Assessing quality of Texas’ offensive depth at each position
It’s been well chronicled how the roster is trending in the right direction. What was obvious based on improved recruiting rankings became even more obvious based on player development this past season.
A byproduct of elite recruiting (if you consider back-to-back Top 5 classes elite) and quality development is competition across the roster. Competition has winners and losers, but a close competition means the “loser” is still starter quality, or at least credible depth. Currently, the second team depth chart is filled with future starters, not spare parts biding time before the portal window of their choosing.
Optimal depth is probably still a year away but even then the portal or early draft entrees could leave the coaches exposed at certain positions. For 2023, Texas’ depth is going to be pretty damn enviable when you survey the Big 12 and it should be SEC ready by 2024.
Let’s take a look at depth, starting with offense.
Quarterback
Texas has four scholarship quarterbacks but they’re all young, inexperienced, or both. Quinn Ewers is going to start and he’s playing better this spring than he did for most of last Fall. Quit concerning yourselves with interceptions being reported. He’s going up against a quality defense that knows the offensive playbook. Ewers is going to be a bona fide starter at a minimum, but likely better than that.
Depth is not proven, but in Maalik Murphy and Arch Manning, Steve Sarkisian has viable options if Ewers is injured. Murphy has a solid grasp of the playbook and Manning could start similar to Shane Buechele in 2016 and Sam Ehlinger in 2017.
Verdict: Decent depth at a position where it’s hard to have good depth. There would be a drop off if Ewers was lost for an extended period of time but Texas would still have a chance to win games against much of the schedule.
Running Back
Depth is apparent as Texas can win games with any combination of the five scholarship tailbacks. Jonathon Brooks, Cedric Baxter, and Savion Red can be volume backs. Keilan Robinson and Jaydon Blue could be too, if needed, but they have other strengths. This is a complementary group.
The question heading into next year is how good will the top two be. Depth is not a concern.
Verdict: Quality of front-line starter will likely be good but depth will be very good.
Wide Receiver
Texas has a gifted starting three of Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington, and AD Mitchell. Depth is good, too, though unproven in a couple of cases. Casey Cain will end up being a productive player and is a quality depth piece. Freshmen Johntay Cook and DeAndre Moore are ahead of schedule in there development, plus they play a position where early playing time is feasible. They are future starters. Factor in Isaiah Neyor‘s return from injury, Brenen Thompson‘s return from track and field, and Ryan Niblett‘s arrival in late May and Chris Jackson‘s room is talented from top to bottom.
Verdict: The starters are strong and depth possesses talent and play-making ability. Neyor returning to his previous form would take the room to another level. At this point it looks like he can at least be counted on to play this Fall.
Tight End
I was surprised the staff elected not to target an addition via the portal. Perhaps they were holding out hope for Duce Robinson. Ja’Tavion Sanders is great and Gunnar Helm can be more than a warm body. Juan Davis has receiving talent but not the size to be a plus inline blocker.
Verdict: Depth isn’t good, especially if Sark wants to run 12 personnel. Expect the staff to scour the landscape for a tight end during the May 1-15 portal window.
Offensive Line
Kelvin Banks and Christian Jones at tackle are very good and Jake Majors is solid at center. We’re going to discuss the O-line more in the Scoop tomorrow a.m., but the guards remain in competition and likely will well into August.
Here’s the thing at guard, though. There likely won’t be a big drop-off in level of play between the starter and the backup. In that regard, depth is actually pretty good. Kyle Flood’s No. 1 job is to create solid starters through competition. If that occurs, depth will naturally take care of itself.
At tackle, it sounds like Cameron Williams can be a decent swing option.
Verdict: Depth is pretty good and lightyears from where it’s been for much of the century. However, the younger players still need time to develop and get stronger. They’re being exposed in practice by a more physically mature interior defensive line. That written, Flood will have 8-9 guys capable of playing this year.
Interior O-line remains my biggest personnel concern for 2023, but it should be hitting its stride ahead of the transition to the SEC.
The post Assessing quality of Texas’ offensive depth at each position appeared first on On3.
