What's in the Cupboard for the new coach?

https://www.hornsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/strong_lv.jpg Credit: Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports

 

 

 

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 “OR”. 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: 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.