Texas Longhorns Football: The Future Starts in 2011

The September 3 opener against Rice can't come any faster for Longhorns fans.

There is just over a week to go before Texas begins its campaign to recapture glory and respect in college football. The road back to prominence starts next weekend, and although the Longhorns are stacked with youth who will contribute significantly, the future of the program begins now.

Young players up and down the Texas roster will be relied upon to make plays this year, and the Horns will have to live with the mistakes.

Texas fans will watch fervently, as the 2010 and 2011 recruiting classes harbor incredible talent, but also incredible expectations.

Let's break it down.

Talented Youth

Under Bryan Harsin's multiple look, motion offense, the Longhorns will be able to package a bevy of plays for virtually any skill player. Forget the luxury of experience. If a player proves he can bring something extra to the offense, he will see the field regardless of his classification.

Here is a look at the underclassmen expected to contribute something this season.

QB: Case McCoy (So), David Ash (Fr)
RB: Malcolm Brown (Fr), Joe Bergeron (Fr)
OL: Trey Hopkins (So)*, Thomas Ashcraft (So), Mason Walters (So)*, Garrett Porter (So), Dom Espinosa (R-Fr)*
TE: TBD
WR: Mike Davis (So)*, Darius White (So), John Harris (R-Fr)*, Jaxon Shipley (Fr)*, Miles Onyegbule (Fr)

And on defense.

DE: Jackson Jeffcoat (So)*, Reggie Wilson (So)
DT: Calvin Howell (So)*, Ashton Dorsey (So), Desmond Jackson (Fr)
LB: Jordan Hicks (So)*, Demarco Cobbs (So), Aaron Benson (R-Fr)
DB: Carrington Byndom (So)*, A.J. White (So), Adrian Phillips (So)*, Quandre Diggs (Fr)*

* denotes probable starter

 The players above not only will serve as critical components towards Texas' chances of success this season, but also as a core for the next two or three seasons as the Longhorns attempt to climb back to the upper echelon of college football programs.

New Era in Longhorns Football

In what are Harsin and Manny Diaz's first cracks as Texas' offensive and defensive coordinators, the learning curve for the players and staff is obvious. However, couple that with the number of underclassmen ready to contribute and this early exposure should pay more dividends down the road as this group develops and grows with these philosophies.

Upper and underclassmen alike will usher in these new schemes on the Forty Acres and kick start what will be a new era in Texas Longhorns football. But as the veterans graduate from the program, the future will be in the hands of the current youngsters who will set the stage for the Longhorns in the coming seasons.

Getting off on the right foot and living with the mistakes and shortcomings are critical. But with the amount of talent oozing from players like Malcolm Brown, Joe Bergeron, Jaxon Shipley and Desmond Jackson, among others, excitement is brewing in Austin, and it is palpable.

The future starts in 2011.