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College Football 2018: Biggest question facing every Top 25 team in spring practice

By Nicholas Ian Allen

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Jalen Hurts (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Jalen Hurts (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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WACO, TX – OCTOBER 28: Texas Longhorns fans celebrate as Texas plays the Baylor Bears in the second half at McLane Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Waco, Texas. Texas won 38-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
WACO, TX – OCTOBER 28: Texas Longhorns fans celebrate as Texas plays the Baylor Bears in the second half at McLane Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Waco, Texas. Texas won 38-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

Is Texas back?

We ask this question seemingly every year, especially whenever the Longhorns pull off a big upset, but the 2017 season gave Texas football fans a reason to be very optimistic about the program in 2018. Head coach Tom Herman inherited a talented roster and guided it to a bowl game for the first time since 2014. The Horns upset Missouri to secure the first winning program for the team since 2014, and did so with a defense that ranked among the top 25 nationally (No. 21 in S&P+), which is no small feat for a Big 12 unit.

Herman kept the momentum going by signing a top-five recruiting class, and despite losing five players as early entries to the NFL Draft, there’s a lot to like about the talent that remains. It starts up front, where four starters return on the offensive line. Also, Texas landed highly coveted Rice transfer Calvin Anderson to help solidify the unit. Anderson, a three-year starter for the Owls, is likely to step into the starting lineup right away, potentially at the left tackle spot Connor Williams (one of the early draft entries) and graduated Tristian Nickerson held last season. He chose the Longhorns over Oklahoma, Michigan and Auburn.

Questions still remain as to whether or not Shane Buechele or Sam Ehlinger grabs hold of the quarterback position for good, and whether or not Daniel Young, Kyle Porter or Toneil Carter emerges as a solidifying force in the backfield, but the receiving corps is talented and full of untapped potential.

On the other side of the football, the Horns must replace the anchor of the defensive line, Poona Ford, as well as leading tackler Malik Jefferson and multiple playmakers in the secondary, but welcome back eight starters from the unit that shut down Missouri, and added one of the top defensive back recruiting classes in history, which could pay immediate dividends. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Texas compete for the Big 12 crown.

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