Texas Football: 5 Players Who Must Step Up in 2012

Mack Brown and the Texas Longhorns have been out of the spotlight for longer than fans are used to. Ever since the Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley duo left for the NFL, it has been rough sailing.

For the Longhorns to be in contention in the new look Big 12 in 2012, something is going to have to happen on offense. The quarterback battle has already been raging and it doesn't look like a starter will be declared until fall.

While the offense struggled to do much of anything last year, the defense was easily the highlight of the team. The unit was ranked 14th in the nation and returns seven starters.

A Holiday Bowl is not going to satisfy Texas fans. To avoid another trip in 2012 the Longhorns players on both sides of the ball will have to step up. 

Case McCoy / David Ash

Colt McCoy left some big shoes for his little brother to fill and Case has yet to fill them. David Ash was called upon to lead the offense and he proved to be just as ineffective. The Longhorns resorted to a combination of the two quarterbacks and finished 86th in passing last year.

McCoy and Ash are already fighting it out to claim the starting job but Mack Brown has said the starter won't be announced until fall. Longhorn fans should be relieved there is still more time before either of these quarterbacks has to take the field.

Whether McCoy or Ash claims the starting job, though more signs point towards Ash after a poor spring game performance by McCoy, the offense will definitely have to be more effective in order to contend for a Big 12 title.

Johnathan Gray

Mack Brown has mentioned the institution of a Wildcat package when Johnathan Gray arrives in the fall.

The formation, with Gray at the helm, will certainly add a new wrinkle to the offense. If the quarterbacks don't develop, it might become more than a wrinkle and Gray will have to become a workhorse for the Longhorns.

Gray set records while at high school and will immediately challenge Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron. If he develops into half the player many predict, he will be a key part of the offense for years to come.

Mike Davis

Jaxon Shipley is already the go-to-guy in the receiving corps, but he won't be able to do it all on his own next year. 

Mike Davis will have to be the Robin to Shipley's Batman.

Davis' 45 receptions for 609 yards provided solid production for such a poor passing game in 2011, but he only managed one touchdown. Converting in the red zone has been an issue over the past two years and while the running game will get an instant boost with Gray, the receivers will have to do their part too.

The development of Mike Davis alongside the already electrifying Jaxon Shipley will provide some much-needed targets for what will likely be inconsistent quarterback play.

Steve Edmond

While seven defensive starters return in 2012, the only linebacker joining that group is strong-side linebacker Jordan Hicks. In order to keep the defensive unit one of the best in the country the linebackers will be a key project for Mack Brown before fall.

Steve Edmond looks to be a leading candidate to fill the middle linebacker vacancy. Coaches have raved about his physical presence ever since he arrived last year, and he will definitely be a force in stopping the run. 

The development in Edmond will take place in his coverage skills. In what has tended to be a pass-heavy Big 12 over the last couple years, coverage linebackers are a must-have. 

M.J. McFarland

It has been quite a while since the Longhorns had a go to tight end. M.J. McFarland is the next guy for the expectations to fall on.

D.J. Grant returns from a productive season but tight ends are a key piece of Bryan Harsin's offense.

If Mike Davis and M.J. McFarland can both become viable options for the Longhorns it will go a long way to developing a more effective offense in 2012.