The Longhorns' fall camp begins on Saturday and there are plenty of areas of interest as the team prepares for what most people believe will be a bounce-back season. Here's a look at the top 10 things I'll be watching in pre-season practices.
1. Quarterbacks - This one's an obvious choice for the top spot, and the gap between the first spot and the second spot is significant.
Texas' 2016 season, and to some extent Charlie Strong's future in Austin, are largely dependent on what type of quarterback play the Longhorns get this fall, likely from true freshman Shane Buechele. With a new offensive scheme and plenty of talent around the position, Texas doesn't need its quarterback to play at an elite level. Instead, if Beuchele can just play smart football and avoid mistakes, the Longhorns should show dramatic improvement overall.
The focus will be on Buechele, but there are other key issues with the quarterback position worth following.
Will there be much of a battle at the top? I say not likely. If not, how will Swoopes be used? Will it be in a traditional back-up role, or will the 18-wheeler package still be a big part of the game plan?
How does Jerrod Heard figure in? Will he battle for back-up reps, or even somehow find a way to push Buechele? Or will Heard actually spend a good chunk of his time working out at receiver, as has been discussed all off-season?
2. Defensive tackle - If the play of the quarterbacks determines how well the offense plays, it could very well be the play of the defensive tackles that determines the level of play we see from the overall defense.
The lack of established depth at this position should be pretty frightening for Longhorn fans, with only two upperclassmen on the roster - senior Paul Boyette and junior Poona Ford. Those two, along with sophomore Chris Nelson, are the only players on the roster who have any actual game snaps.
Obviously, Texas signed a terrific group of five d-tackles in last year's class, and every one of those players will be given a chance to play right away. The good news is that the numbers are there with those true freshmen in the mix. The bad news is that none of those players enters the program on a level of a guy like a Malcom Brown, who came in college ready played only as a reserve in his freshman year.
The odds are that at least one of the true freshmen d-tackles will be ready for the physical wear and tear of big-time college football, but we really may not know about this group until it lines up against Notre Dame in the season opener.
3. Offensive line - The offensive line isn't as big of a question mark as the interior of the defensive line, but there are still some questions that will need to be addressed in fall camp.
How good can true freshman Zach Shackelford be at center? Is Brandon Hodges a suitable starter at left guard and if not, will one of the true freshmen be able to step in and play at a high level at that spot? Are there enough capable players to establish the type of depth that Matt Mattox would like to see?
Much like the d-tackle position, Texas has some good young talent along the offensive line, but nobody really knows if those players are ready to be reliable contributors.
4. Youth movement - It's been a process that has taken two-and-a-half years, but I think it's safe to say that this is officially Charlie Strong's roster. Texas has only 25 scholarship upperclassmen on its roster, and only about five of those players are what I'd call sure-fire starters for the season-opener.
This will be a team dominated by youth.
That's not necessarily a bad thing - not at all. But it could make for some anxious moments. How will those young players respond if Texas starts off slowly against Notre Dame? For that matter, how will the young players respond if the season starts off with early-season losses to Notre Dame, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma (and maybe even Cal)?
Texas' upper-classmen haven't provided great leadership in recent years so the program is really no worse off for leaning on the young pups, but most elite programs are able to overcome obstacles because of leadership from the juniors and seniors in the program. Texas will need to get that leadership from underclassmen, and it appears to have already started with guys like Malik Jefferson, Shane Buechele, Collin Johnson and others.
5. Defensive end depth - Everyone talks about the lack of depth at defensive tackle, and for good reason, but the Longhorns aren't exactly overloaded with talent at defensive end either.
I fully expect Charles Omenihu to have a breakout season this year, but everything else is up in the air. Truthfully, even Omenihu's level of play is up in the air. Texas really needs guys like Bryce Cottrell and Quincy Vasser to improve their play. At Fox, can Naashon Hughes take the next step, or will Breckyn Hager pass him up and be a plus-level player?
The wildcards in this one are Erick Fowler, who is still awaiting word on his status, and true freshman Andrew Fitzgerald. Fowler, if he makes it in, will draw most of the headlines, but don't sleep on Fitzgerald. I had people inside the program tell me before he even signed in February that he was the team's most underrated recruit, and Fitzgerald certainly looks the part after seeing him at the Under the Lights camp.
6. Third running back - D'Onta Foreman and Chris Warren are two of the strengths of the team. They'll give Texas a terrific one-two punch.
That being said, the Longhorns are going to need at least one other back to be ready, maybe even two. The odds of both Foreman and Warren making it through the season without missing time to injury are not good. And if they're used as heavily in the offense as I think they'll be, they're going to need breathers from time to time.
Insert Kirk Johnson and Kyle Porter, both of whom have drawn rave reviews in their times on campus. Both players bring completely different skill sets to the table than do Foreman and Warren, and that alone should help them get on the field in addition to the basic need for depth. I lean towards Johnson a tad just because of the things I was told about him before he suffered a knee injury last year, but Porter will give him a fight for reps. That will be one of the more interesting battles to watch IMO.
7. Kicker situation - Landing LSU graduate transfer Trent Domingue was a huge addition for the 2016 season. No doubt about it. But ... (sorry) ... I'm not sure I'd expect Domingue to resemble some of the ridiculously good kickers Texas has had under Mack Brown, even if he was a Lou Groza Award Semifinalist last year.
Domingue converted 13-of-17 field goals last year. Not bad. But if you look at the numbers a little closer, he didn't exactly end the season with a bang. He hit his first 10 field goals of the season before missing 4 of his last 7, including his final three kicks of the year. His career long is just 45 yards and included in his misses at the end of last year were attempts from 27, 25 and 46 yards.
Again, getting an experienced leg on campus is huge, but I'm not ready to completely put the placekicking concerns to bed.
Will the young WRs step up? - News broke on Wednesday that DeAndre McNeal had been suspended indefinitely. Add in the transfer of Ryan Newsome and Texas' expected wide receiver depth has taken a hit over the past couple weeks.
Neither loss is going to be catastrophic for the offense. In fact, it could open the doors for some of the young receivers to carve out their own niche.
John Burt is solidified in his role. Collin Johnson, based on what was shown in the spring and in off-season workouts appears to be a star in the making. Junior Armanti Foreman has a chance to flourish in this offense. I'd feel pretty comfortable penciling those three in as the team's top receivers heading into the season.
Which other guys will take advantage of the opportunity in front of them? Will Devin Duvernay steal the show? Will Davion Curtis' experience running a Sterlin Gilbert-like offense give him a leg up? Where does Lil'Jordan Humphrey figure in?
Throw in the experience of veterans Petey Warrick, Jake Oliver, Lorenzo Joe and Dorian Leonard, and Texas has enough bodies to have a full rotation. Now it's just a matter of some of the aforementioned names rising above the crop.
9. Who fills in around Malik Jefferson? - Jefferson is locked in as a starter, but it will be interesting to see how the rest of the linebacker rotation fills in.
Anthony Wheeler has drawn rave reviews behind the scenes and he appears to have a solid grasp on one of the starting spots. Edwin Freeman is the odds-on favorite for the third spot when the team is in its base 4-3 alignment. Those three should get the first-team reps to start camp, but others could be nipping at their heels.
Timothy Cole brings a ton of experience to the table and people are already buzzing about true freshman Jeffrey McCulloch. Bottom line ... there's still room for movement on the depth chart at the linebacker spots.
10. Battle at safety - Most fans are clamoring for wholesale change atop the safety depth chart. I get it, but I'm not sure fans get their wish, at least not right off the bat.
Dylan Haines and Jason Hall have played a lot of football, and most coaches are historically conservative in benching veteran, experienced players. Brandon Jones has earned positive reviews ever since he stepped on campus, but he'll now need to carry those impressive off-season workouts over to the practice field. DeShon Elliott has a ton of talent, but hasn't been able to fully get over the hump and claim a starting spot. Could a guy like Eric Cuffee or Chris Brown sneak into the mix?
The battle at safety will be one of the more interesting ones to watch in fall camp, but I put its importance a little lower than some other positions because Texas should feel a talented secondary regardless of who wins the top jobs.
1. Quarterbacks - This one's an obvious choice for the top spot, and the gap between the first spot and the second spot is significant.
Texas' 2016 season, and to some extent Charlie Strong's future in Austin, are largely dependent on what type of quarterback play the Longhorns get this fall, likely from true freshman Shane Buechele. With a new offensive scheme and plenty of talent around the position, Texas doesn't need its quarterback to play at an elite level. Instead, if Beuchele can just play smart football and avoid mistakes, the Longhorns should show dramatic improvement overall.
The focus will be on Buechele, but there are other key issues with the quarterback position worth following.
Will there be much of a battle at the top? I say not likely. If not, how will Swoopes be used? Will it be in a traditional back-up role, or will the 18-wheeler package still be a big part of the game plan?
How does Jerrod Heard figure in? Will he battle for back-up reps, or even somehow find a way to push Buechele? Or will Heard actually spend a good chunk of his time working out at receiver, as has been discussed all off-season?
2. Defensive tackle - If the play of the quarterbacks determines how well the offense plays, it could very well be the play of the defensive tackles that determines the level of play we see from the overall defense.
The lack of established depth at this position should be pretty frightening for Longhorn fans, with only two upperclassmen on the roster - senior Paul Boyette and junior Poona Ford. Those two, along with sophomore Chris Nelson, are the only players on the roster who have any actual game snaps.
Obviously, Texas signed a terrific group of five d-tackles in last year's class, and every one of those players will be given a chance to play right away. The good news is that the numbers are there with those true freshmen in the mix. The bad news is that none of those players enters the program on a level of a guy like a Malcom Brown, who came in college ready played only as a reserve in his freshman year.
The odds are that at least one of the true freshmen d-tackles will be ready for the physical wear and tear of big-time college football, but we really may not know about this group until it lines up against Notre Dame in the season opener.
3. Offensive line - The offensive line isn't as big of a question mark as the interior of the defensive line, but there are still some questions that will need to be addressed in fall camp.
How good can true freshman Zach Shackelford be at center? Is Brandon Hodges a suitable starter at left guard and if not, will one of the true freshmen be able to step in and play at a high level at that spot? Are there enough capable players to establish the type of depth that Matt Mattox would like to see?
Much like the d-tackle position, Texas has some good young talent along the offensive line, but nobody really knows if those players are ready to be reliable contributors.
4. Youth movement - It's been a process that has taken two-and-a-half years, but I think it's safe to say that this is officially Charlie Strong's roster. Texas has only 25 scholarship upperclassmen on its roster, and only about five of those players are what I'd call sure-fire starters for the season-opener.
This will be a team dominated by youth.
That's not necessarily a bad thing - not at all. But it could make for some anxious moments. How will those young players respond if Texas starts off slowly against Notre Dame? For that matter, how will the young players respond if the season starts off with early-season losses to Notre Dame, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma (and maybe even Cal)?
Texas' upper-classmen haven't provided great leadership in recent years so the program is really no worse off for leaning on the young pups, but most elite programs are able to overcome obstacles because of leadership from the juniors and seniors in the program. Texas will need to get that leadership from underclassmen, and it appears to have already started with guys like Malik Jefferson, Shane Buechele, Collin Johnson and others.
5. Defensive end depth - Everyone talks about the lack of depth at defensive tackle, and for good reason, but the Longhorns aren't exactly overloaded with talent at defensive end either.
I fully expect Charles Omenihu to have a breakout season this year, but everything else is up in the air. Truthfully, even Omenihu's level of play is up in the air. Texas really needs guys like Bryce Cottrell and Quincy Vasser to improve their play. At Fox, can Naashon Hughes take the next step, or will Breckyn Hager pass him up and be a plus-level player?
The wildcards in this one are Erick Fowler, who is still awaiting word on his status, and true freshman Andrew Fitzgerald. Fowler, if he makes it in, will draw most of the headlines, but don't sleep on Fitzgerald. I had people inside the program tell me before he even signed in February that he was the team's most underrated recruit, and Fitzgerald certainly looks the part after seeing him at the Under the Lights camp.
6. Third running back - D'Onta Foreman and Chris Warren are two of the strengths of the team. They'll give Texas a terrific one-two punch.
That being said, the Longhorns are going to need at least one other back to be ready, maybe even two. The odds of both Foreman and Warren making it through the season without missing time to injury are not good. And if they're used as heavily in the offense as I think they'll be, they're going to need breathers from time to time.
Insert Kirk Johnson and Kyle Porter, both of whom have drawn rave reviews in their times on campus. Both players bring completely different skill sets to the table than do Foreman and Warren, and that alone should help them get on the field in addition to the basic need for depth. I lean towards Johnson a tad just because of the things I was told about him before he suffered a knee injury last year, but Porter will give him a fight for reps. That will be one of the more interesting battles to watch IMO.
7. Kicker situation - Landing LSU graduate transfer Trent Domingue was a huge addition for the 2016 season. No doubt about it. But ... (sorry) ... I'm not sure I'd expect Domingue to resemble some of the ridiculously good kickers Texas has had under Mack Brown, even if he was a Lou Groza Award Semifinalist last year.
Domingue converted 13-of-17 field goals last year. Not bad. But if you look at the numbers a little closer, he didn't exactly end the season with a bang. He hit his first 10 field goals of the season before missing 4 of his last 7, including his final three kicks of the year. His career long is just 45 yards and included in his misses at the end of last year were attempts from 27, 25 and 46 yards.
Again, getting an experienced leg on campus is huge, but I'm not ready to completely put the placekicking concerns to bed.
Will the young WRs step up? - News broke on Wednesday that DeAndre McNeal had been suspended indefinitely. Add in the transfer of Ryan Newsome and Texas' expected wide receiver depth has taken a hit over the past couple weeks.
Neither loss is going to be catastrophic for the offense. In fact, it could open the doors for some of the young receivers to carve out their own niche.
John Burt is solidified in his role. Collin Johnson, based on what was shown in the spring and in off-season workouts appears to be a star in the making. Junior Armanti Foreman has a chance to flourish in this offense. I'd feel pretty comfortable penciling those three in as the team's top receivers heading into the season.
Which other guys will take advantage of the opportunity in front of them? Will Devin Duvernay steal the show? Will Davion Curtis' experience running a Sterlin Gilbert-like offense give him a leg up? Where does Lil'Jordan Humphrey figure in?
Throw in the experience of veterans Petey Warrick, Jake Oliver, Lorenzo Joe and Dorian Leonard, and Texas has enough bodies to have a full rotation. Now it's just a matter of some of the aforementioned names rising above the crop.
9. Who fills in around Malik Jefferson? - Jefferson is locked in as a starter, but it will be interesting to see how the rest of the linebacker rotation fills in.
Anthony Wheeler has drawn rave reviews behind the scenes and he appears to have a solid grasp on one of the starting spots. Edwin Freeman is the odds-on favorite for the third spot when the team is in its base 4-3 alignment. Those three should get the first-team reps to start camp, but others could be nipping at their heels.
Timothy Cole brings a ton of experience to the table and people are already buzzing about true freshman Jeffrey McCulloch. Bottom line ... there's still room for movement on the depth chart at the linebacker spots.
10. Battle at safety - Most fans are clamoring for wholesale change atop the safety depth chart. I get it, but I'm not sure fans get their wish, at least not right off the bat.
Dylan Haines and Jason Hall have played a lot of football, and most coaches are historically conservative in benching veteran, experienced players. Brandon Jones has earned positive reviews ever since he stepped on campus, but he'll now need to carry those impressive off-season workouts over to the practice field. DeShon Elliott has a ton of talent, but hasn't been able to fully get over the hump and claim a starting spot. Could a guy like Eric Cuffee or Chris Brown sneak into the mix?
The battle at safety will be one of the more interesting ones to watch in fall camp, but I put its importance a little lower than some other positions because Texas should feel a talented secondary regardless of who wins the top jobs.
