What will a new Coach (Presumably Charlie Strong) have to work with going into 2014? In some spots, the new boss has elite talent to work with, and yet other areas are dangerously thin. This does not take into account any potential 2014 commitments because that situation is fluid until National Signing Day. I encourage the reader to offer his own viewpoints on this roster and what needs to happen with it. I have taken a guess and tried to rank the players by position in a “depth chart†fashion. I have also done what I could to list the 2013 redshirts in the correct fashion as this is a “2014-15†season projection.
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS:
Quarterback:
David Ash – Senior OR Tyrone Swoopes – Sophomore
Trey Holtz – Sophomore
Cody Boswell – Senior
Analysis: Goes without saying, this position is dangerously thin, even if Jerrod Heard signs with Texas. David Ash would presumably get a look, but his head injury ordeal led me to list him as an “ORâ€. Without Heard, there is no option past Swoopes.
Running back:
Malcolm Brown – Senior
Joe Bergeron – Senior
Daje Johnson – Junior
Jalen Overstreet – Sophomore
Johnathan Gray – Junior
Eddie Aboussie – Senior SQ
Gaston Davis – Sophomore
Analysis: If Malcolm Brown returns to school this position is going to be fine with Bergeron. Johnson and Overstreet are grade casualties who may not return, and Gray is coming off a severe injury. The new staff needs to ensure they lock down the commitment of Duke Catalon, because he may need to play right away.
Fullback:
Alex De La Torre – Junior
Chet Moss – Senior
Dominic Cruciani – Senior
Analysis:Â De La Torre has this position on lock down. Whether or not it’s needed anymore remains to be seen.
Tight End:
Geoff Swaim – Senior
Greg Daniels – Senior
Miles Onyegbule – Senior
MJ McFarland – Junior
Chris Terry – Senior SQ
Matt Center – Redshirt Freshman
Analysis: Who knows if the tight end has a place here. The group as a whole is in need of a ton of work in the spring.
Wide Reciever:
Kendall Sanders – Junior
Marcus Johnson – Junior
Jaxon Shipley – Senior
John Harris – Senior
Jacorey Warrick – Sophomore
Bryant Jackson – Senior
Jake Oliver – Sophomore
Montrel Meander – Redshirt Freshman
David Thomann – Senior
Hunter DeGroot – Redshirt Freshman
Dakota Hines – Junior
Chris Giron – Senior
Tyler Marriott – Redshirt Freshman
Tyler Lee – Redshirt Freshman
Analysis: This position looks good to go for now. More than enough hands and speed to execute the spread type offense which should be coming to the 40.
Center:
Dominic Espinosa – Senior
Jake Raulerson – Redshirt Freshman
Analysis: Raulerson needs to have a good spring, because he may be needed. Espinosa had a better than expected 2013 campaign, but is still not consistent enough in his game to be a lock to start this season. Could see Darius James move in here and challenge for playing time.
Offensive Guard:
Rami Hammad – Redshirt Freshman
Darius James – Redshirt Freshman
Curtis Riser – Sophomore
Sedrick Flowers – Junior
Taylor Doyle – Junior SQ
Clark Orren – Sophomore
Frank Lopez – Sophomore
Analysis: Strong top four. I think James and Hammad come out and win the jobs in camp. Hammad could end up being one of the better guards to come out of Texas since Dan Neil. If James is pulled to center, Raulerson fits here as a swing option if needed.
Offensive Tackle:
Josh Cochran – Senior
Kent Perkins – Sophomore
Kennedy Estelle – Junior SQ
Desmond Harrison – Senior
Camrhon Hughes – Sophomore
Garrett Greenlea – Junior SQ
Analysis: Harrison’s career has not gone how he envisioned it. Perkins and Cochran can take the jobs and hold them long term. Definitely enough size and athleticism for a new coach to work with.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS:
Cornerback:
Quandre Diggs – Senior
Sheroid Evans – Senior
Duke Thomas – Junior
Antwuan Davis – Redshirt Freshman
Bryson Echols – Sophomore
Leroy Scott – Senior
Chevoski Collins – Redshirt Freshman
Ryan Roberts – Senior SQ
Analysis: All can contribute, but most need fundamentals taught to them hard and fast.
Safety:
Mykkele Thompson – Senior
Josh Turner – Senior
Kevin Vaccaro – Junior
Adrian Colbert – Sophomore
Erik Huhn – Redshirt Freshman
Analysis: Not sure Thompson belongs on defense. Huhn coming off ACL in 2012. If a decent one can be had, a JUCO fix my not be a bad idea.
Defensive Backs:
Dillon Boldt – Sophomore
Devin Huffines – Senior SQ
Brandon Allen – Sophomore
Dylan Haines – Sophomore
Analysis: Practice squad guys.
Defensive End:
Cedric Reed – Senior
Shiro Davis – Junior
Caleb Bluiett – Sophomore
Bryce Cottrell – Sophomore
Logan Mills – Junior SQ
Johnny Tseng – Junior
Logan Vimont – Senior
Analysis: Not a deep group, and the new staff has to seal the deal with Derick Roberson. He’ll have to play right away. I don’t see Cedric Reed returning to school.
Defensive Tackle:
Paul Boyette – Sophomore
Marcus Hutchins – Junior SQ
Hassan Ridgeway – Sophomore
Malcom Brown – Junior
Alex Norman – Sophomore
Desmond Jackson – Senior
Zaycoven Henderson – Freshman (January Enrollee)
Anaylsis: Not sure who starts weekly past Brown, so listed in no order, but this is a strong group which should perform well in 2014.
Linebackers:
Jordan Hicks – Senior
Peter Jinkens – Junior
Dalton Santos – Junior
Tevin Jackson – Senior
Timothy Cole – Soph
Steve Edmond – Senior
Kendall Thompson – Senior
Naashon Hughes – Redshirt Freshman
Deoundrei Davis – Redshirt Freshman
Trey Gonzales – Junior SQ
Aaron Benson – Senior SQ
Analysis: Decent group which needs a lot of fundamental work in the offseason.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Deep Snapper:
Nate Boyer – Senior
Kyle Ashby – Junior
Punters:
Mitchell Becker – Redshirt Freshman
William Russ – Senior SQ
Place Kickers:
Nick Rose – Junior
Nick Jordan – Junior
Ben Pruitt – Junior
Michael Davidson – Sophomore
Analysis: Fera will be missed. Texas needs to get the kicking game addressed. There is also no holder.
