Texas Football: Projecting Who Will Win the Longhorns' Open Starting Positions

We've hit June, and the rest of Texas' 2015 recruits have arrived on campus to officially complete the roster. More importantly, the open starting jobs will get the competition we've been waiting for since this class signed.

There are a few stragglers, but the Longhorns' 10th-ranked class is on campus, and the real battles should be underway. It's about time, as several positions need some talented players to mix it up, especially at the depleted cornerback spot.

While the freshmen will factor into some battles, there are also some returnees who need to step up and take what's there. Chief among those being the quarterback, where head coach Charlie Strong needs to make a decision on who will be the leader of his team.

No matter what, the Horns will have to field a lot of young, inexperienced talent. It's good to finally have everyone on campus competing to see who rises to the top.

Quarterback

Michael Thomas/Associated Press

Jerrod Heard's mobility should give him a distinct edge in the quarterback battle.

Candidates: Jerrod Heard, Tyrone Swoopes

The two-man fight for the quarterback job between Jerrod Heard and Tyrone Swoopes remains wide open heading into the summer. Given the direction of the team, the choice should be obvious.

There's one concrete fact that's going to shape this battle, which is that the Longhorns are moving toward a spread offense to become a more explosive team, as Strong said to begin spring practice, per TexasSports.com:

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We want an explosive team. We didn't create the big plays. You look at some of our games, you look at the low scoring, but you'll have to score and but you have to generate, you have to generate points, and it's all about taking what you have and using it to your advantage and seeing that you can be successful doing it.

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Now, who do you want running an attack like that when the receiving corps is young and your defense has lost a ton of talent? In this situation, running this type of offense, a more mobile quarterback like Heard easily gives you the best chance to move the ball and put up points.

Judging by what we saw from Heard in the spring game, he's going to be ready to take control of this team in the fall.

Wide Receiver

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Foreman's all-around game makes him a lock for a starting job as a sophomore.

Candidates: Marcus Johnson, Armanti Foreman, Lorenzo Joe, Dorian Leonard, Jacorey Warrick, Ryan Newsome, Daje Johnson, John Burt

The Longhorns have some tough decisions to make at receiver, where they have no proven consistent options.

Of the group, Marcus Johnson and Armanti Foreman are the safest bets to take two of the starting spots. Johnson is the senior member of the group, and he's much better than he played in 2014. Then there's Foreman, who can play anywhere and should emerge as the go-to option on this team.

If these two live up to expectations, that virtually guarantees a job for either Dorian Leonard or Lorenzo Joe. Both Foreman and Johnson are on the shorter side, and the Horns need a bigger receiver who can hold blocks and make plays in the red zone. It's a toss-up with them at this point, but give the slight edge to Joe's polished game.

As for the fourth receiver, who could be a starter depending on the tight-end situation, Warrick and Newsome are the guys to watch. Warrick has shown flashes of being an almost impossible one-on-one cover, and Newsome has some of the most dynamic talent Texas has ever seen from the slot position.

Tight End

Candidates: Alex De La Torre, Andrew Beck, Blake Whiteley, DeAndre McNeal

For the sake of substitutions, Texas trotted out career fullback Alex De La Torre at tight end in the spring game. It'd be surprising to see that roster decision hold up all through camp, but he'll factor into a wide open battle.

De La Torre can block out of the backfield, but that's about the only special thing he brings to the position. Simply put, there's a reason he's a been a fullback for three years.

So, Texas can either try a different player at the position, or just accept having to rotate the tight end into the game.

If they want to go the first route, freshman DeAndre McNeal is a very interesting option. He's very mobile at 6'2", 228 pounds, giving him the physical ability to move all over the formation. He would grab this job with an impressive fall camp.

Otherwise, Andrew Beck wins out as the best traditional tight end on the roster.

Right Tackle

Candidates: Connor Williams, Tristan Nickelson, Brandon Hodges

Offensive coordinator Joe Wickline will continue to experiment with his offensive line, but his core four from last year should be safe. That leaves only the right tackle spot to be truly open, where Connor Williams proved he's ready to begin a pretty impressive college career.

Williams ran with the ones in the spring game, continuing an absolutely torrid start to his career as a 3-star recruit, per 247Sports. Williams has adequate size for a tackle, but he's extremely mobile and has the mean streak to finish blocks, per 247Sports' Jeff Howe.

Tristan Nickelson and Brandon Hodges both have talent, but they look like they'll be little more than valuable depth guys this season.

Defensive Tackle

Michael Thomas/Associated Press

Desmond Jackson's size and leadership should keep in the starting lineup as a senior.

Candidates: Desmond Jackson, Paul Boyette, Poona Ford

Poona Ford is the second-best tackle on this team, using some amazing technical skill to blow by interior linemen. He just doesn't fit all that well next to a penetrator like Hassan Ridgeway.

We could see the Ford-Ridgeway combo if Texas' best defender can become a more complete tackle. Until then, senior Desmond Jackson is the best option as a big body who can plug gaps and power through guys when necessary. His leadership will also be crucial on this young defense.

Ford and Paul Boyette are capable defenders, so we'll see a lot of them in relief duty. Ford is a year away from the being one of the better tackles in the conference.

Defensive End

Michael Thomas/Associated Press

Cottrell was a menace off the edge in the spring game.

Candidates: Bryce Cottrell, Quincy Vasser, Shiro Davis

An afterthought entering the offseason, Bryce Cottrell has dusted the competition on his way to taking Cedric Reed's old job as the strong-side defensive end.

Strong gushed about Cottrell's effort this spring, stating the following about the former 3-star recruit after he tore it up in the spring game, per TexasSports.com:

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Well, I love [junior defensive end] Bryce [Cottrell], and I said it's probably the surprise of the spring has been Bryce. He told me he had three sacks, and I didn't count one. He said he hit the quarterback, but I said if you didn't, it wasn't a sack (laughs). It's always fun to just watch him compete and to see him just gaining the confidence because now he's coming out of his shell.

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"Surprise" is definitely the right word to describe what Cottrell has done. He's never recorded a collegiate sack, and grabbing a starting role would mean he's outpaced heralded 4-star recruit Shiro Davis and Quincy Vasser, one of the best JUCO recruits in the country.

Reed came out of nowhere to become a star as a junior in 2013, and Cottrell looks like he's trying to do the same thing.

Linebacker

Candidates: Malik Jefferson, Dalton Santos, Peter Jinkens, Edwin Freeman, Tim Cole, Anthony Wheeler

Texas has to replace two exceptional linebackers this season, and the only fill-in who's a sure bet is a freshman. Needless to say, getting this position sorted out has to be a top priority this summer.

As the two true linebackers in Strong's 3-3-5 base, Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmond were as reliable as it gets. The two stalwarts weren't flashy, but they combined for 278 tackles, which is roughly 25 percent of the team's total tackles from last season.

To get good production from this group, this year's duo will have to up the splash plays. As he proved in the spring game, Malik Jefferson can absolutely change a game from this spot, whether it be by forcing a turnover, hitting the quarterback or delivering an old-fashioned, bone-jarring hit.

But as a freshman, Jefferson will also make his mistakes, which is why it makes sense for Texas to put either Dalton Santos or Peter Jinkens next to him. Each is a senior with decent experience, and the coaches can simply pick the best one since Jefferson can play the middle.

Jefferson is a more natural outside linebacker, so Santos would be the best fit with Jinkens and rising star Edwin Freeman providing depth.

Nickel

Candidates: John Bonney, Kris Boyd, Jason Hall, Jermaine Roberts, PJ Locke

There's really no competition for John Bonney this summer, who has taken control of the nickel corner job formerly occupied by Quandre Diggs.

Like Diggs, Bonney makes up for below-average size with a great football IQ and unteachable tenacity. He looked like one of the best players on the field during the spring game, playing sticky coverage and hitting his teammates like they were playing in the Red River Showdown.

The Horns need to prepare somebody to back Bonney up, and the list of obvious candidates is pretty thin. Incoming freshman Kris Boyd has the size and agility to be excellent manning the spot, but it's a position that requires a lot of reading and reacting—it's just a lot to dump on a freshman.

If anything ever happens to Bonney, we'll probably see Jason Hall move down from the safety spot with Jermaine Roberts helping out when Bonney needs a breather.

Cornerback

Candidates: Holton Hill, Bryson Echols, Antwuan Davis, Jermaine Roberts, Kris Boyd

It may not happen right away, but Holton Hill will be Texas' second starting corner before the season comes to a close.

Texas recruited Hill to play right away. Tall (6'2") and fast with long arms, he's a perfect fit for Strong's press-coverage scheme, and he plays a position that doesn't seem to be overwhelming for freshmen of his talent.

Bryson Echols can cover, but he's not going to be able to keep Hill at bay.

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