Which true freshmen are still on track for a redshirt after week two?

Partly due to injuries across the depth chart, we saw a few more true freshmen get on to the field this week against UTEP.

Freshmen who’ve seen playing time through week two (14)

(If they have recorded stats, I’ve listed those next to their names as well)

• QB Shane Buechele - 35 of 53, 524 yards, 6 TD’s, 1 INT (plus 1 rushing TD)
• RB Kyle Porter - 8 carries, 35 yards, 2 KR for 29 yards
• WR Collin Johnson - 1 rec, 6 yards
• WR Devin Duvernay
• WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey - 1 rec, 7 yards
• C Zach Shackelford
• OL Jean Delance
• OL Denzel Okafor
• DE Malcolm Roach - 4 TT, 1 TFL, 1 sack
• DT D’Andre Christmas - 1 TT
• DT Gerald Wilbon
• DL Jordan Elliott - 2 TT, 1 TFL
• LB Jeffery McCulloch - 1 TT
• S Brandon Jones - 1 PR for 14 yards, 1 blocked punt

Week two, we saw the four freshmen that were on the depth chart but didn’t play against Notre Dame (Humphrey, Delance, Okafor, and Christmas) get in the game against UTEP.

There was still no sign of DE/OLB Erick Fowler this week. And we haven’t really heard much on that front in general. So at this point, we probably could expect a redshirt unless something changes sooner than later.

Below are the remaining freshmen that are still eligible for a redshirt (14)

• WR Davion Curtis
• WR Reggie Hemphill-Mapps
• TE Peyton Aucion
• OL Tope Imade
• OL J.P. Uriquidez
• OL Patrick Hudson
• DL Marcel Southall
• DL Chris Daniels
• DE Andrew Fitzgerald
• DE/OLB Erick Fowler
• LB Demarco Boyd
• DB Chris Brown
• DB Eric Cuffee
• DB Donovan Duvernay

By this point, I would have thought both Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson would have been bigger factors on offense. But Jerrod Heard moving to receiver has seemingly taken snaps away from Duvernay. And in some regards, I see Jacorey Warrick and Jake Oliver as two guys taking snaps away from Johnson and Humphrey (we could even throw in Dorian Leonard into that mix as well - he scored a long 46-yard touchdown against UTEP).

Maybe we’ll see the freshmen wide outs get in there more as the season progresses. So far, Texas has been just fine with using its older players though. Depth is deep at wide receiver, as we all know by now.

As for the defense, Malcolm Roach will be a name to watch as a pass-rusher on the outside. He’s been holding his own and the position needs him for depth too. But in general, the freshmen on defense are being utilized as key reserves and depth.

We’ll check back in on this report next week after the Cal game.