A look at the projected depth chart for the Texas football program in 2017.
The Texas football program will head into the 2017 season with a new look. It starts with the head coach, as Charlie Strong was fired after a sub-.500 year in 2016 — his third consecutive of this in Austin.
To replace Strong, the Longhorns hired Tom Herman from Houston. He had two successful years with the Cougars as their head coach, after building a reputation as the offensive coordinator at Ohio State. This included defeating the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2016 season, which placed the school in the top 10.
As for the team Herman is taking over, it has pieces that should contribute toward a potential rebound season in the fall. This will be led by quarterback Shane Buechele who started the 2016 season as a true freshman. He threw for just under 3,000 yards and flashed promise as the future of the Texas football program.
The main loss, however, was running back D’Onta Foreman. He had been one of the school’s lone bright spots last fall, rushing for over 2,000 yards and as one of the top running backs in the country. Replacing him won’t be an easy task, with several players able to take carries that Foreman left behind.
There will be defensive questions as well on the depth chart. There are multiple incoming freshmen or transfer players for the 2017 season, but will any of them become a starter?
The Texas depth chart should shape up soon, but, for now, this is how things could look when the ball is kicked off.