Projecting the Texas summer depth chart

With summer school now in session, the Texas Longhorns have all the members of the 2019 recruiting class on campus with the exception of running back Derrian Brown. As the team goes through offseason workouts with strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight and his staff, it will also participate in 7-on-7 drills for the skill players.

As a result, the team will adopt an unofficial depth chart during 7-on-7 work or position-specific drills for the offensive and defensive linemen.

Here’s a guess at what that depth chart looks like and a few comments on the thinking behind it.

— Three players aren’t listed on this depth chart — Brown, linebacker De’Gabriel Floyd, who is expected to miss the 2019 season with spinal stenosis, and linebacker Demarco Boyd, who graduated this spring and remains suspended as a result of his arrest last summer.

— Missouri product Marcus Washington could end up playing either of the outside wide receiver positions, but for now he’s listed at the X because that’s where his big frame fits best.

— In the slot, the electric Jake Smith needs repetitions and should immediately displace redshirt sophomore Jordan Pouncey, who struggled with his hands during the Orange-White game in April. Smith should immediately press starter Joshua Moore, a sophomore, for first-team reps, too.

— The departure of Bru McCoy back to USC and the injury to redshirt freshman Al’Vonte Woodard frees up some space on the depth chart, particularly at the Z position where Kennedy Lewis will slot due to his high-level track speed for his size. Speaking of track speed, senior John Burt is now done with track and back with the team following a redshirt season.

— At tight end, Brayden Liebrock is such a polished route runner that he should immediately move ahead of early enrollee Jared Wiley, who has limited experience at the position. Both need to improve as blockers, but right now it’s the pass-catching ability of Liebrock that separates him from the Central Texas product.

— The undersized Isaiah Hookfin has the best feet of the tackle options joining the program, so he gets the nod at left tackle.

— Inside at left guard, former Georgia Tech standout Parker Braun will immediately get first-team reps, as redshirt freshman Junior Angilau struggled in pass protection in the Orange-White game. Of course, that’s a question for Braun after playing in Paul Johnson’s triple option offense in Atlanta, but Braun’s motor and maturity give him the edge over Angilau.

— With the lack of interior offensive linemen, junior college transfer Willie Tyler, who is listed at 330 pounds, is projected here to move inside after JP Urquidez struggled to make a similar transition during the spring. In fact, as long as Tyler’s 6’7 height doesn’t cause major leverage issues, Tyler has a decent chance to become the fourth or fifth guard on position coach Herb Hand’s matrix.

— Javonne Shepherd has the athleticism to remain outside, but he’s raw and is likely a year away from pushing someone like redshirt freshman Christian Jones for the backup role at right tackle.

— The defensive line is one of the most crowded positions on the roster with 13 players competing for only three positions. Like Shepherd, Louisianian Myron Warren is a raw player with high upside who looks headed for a redshirt season. However, he’s extremely talented and plays with an edge that could allow him to quickly pass older players on the depth chart as he gains strength and refines his technique.

— Though Texas didn’t sign a true nose tackle in the 2019 class, T’Vondre Sweat was listed at 285 pounds by the school on Early Signing Day, so he’s the projected nose tackle of the group. It’s a deep position with two seniors ahead of him, so he’s got a difficult path to get on the field.

— Junior college transfer Juwan Mitchell should immediately challenge redshirt freshman Ayodele Adeoye for playing time at the Mac position, with David Gbenda slotting behind him. There will be plenty of cross-training at all three linebacker positions, but for the depth chart purposes here, the two additions at Mac allow junior college transfer Caleb Johnson and early enrollee Marcus Tillman Jr. to move to their more natural positions at Rover.

— The secondary is crowded as well, with speedster Tyler Owens looming as the only summer enrollee who should quickly move past an older player on the depth chart. Keep an eye on Kenyatta Watson II, however, as he’s a freak athlete like Owens and has gone through advanced training on his technique. Look for Watson to earn a spot on special teams and push for playing time this fall. Chris Adimora is simply caught at a really talented position, while Marques Caldwell is a long-term developmental bet by the coaching staff.

For an in-depth look at each defensive player, click here. The offense is here.