Texas football 2019: Depth chart and starting lineup projections

Texas defensive depth chart

Notables losses: This year, Texas returns only three starters from last year’s 44th-ranked unit according to Football Outsiders’ defensive S&P+. On top of Omenihu and Boyd, they will be absent leading tacklers Gary Johnson and Anthony Wheeler, who between them amassed 119 solo tackles, 25 tackles for a loss and 10.5 sacks from their linebacker spots. Maybe more important, this defense will lack any type of senior leadership in the secondary.

DE: Ta’Quon Graham, junior | Marquez Bimage, junior
NT: Keondre Coburn, freshman (RS) | Gerald Wilbon, senior
DE: Malcolm Roach, senior | Moro Ojomo, freshman (RS)

The Longhorns still have some strength up front with highly regarded Coburn inside and some experience in Graham and Roach — though not so productive — on the outside. The upperclassmen will need to show up more in the stat sheet and force quarterbacks into some uncomfortable pockets. The combination of the 340-pound Coburn and 325-pound Wilbon will plug holes on inside runs.

BLB: Joseph Ossai, sophomore | Byron Vaughns, freshman (RS)
MLB: Ayodele Adeoye, freshman (RS) | Caleb Johnson, junior
ROV: Jeffrey McCulloch, senior | Marcus Tillman, Jr., freshman

With 33 total tackles (4.5 for loss) and 1 sack in 2018, McCulloch is the top returner for the linebacker corps. He’s the most experienced and, at 6’3″-245, he’s a physical force and will fly around from his rover spot. While Ossai and Adeoye are filling some big shoes, all eyes are truly on Adeoye. The redshirt freshman came in as a four-star recruit and played in four games because of an injury in 2018.

CB: Jalen Green, sophomore | Kobe Boyce, sophomore
FS: Brandon Jones, senior | Montrell Estell, sophomore
SS: Caden Sterns, sophomore | Chris Brown, junior
CB: Anthony Cook, sophomore | D’Shawn Jamison, sophomore
Nickel: BJ Foster, sophomore | Josh Thompson, junior

As you can see, there are quite a few sophomores being asked to either start or provide immediate depth in the secondary. However, it’s worth noting that Sterns was a big-time factor as a freshman, turning in 62 tackles and a team-high 4 picks a year ago. Foster and Cook put in a large number of reps as well, meaning Green is the most unproven commodity. Jones, the lone senior, will serve as the anchor after totaling 131 tackles over the last two years.

Special Teams

KR: Joshua Moore, sophomore | D’Shawn Jamison, sophomore
PR: D’Shawn Jamison, sophomore | Brandon Jones, senior
K: Cameron Dicker, sophomore
P: Ryan Bujcevski, sophomore

There’s an opportunity for Jamison to serve in both returning roles, but it’s likely that Herman relies on Moore — the number-five athlete in his class — to do the primary kick returning. Jamison, who returned 9 of 15 punts last year, lacks some consistency, but his speed translated to one touchdown and 13.1 yards per return. Meanwhile, Dicker returns after hitting 18 of 25 field goals in his first year on campus; he was money on extra points, hitting all but one of them. Bujcevski proved himself with a 40.3 average that ranked fifth in the Big 12 a year ago.