Texas Longhorns: The 9 Best Freshmen for the Horns

The Texas Longhorns may be one of the youngest teams in the NCAA, leaning on 28 underclassmen on their two-deep, 13 of which are starters.

But while inexperience runs rampant for Mack Brown's Longhorns, talent is dripping from these sophomores and freshmen.

An unprecedented nine true freshmen are on the two-deep, including five starters. So while other teams may be forced to say goodbye to a wealth of talent at the end of the season, Texas will be welcoming back young, talented players with invaluable experience.

Here is a look at some of the Longhorns' top freshmen.

Defensive Backs

Apart from Quandre Diggs, who currently holds down a starting spot at cornerback, the Texas Longhorns reeled in quite an impressive haul of defensive backs in their 2011 recruiting class.

Between Sheroid Evans, Leroy Scott, Josh Turner and Mykkele Thompson (left to right), Texas secured a bevy of athletic and promising young playmakers in its secondary.

Evans and Thompson figure to play into a safety's role, as Scott and Turner are more of the cornerback type. But after Blake Gideon graduates and Kenny Vaccaro potentially darting for the next level, there is plenty of playing time to be had across the board, and a number of these freshmen will be asked to step up.

Desmond Jackson

The interior defensive line was a glaring weakness coming into the season, and although Kheeston Randall has sometimes held up his end of the bargain, the Longhorns have not really uncovered their next big thing at the position.

Desmond Jackson (left) is definitely in that picture.

At 6-1, 285 pounds, the Houston native is one of the strongest players on the team and maintains good explosiveness at the point of attack. He has yet to come on as a true playmaker, given the numbers at the position, but there is little doubt that Jackson will turn into something special during his time on the Forty Acres.

David Ash

After Garrett Gilbert underwent season-ending surgery, later announcing his decision to transfer to SMU, David Ash beat out Case McCoy as the Longhorns' top option at quarterback, though it has been a process that is sketchy at best.

Nevertheless, Ash has demonstrated great athletic ability, especially on the run. His decision-making is an area that must improve, but he has flashed some brilliance in the past that has many believing that he will hold down the position now and in the future.

On the season, Ash has completed 61-of-98 passes (62.2 percent) for 615 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions.

Josh Cochran

Going back to last season, the Texas Longhorns have faced multiple issues on their offensive line.

Missteps in recruiting and development during the previous two or three campaigns have left Texas thin and desperate in the trenches.

True freshman Josh Cochran has made giant leaps, stepping in the starting role at left tackle for senior Tray Allen, who has had all sorts of injuries and unmet expectations throughout his career in Austin.

Cochran has held up well on the left side, not drawing too much attention to himself, which is never a great thing as a lineman.

If what we see now is just the tip of the iceberg, Cochran looks to be a great asset for the Longhorns moving forward.

Steve Edmond

With the present situation at linebacker currently in the hands of a couple of seniors in Emmanuel Acho and Keenan Robinson, Steve Edmond is in a position to become an anchor for the Texas defense at the Mike linebacker position for years to come.

Edmond, unlike Robinson, is a true middle linebacker who can maul opposing running backs at the point of attack and shed blocks with his size and strength.

He has just 11 tackles on the year, but he undoubtedly is the future at the position.

Joe Bergeron

Joe Bergeron is the other true freshman running back.

At least, that would be his title coming into the season and up until his breakout performance against Kansas when he rumbled for 136 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

Yes, Kansas was probably tired and worn from the Longhorns' relentless ground game by the time Bergeron got his share of touches, but the guy is physical, runs mean and can finish his runs, three fantastic attributes to have as a running back.

In no way will Bergeron force Brown to the sidelines, but the coaches absolutely have to find ways to get the 6-1, 220-pound back more carries moving forward.

Quandre Diggs

One of the biggest knocks on the Texas defense this season has been its young cornerbacks in Carrington Byndom, Adrian Phillips and Quandre Diggs, two sophomores and a true freshman.

Diggs is the younger brother of former Texas standout and San Diego Charger, Quentin Jammer, and Diggs' athleticism and playmaking ability has shown early in the season.

With the likes of Aaron Williams, Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown having left the program for the NFL, Diggs was thrown into the fire as an incoming freshman, a role that has has embraced and shown tremendous progress.

The Angleton standout has become part of a Texas secondary that ranks 21st in the country against the pass. And with a young core at the position, Texas should continue to hold its tag as "DB U."

Jaxon Shipley

In one of the dullest positions on either side for the Longhorns, Jaxon Shipley is a very bright spot for the Texas wide receivers.

The younger brother of former Longhorn Jordan Shipley, Jaxon became the first true freshman wide out to catch a touchdown pass in his first appearance.

Shipley runs good routes, has great hands like his brother and simply has the wherewithal to catch anything that comes his way. He could be a heck of a lot better with more top-end speed, but his lateral quickness is terrific.

Shipley leads all Texas receivers with 33 receptions and 438 yards with three touchdowns. He did, however, suffer a knee injury in the Longhorns' most recent win over Kansas.

Injuries aside, Shipley has the talent and work ethic to become a consistent weapon for Texas. Now if only it could resolve the quarterback situation.

Malcolm Brown

There is no doubt here.

Expectations were flying high even before Malcolm Brown had enrolled at Texas this summer, and the Cibolo product has hardly disappointed.

Some nagging injuries at the beginning of his summer camp delayed his development a little bit, but whether or not those issues have lingered, the powerful back has come on strong through Texas' seven games.

Brown leads all Longhorns in offensive yardage from any position, claiming 635 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 131 carries. He is on pace to become the first Texas running back to rush for more than 1,000 yards since 2007 when Jamaal Charles carried for more than 1,600.

Joe Bergeron may be a player in his own right, but Brown has shouldered the loan from the start and has not looked back.