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*** Every Monday during the offseason, we'll have this thread, updating the projected depth chart for the upcoming period or during the period in progress. It will alternate from offense to defense weekly, meaning that each side of the ball will be "updated" every two weeks. Since there are sure to be times when updates are not needed due to nothing having changed or no new info coming in, please think of this thread more as a place for depth chart discussion to live. In weeks where there are no updates, we can discuss changes we'd like to see, ideas we ponder when looking at the personnel and any other thoughts you may have. Of course, in some weeks there will be major changes based on events, circumstances, news and intel coming from out of the program. ***
This week, at the request of numerous posters, I've started adding in incoming recruits here on the depth chart so as to give an idea of where recruiting efforts should be focused and various needs could be arising in coming years. It was an pretty straight forward on offense in deciding where to slot various players. Here are a few initial thoughts I had going through that side of the ball:
- I'm projecting Juan Davis to take the shortcut to TE that Malcolm Epps should have all along. It was clear to anyone with any sense that Epps was a lumbering presence on the outside as an X WR at the college level, and it was malpractice by former WRs coach Drew Mehringer to give him the third-most snaps of any WR on the team in 2019, even given Collin Johnson's injury. Davis looks the part of an alpha outside WR on his high school film, but, like Epps, will probably out-grow the that role in short order given that he is already reportedly nearly 220 pounds. Having stood next to Davis in person, he's a beastly young dude.
- And how many TE recruits does Texas really need at this point? I mean, Reese Leitao had to move to another position because the TE room is pretty full as is. The aforementioned Epps should compete for snaps behind Cade Brewer with Jared Wiley, who Tom Herman calls a future NFL player, and Brayden Liebrock is still waiting in the wings. Lake Travis TE Lake McCree decommitted earlier in the cycle and next was the surprise dumping of his Texas pledge by Landen King earlier this month. We've seen the staff (unsuccessfully thus far) try to make sure the 2021 class has two TEs and my question is ... why? Use that spot on another offensive lineman.
- Speaking of offensive linemen, Hayden Conner looks to be a good player. I'm not sure he has the feet, balance and natural flexibility to be a star left tackle, but I do believe he's going to be a major asset in the run game who can play either guard position or right tackle. He's a little clunky and stiff in the way he moves, but so was Junior Angilau as a high schooler. Conner is mean like Angilau, too. For now, I think I'll project him at tackle with the caveat that he should have multi-position versatility. Look, if I'm Tom Herman I say let's go out and get like 4 more guys like that and quit messing around with all these tight ends we're probably going to have to move to the defensive line at some point, anyway.
- I can't even begin to state the number of ways landing the Brockermeyer brothers would positively affect not only this recruiting class, but the general outlook of the offensive line moving forward. The interior of the unit in a post-Derek Kerstetter and Tope Imade world is pretty damn thin when we talk about James and no one needs to tell you how much landing a potential future first-round LT like Tommy means to any program -- especially one that may be losing its cornerstone piece in Sam Cosmi to the NFL draft post-2020 should he continue on the path he's set forth on thus far. Landing those two stud legacies would be the biggest recruiting coup I've seen since beginning to cover the team. Not just because of the talent level and the hype that would come with such a package commitment -- but the fact that Texas needs those types of players in those exact positions BADLY.
- Another development that could prove beneficial is perhaps seeing Jake Majors come in more ready than expected and possibly even contribute at some point as a true freshman -- likely due to injury from someone up the depth chart. There are many times this happens from relatively unexpected contributors and Majors seems like the best candidate this season as Logan Parr is a player I've watched closely and think needs a season or two while Karic and Garth will not see the field barring epic disaster in front of each at their two projected tackle spots.
- Remember the days of QB battles? Hotly contested ones even? Is it too early to talk about the EPIC QB battle we're going to have on our hands next year once Sam Ehlinger moves on? Probably. But whoo buddy is a wide-open Casey Thompson, Hudson Card, JQJ battle going to be fun as hell to follow ... without even mentioning you've got a guy like Jalen Milroe on deck.
The Absolute BEST in family and cosmetic dentistry for the Houston-Memorial Area
Now Accepting New Patients --- 281-293-9140
*** Every Monday during the offseason, we'll have this thread, updating the projected depth chart for the upcoming period or during the period in progress. It will alternate from offense to defense weekly, meaning that each side of the ball will be "updated" every two weeks. Since there are sure to be times when updates are not needed due to nothing having changed or no new info coming in, please think of this thread more as a place for depth chart discussion to live. In weeks where there are no updates, we can discuss changes we'd like to see, ideas we ponder when looking at the personnel and any other thoughts you may have. Of course, in some weeks there will be major changes based on events, circumstances, news and intel coming from out of the program. ***
This week, at the request of numerous posters, I've started adding in incoming recruits here on the depth chart so as to give an idea of where recruiting efforts should be focused and various needs could be arising in coming years. It was an pretty straight forward on offense in deciding where to slot various players. Here are a few initial thoughts I had going through that side of the ball:
- I'm projecting Juan Davis to take the shortcut to TE that Malcolm Epps should have all along. It was clear to anyone with any sense that Epps was a lumbering presence on the outside as an X WR at the college level, and it was malpractice by former WRs coach Drew Mehringer to give him the third-most snaps of any WR on the team in 2019, even given Collin Johnson's injury. Davis looks the part of an alpha outside WR on his high school film, but, like Epps, will probably out-grow the that role in short order given that he is already reportedly nearly 220 pounds. Having stood next to Davis in person, he's a beastly young dude.
- And how many TE recruits does Texas really need at this point? I mean, Reese Leitao had to move to another position because the TE room is pretty full as is. The aforementioned Epps should compete for snaps behind Cade Brewer with Jared Wiley, who Tom Herman calls a future NFL player, and Brayden Liebrock is still waiting in the wings. Lake Travis TE Lake McCree decommitted earlier in the cycle and next was the surprise dumping of his Texas pledge by Landen King earlier this month. We've seen the staff (unsuccessfully thus far) try to make sure the 2021 class has two TEs and my question is ... why? Use that spot on another offensive lineman.
- Speaking of offensive linemen, Hayden Conner looks to be a good player. I'm not sure he has the feet, balance and natural flexibility to be a star left tackle, but I do believe he's going to be a major asset in the run game who can play either guard position or right tackle. He's a little clunky and stiff in the way he moves, but so was Junior Angilau as a high schooler. Conner is mean like Angilau, too. For now, I think I'll project him at tackle with the caveat that he should have multi-position versatility. Look, if I'm Tom Herman I say let's go out and get like 4 more guys like that and quit messing around with all these tight ends we're probably going to have to move to the defensive line at some point, anyway.
- I can't even begin to state the number of ways landing the Brockermeyer brothers would positively affect not only this recruiting class, but the general outlook of the offensive line moving forward. The interior of the unit in a post-Derek Kerstetter and Tope Imade world is pretty damn thin when we talk about James and no one needs to tell you how much landing a potential future first-round LT like Tommy means to any program -- especially one that may be losing its cornerstone piece in Sam Cosmi to the NFL draft post-2020 should he continue on the path he's set forth on thus far. Landing those two stud legacies would be the biggest recruiting coup I've seen since beginning to cover the team. Not just because of the talent level and the hype that would come with such a package commitment -- but the fact that Texas needs those types of players in those exact positions BADLY.
- Another development that could prove beneficial is perhaps seeing Jake Majors come in more ready than expected and possibly even contribute at some point as a true freshman -- likely due to injury from someone up the depth chart. There are many times this happens from relatively unexpected contributors and Majors seems like the best candidate this season as Logan Parr is a player I've watched closely and think needs a season or two while Karic and Garth will not see the field barring epic disaster in front of each at their two projected tackle spots.
- Remember the days of QB battles? Hotly contested ones even? Is it too early to talk about the EPIC QB battle we're going to have on our hands next year once Sam Ehlinger moves on? Probably. But whoo buddy is a wide-open Casey Thompson, Hudson Card, JQJ battle going to be fun as hell to follow ... without even mentioning you've got a guy like Jalen Milroe on deck.
