Texas Longhorns football 2013: Projecting the depth chart

Quarterback: The assumption here is that Case McCoy won't be back after hearing from a connected person on Twitter that he won't be back next season. Brewer stays as a result, but Overstreet passes him on the depth chart because he improves as a passer and fits what Applewhite wants the offense to look like moving forward with dual-threat signal-callers. Ash, obviously, is the starter and Swoopes redshirts.

Running back: Gray holds onto the starting job with Brown as his primary back up when Bergeron moves to fullback during the spring. The caveat is that unless Texas adds a running back in the 2013 class, it would be hard to move Bergeron unless the coaches see Daje Johnson as a guy who could fill in there if needed.

Wide receiver: This position looks much the same as it did in 2012, albeit with the loss of the no. 3 receiver in Marquise Goodwin. Kendall Sanders emerges to fill that role with Cayleb Jones also earning more playing time and Jake Oliver and Marcus Johnson battling for the remaining reps, which may increase as Applewhite moves to using more sets with three or four wide receivers.

Tight end/H-back/fullback: The use of these players is reduced because Applewhite wants the best 11 players on the field. Daniels remains as the blocking tight end, Swaim steps in as the blocking H-back/fullback, and McFarland is the wild card. Bergeron moves into the role of short-yardage back and fullback in the new Pro Set formations employed by Texas. Moss and DLT barely see the field.

Offensive line: The notable moves here are the addition of Desmond Harrison (projected), who battles Cochran for the right tackle job. Estelle emerges as a rotation player, as does Darius James, who pushes Dom Espinosa. Flowers and Riser are the question marks and may help define the upside of the line in their ability to give Hopkins and Walters some rests, necessary as Texas increases the tempo offensively and runs more plays.

Defensive end: Reed fills in ably at the strongside spot vacated by Okafor, splitting time with Wilson. Shiro Davis steps up on the other side to provide situational pass-rushing. Jeffcoat returns to hold it down on the weakside.

Defensive tackle: This is the position with the most potential for major changes in the depth chart. Jackson and Brown were the two best in the bowl game and A'Shawn Robinson could compete for playing time. Dorsey, Whaley, and Moore could find themselves in a serious battle to get on the field.

Linebacker: There's a big jump here -- moving Hicks inside to middle linebacker. Edmond wasn't cutting it and Santos won't be ready, in all likelihood, so the move of Hicks allows the two rising players in this group, Jackson and Jinkens, to get on the field beside the Ohio product. Demarco Cobbs may have to take his redshirt year since his ACL injury happened so late in the season. Or he could just get buried in the rotation.

Defensive back: Plenty of moving parts in the secondary, too, caused by the lost of the most versatile player on the team in Kenny Vaccaro. Diggs could well move to safety and play a similar role, but the thought here is that Nick Marshall commits and ends up as the starter there, a pretty big leap, admittedly.

Turner and Scott could also switch places, while the spring will be an important one for Mykkele Thompson as he battles to move from being an athlete out there at safety to becoming a true defensive back.

Special teams: A healthy Fera earns the punting and the placekicking duties, as Jordan still has some consistency issues. The most intriguing battle is at kick returner, where the Longhorns lost both of their starters. Daje Johnson and Kendall Sanders are potential difference makers there.