Texas Football: 5 Longhorns Poised for a Bounceback Year in 2015

The longer spring goes on, the more it sounds like Tyrone Swoopes is gunning for a bounceback year in 2015. He leads a group of Longhorns who will need to turn things around for the team to improve on last season's results.

Losing a lot of starters doesn't bode well for any team trying to improve, especially when that team is Texas and its coming off a losing season. Fortunately, the Horns have some experience that can fill in at linebacker and wide receiver—two spots that have been especially depleted.

Specifically, seniors Peter Jinkens, Marcus Johnson and Daje Johnson have all logged several starts in their careers. They have proven up to the challenge so far this spring.

The Horns also need plain old improvement from their quarterback and offensive line, where continuity should make a big difference for two more experienced starters.

Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

QB Tyrone Swoopes

Another day, another glowing report about Tyrone Swoopes' work thus far in spring practice.

First, it was an inside source disclosing some praise for the junior to SB Nation's Wescott Eberts, who reported the following:

"

Tyrone Swoopes is still ahead in the competition [with Jerrod Heard], setting himself apart with his work ethic on and off the field. He stays late to throw extra passes, he lives in the film room, and according to this insider, his teammate [Johnathan Gray] did not overstate the development of his leadership ability last week. Though Swoopes is known as quiet by nature, he's now much more comfortable taking control of the team.

"

Charlie Strong continued to compliment Swoopes at his Wednesday press conference.

Texas' head coach also commented on his quarterback's trimmed-down frame, but the most important takeaway is Swoopes is really working on his passing game. That's where his potential truly lies because of his ideal size and arm strength. 

Swoopes' improvement areas reside in the processing part of the game and the development of some accuracy with his throws. He's working hard at these deficiencies, which should make a huge difference in Texas' outlook for 2015.

WR Daje Johnson

Texas fans and coaches have been waiting on the Daje Johnson show to get started ever since he arrived on campus. As a rising senior, he's ready to reward those who have shown patience with him.

Johnson's ability has been obvious since he first stepped on the field, taking his second collegiate touch 45 yards for a touchdown. Since then, he's added some huge plays to make his case for a regular all-purpose role, but he's been unable to stay out of trouble.

When Strong and his no-nonsense approach took over the madhouse last spring, it seemed certain Johnson's days were numbered. Instead, he's responded to some discipline and has his head coach believing in him.

Johnson's timing couldn't have been better. The Longhorns have lost two starting receivers from last season, which opens up some playing time at the position. The team is also moving toward an up-tempo attack that will feature the short passes and sweeps Johnson can always take to the house.

Averaging 8.4 yards per touch for his career, a consistent role will yield big numbers from Johnson.

Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

LB Peter Jinkens

Top recruit Malik Jefferson has been getting the most pub, but the Longhorns really need a veteran linebacker to step up. Their best combination of experience and athleticism lies with senior Peter Jinkens.

Jinkens has slowed down since he ran down a starting job as a freshman, posting career-lows in starts, tackles and tackles for loss last season. Some of that has to do with how reliable Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmond were all year, but Jinkens' disruptiveness has really dropped off since his freshman year.

Whatever Jinkens ate for breakfast in 2012, he needs to get back on it because the Horns need him. Texas' other linebackers are some combination of inexperienced, undersized or a liability in space.

Sporting legit speed (per ESPN) at 6'1", 230 pounds, those issues don't extend to the senior. Perhaps that has something to do with why fellow senior Duke Thomas named him as someone he was counting on this year.

"Peter's going to be excited out there," Thomas told 247Sports' Jeff Howe. "He's going to be hyped, he's going to be vocal and he's going to try to make plays. I look to see him do good things this year and help myself lead this defense."

We've seen Jinkens do all of those things before. As someone who plays with a lot of fire, bet on him putting in the work to be a consistent producer for this defense.

WR Marcus Johnson

A deep threat who fell by the wayside in 2014, Marcus Johnson returns as Texas' most productive receiver on the 2014 roster. Now he has a chance to prove his 2013 breakout was no fluke.

With John Harris emerging as an every-down threat, Johnson became a distant third option behind him and Jaxon Shipley. Struggling with drops along the way, the 6'1" receiver's yardage, touchdowns and yards per catch all went down from 2013.

Still, Longhorn fans can't forget the talent the rising senior brings to the table. He has the quick feet and the deep speed to be a reliable option, but must improve on his routes within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. 

The best situation for Johnson would be for a bigger receiver to emerge at the "X" spot so he can work in a role similar to Shipley's last season. He's not big enough to be a true outside receiver, but he has the most polish of anyone left on the roster.

Those traits set Johnson up for a ton of volume next season, especially early on as the rest of the receivers develop.

Eric Gay/Associated Press

LG Sedrick Flowers

Given that everyone returns from last season's offensive line, the entire unit should improve considerably. Sedrick Flowers, the most experienced member of that beleaguered unit, will lead the resurgence.

Flowers is the last holdover from the 2013 line that never got the credit it deserved. That group kept Texas in contention for a Big 12 title all season, protecting below-average quarterback Case McCoy and pushing for 4.4 yards per carry in a run-heavy attack.

Flowers was the sixth man of that unit, going from backup to the line's most experienced player by the second game of last season. He, along with the rest of last year's front, was way over his head even under Joe Wickline's tutelage.

The tackle positions will be up for grabs, but the interior is all but set with Flowers, Taylor Doyle and Kent Perkins. That will make a world of difference for this group, which has been giving it to the defense as Strong put it on Wednesday.

Most importantly, Texas' head coach sees his most experienced lineman taking a leadership role despite the limitations stemming from a back injury. He'll be healthy by the time the fall rolls around, and will settle in with some better play on the outside.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats and information courtesy of TexasSports.com.