In a locker room of ‘alpha males,’ Texas’ Quandre Diggs looks to lead

Nobody talks more trash on the Texas football team than Quandre Diggs. Heck, he probably wins that award going away among Big 12 players, too.

“I’ve matured as a trash talker,” Diggs said Tuesday at Big 12 media days.

And don’t get him started about the dynamics in the Texas locker room.

“It’s 125 alpha males in there,” Diggs said. “Everybody wants to be the man. If you don’t think you’re the man, then you’re weak-minded. That’s the way I look at it.”

No matter what you think about his audacious demeanor, the senior cornerback from Angleton has earned the right to say whatever he wants about Longhorns football. He’s started 36 games, made 168 tackles and just about seen it all as former All-American Quentin Jammer’s little brother.

Diggs applauds the tough-love approach implemented by new coach Charlie Strong and his assistants. If Strong is intent on weeding guys out, Diggs said, “Hell, I want to weed guys out.”

“I told Coach Strong that I just feel like we had guys on the team that just didn’t love football the way they should,” Diggs said. “If you don’t love football, you don’t need to be a part of this university, be a part of this team. That’s just something I feel strong about. You don’t need to give me a pep talk to go out and play the game I love.”

Strong has said that players will bend to his ways. “We’re not going to bend to you,” he said. Diggs loves it.

“No negotiation. There’s no negotiation,” Diggs said. “What’s there to negotiate about? You’re a player. They offered us to come here. That’s just how it is. You come to the University of Texas, they pay for your school, pay for your dorm. There shouldn’t be any negotiating.

“I complain a lot,” he added, “but I’m going to do what I need to do.”

Diggs has a huge turnaround project ahead of him with the defense. The unit posted the two worst statistical seasons in school history in 2012 and 2013. Despite that, the Longhorns were still in Big 12 title contention on the final day of the regular season last year.

New defensive coordinator Vance Bedford once played at Texas and would take considerable pride in getting the defense back on its feet.

Defensive end Cedric Reed, who thought about jumping into the NFL draft, is back for his senior season after piling up 10 sacks. Defensive tackles Malcom Brown and Desmond Jackson are solid up the middle. Linebackers Dalton Santos and Steve Edmond return, as does safety Mykkele Thompson.

“I think our defense can be one of the tops in the conference again,” Reed said. “The defense and the whole team, I think we have a chance to complete for a conference championship again.”

That’s definitely what Diggs believes. Just ask him.

“It’s a new Texas,” Diggs said. “You’ve got a whole new staff, all new people. I respect it. Those guys have done a tremendous job getting me healthy from last season. I’m appreciative of it, and I’m so glad I came back to this university for my senior year.”