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It's still very early, but here are a few visual aids I made to help in identifying where the Texas staff may look (position-wise) to fill a remaining 8-10 open spots in what will likely be an 18-20-player signing class in 2017. Clearly, this is all subject to lots of change and is meant to be more of a compartmentalization and continued accounting process more than a projection in many ways.
The depth charts are for Spring football, but I've included current incoming Class of 2017 prospects (even those who are not enrolling early) to see where Texas is in greatest need of talent and depth. In the defensive chart, the players with names in blue are true freshmen, in the offensive chart, the freshman names are red. You can click on either image to enlarge it.
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
Definite needs:
Safety. He can be either a strong-side type or a free-type (it seems like they only play to the short or wide-side of the field in an Orlando defense anyway), but it's clearly a need. Jason Hall will be gone next season. While Elliott and Jones have terrific upside, the depth beneath them is totally unproven and seemingly less-talented.
An interior OL or two who can snap the football. The depth at the center position is scary for Texas fans. Zach Shackelford should improve from Year 1 to Year 2, but will return his sophomore season as a player needing to prove he's no longer a liability. The depth behind him is non-existent and an injury to Shackelford at this time would force Jake McMillon to center and, in turn, take away the best combo-blocking tandem on the team in McMillon + Williams.
Inside linebacker. You'd like to add another downhill thumper, scraper and eventual Mack-candidate to take over the role should Malik Jefferson be used in more of an overhang capacity. There's also the fact that Cameron Townsend is buried on the depth chart and seems likely to transfer.
In a perfect world, you'd like to add ...
Interior defensive line. Paul Boyette is gone and Poona Ford is in his last season. Despite signing five of these players last season, Chris Daniels and Marcel Southall remain complete unknowns with Daniels especially (conditioning and health-wise through his freshman year) getting off to a bad start. You can never have enough DL depth, and while it isn't the scream-fire-in-a-crowded-room emergency it was coming into 2016's signing day, it would certainly be helpful.
Nickel corner. Another non-emergency, but a shifty, quick cover guy who can knife off the line of scrimmage in the blitz game and provide adequate run-support while also being able to cover slot receivers with a two-way-go never hurts. PJ Locke turned into one of Texas' best defenders in 2016 but the depth behind him is sketchy at best with Antwuan Davis being a possible transfer candidate and Donovan Duvernay lacking the same explosive upside as brother. In the event of a Locke injury during the 2017 (in the hypothetical absence of Davis), Texas would likely get by well enough by moving one of its outside corners in, but it's hard to project if that would be optimal.
Receiver. In fact, Texas could use two more receivers -- optimally, one slot-type and one split-type. The depth behind Devin Duvernay in the slot projects to consist of two seniors and a junior in Jerrod Heard who, as of now, has still not come full-circle in his transition from QB to pass-catcher. At the split end opposite Collin Johnson, the starter's snaps will likely be split between seniors Armanti Foreman and Dorian Leonard. Behind those two is projected to be absolutely no proven depth.
Quarterback. Is the situation now better than it has been at Texas this decade? Most likely. It's not Tyrone Swoopes, it's not a hard-luck David Ash or a gritty misfit Case McCoy. It is, however, a sophomore who seemed to regress with his downfield accuracy and pocket presence in some ways through what can be viewed (depending on your prism for judgement) anywhere from a neutral to mildly impressive freshman campaign backed up by a true freshman in Ehlinger who was not able to stay healthy in high school and a 'depth-player-only' thus far in Merrick.
