In September of 2016, former Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong instructed then-defensive coordinator Vance Bedford and defensive line coach Brick Haley to find a way to get Breckyn Hager on the field.
In response, the Texas defensive braintrust to play Hager at Fox end opposite Naashon Hughes on either side of a three-down front. Hager responded with his first career sack and a team-high eight tackles. By the end of the season, the Westlake product led the ‘Horns with six sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss.
Through the first six games of the 2017 season, however, Hager was largely a non-factor — moved to middle linebacker during the spring, the 6’4, 245-pounder had only three tackles and one sack heading into the game against Oklahoma State.