide as the Red Raiders, which makes it difficult to get a hand on Harrell. However, he said having experience against Tech is an advantage he hopes UT's linemen can put to good use.
"Tech is the main offense that uses the splits and they get even wider than most other offenses," Orakpo said. "It seems like miles away from Graham Harrell, but we have to use it to our advantage, if that means sinking down and hitting the gaps, that's what we're gonna do. Or just staying on the edge and blitzing, we don't really know."
On the flip side, the Red Raiders have what it takes to make Texas' own Heisman candidate, quarterback Colt McCoy, have an uncomfortable trip to Lubbock. Tech is 25th in the nation and tied for second in the Big 12 with 20 sacks this season. Defensive ends McKinner Dixon and Brandon Williams have combined for 15 sacks this season.
"The big line up front there," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "They've got 20 sacks this year, so (defensive coordinator) Ruffin (McNeill) has done a good job, and they're playing a lot better defense. They've forced a lot more turnovers."
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