The Texas Longhorns program has produced many talented ball hawks in the secondary, with Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba being instant impact players during their rookie years in the NFL last season. A lot of the success has come from the mentorship of assistant coach Blake Gideon, coaching the secondary. Now that Gideon returned to the Forty Acres after one year as the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, the Texas secondary will be impressive heading into 2026.  While Michael Taaffe has now entered the NFL ranks after being a fifth-round pick by the Miami Dolphins, the Longhorns have a couple of guys in the safety room who could potentially add their names to next year’s draft.  Jelani McDonald is Ready to Take the Next Step  Aug 30, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (10) throws past Texas Longhorns defensive back Jelani McDonald (4) during the first half at Ohio Stadium.…