Texas Football: 2012 Starting Lineup Projection

The 2011 college football season is just about over for Texas, and after a flurry of changes to the Longhorns' program, a 7-5 finish is a step in the right direction.

With a win in the Holiday Bowl, the Horns could make it to eight wins, a far cry from their standard 10-win seasons that seemed automatic.

Wednesday night's game is more than a finale to Texas' 2011 campaign. It is the next step towards bringing the program back to prominence and the first step for growth in 2012.

Here are some projections for the starting lineup for Mack Brown's Longhorns next season.

Quarterback

Projected Starter: David Ash

After Garrett Gilbert was benched, David Ash got the nod as a true freshman at quarterback over sophomore Case McCoy.

While both signal-callers saw starting time and bench time throughout the course of the season, one has to believe that Ash holds most of the cards to win the starting job in 2012.

Yes, there is plenty that could change between now and next August, but unless McCoy somehow extracts some of that intangibility from his older brother, the argument has to go in Ash's favor.

Running Back

Projected Starter: Malcolm Brown

The running backs will be a position of emphasis for the 2012 Texas Longhorns.

Both Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron did things in 2011 that merited starting nods throughout the year. And though Texas implements a running game that is truly by committee, a 100 percent healthy Brown appears to have the edge over Bergeron.

Make no mistake, though. Both youngsters will receive ample touches in 2012. But for the sake of argument and depth charts, Brown should be in the driver's seat even with an extra talent arriving on campus in Johnathan Gray.

Wide Receivers

Projected Starters: Marquise Goodwin, Jaxon Shipley, Cayleb Jones

Marquise Goodwin and Jaxon Shipley undoubtedly will hold down their starting positions going into next season. But the lack of consistent and proven options elsewhere will leave the third spot up for grabs. Miles Onyegbule went into the final regular-season game against Baylor as the third starter, but there will be a bevy of young receivers nipping at his heels.

Incoming freshmen Cayleb Jones and Thomas Johnson will come into Austin as highly-touted and recruited talents and can push for playing time from the get-go. 

The X-factor for the receivers will be the quarterback. If it is Ash, McCoy or someone else not yet on campus, whichever receiver develops the chemistry will get the start. So let's just roll the dice with the 5-star talent in Jones.

Tight End/H-Back

Projected Starter: D.J. Grant

For argument's sake, the tight end and H-back position serve much of the same purpose. And for the Longhorns, neither has produced the consistency that Bryan Harsin requires from the position.

If there is one player who has showcased a glimmer of brilliance, it has to be D.J. Grant, who hauled in three touchdown catches on the season (all against UCLA).

Let's be real. Texas is not exactly oozing with talent at tight end or H-back, but there have been serviceable numbers over the years that have not produced to the standards of a Jermichael Finley or a David Thomas.

Offensive Line

Projected Starters: (from left to right) Josh Cochran, Trey Hopkins, Dom Espinosa, Mason Walters, Donald Hawkins

Josh Cochran should get the nod at left tackle after ousting Tray Allen as the top option. On the other end, incoming JUCO, Donald Hawkins, has been promised significant playing time from day one.

With Hawkins coming in, Trey Hopkins can move back to his natural position at guard with junior-to-be Mason Walters filling in opposite to him.

Dom Espinosa impressed many with his consistent play as a redshirt freshman and will return as a sophomore with more comfort as the center of Texas' offensive line.

For two years, the Longhorns battled with inconsistency and depth issues up front. But under second-year coach Stacy Searels, Texas returns youth and experience in a season where the Horns can build some depth.

Defensive Ends

Projected Starters: Alex Okafor, Jackson Jeffcoat

If there is one position where the Longhorns will showcase incredible strength in 2012, it will be at defensive end.

Both Okafor and Jeffcoat struggled to start the 2011 season, but they really turned it on during the second half of the campaign. The two combined to put up 32 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, numbers that should only increase in their second year under defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.

The duo will look to be anchors for a Texas defense that ranked among the best in college football and could returns eight starters.

Defensive Tackle

Projected Starters: Brandon Moore, Ashton Dorsey

Texas faced depth and inexperience issues coming into the season alongside senior veteran Kheeston Randall. But over the course of the year, Ashton Dorsey, Calvin Howell, Chris Whaley and even true freshman Desmond Jackson emerged as viable options to line up next to Randall.

With Randall moving on, the Longhorns will be looking for a new starter up front. Incoming JUCO Brandon Moore brings experience to the line, but it will be hard to count out the likes of Howell, Whaley and Jackson with a full spring to develop their talents.

The bad news is that consistency may be a weakness. The good news is that the unit is dripping with talent and, now, experience.

Linebackers

Projected Starters: Jordan Hicks, Steve Edmond, Demarco Cobbs

A new era at linebacker begins for the Longhorns in 2012.

Emmanuel Acho and Keenan Robinson, who seemingly have been in the program forever, will be gone, but that does not mean that Texas will lack options at the second level.

Jordan Hicks, a former 5-star talent out of West Chester, Ohio, should maintain his spot at the Sam linebacker. Steve Edmond, an ultra-promising Mike prospect, could be the Longhorns' brightest and truest middle linebacker since Derrick Johnson. Demarco Cobbs, who suffered from a broken arm early in 2011, brings energy and speed to the Will position and rounds out the linebackers.

In the grand scheme of things, the linebackers will bring the least experience to the table. But at the end of the day, there may not be a unit with bigger upside.

Cornerbacks

Projected Starters: Quandre Diggs, Carrington Byndom

Here is a no-brainer if there ever was one.

The Longhorns return first-team All-Big 12 corner Carrington Byndom in what looks to be his best season in a Texas uniform to date.

Opposite to him will be Quandre Diggs, who as a true freshman received an honorable mention for the all-conference team.

In the pass-heavy Big 12, Texas often shifts to a 4-2-5 nickel set, dropping senior-to-be Kenny Vaccaro into the slot.

This trio of defensive backs are some of the best in the Big 12, if not the country. Under the tutelage of Duane Akina, expect the Longhorns to be even stiffer than they were this year in the defensive backfield.

Safety

Projected Starters: Kenny Vaccaro, Adrian Phillips

In the Longhorns' base set, Texas looks to run out Vaccaro at free safety and Phillips at strong safety.

The good news here is that the Horns are especially fluid at defensive back with a slew of young talent waiting for a chance to shine. Expect a guy like Mykkele Thompson to get a shot at safety if Phillips does not play up to par or gets injured.

Even if the Longhorns face some issues in the back, there is one thing for certain: Texas is not short on talent.

For the 13th-ranked unit in pass efficiency defense, the Longhorns lose Blake Gideon and Christian Scott, a couple of guys who brought intensity and toughness to the position. Texas will introduce plenty more athleticism at the position, but it remains to be seen if the Horns can put in a repeat season as the Big 12's stingiest pass defense unit.

Special Teams

Projected Starters: Will Russ, Quandre Diggs

Justin Tucker and Fozzy Whittaker are gone as the Longhorns ideal special teams playmakers.

Tucker, who initially handled punting duties early in his career, provided quality play in the kicking game last season. Though his punts were inconsistent at times, his field goal prowess was solid throughout the season, most notably with a 40-yard, game-winning field goal against Texas A&M to finalize the 118-year rivalry between the two teams.

Taking his place should be Will Russ, a soon-to-be sophomore who has no live experience for the Longhorns. Texas also welcomes Nick Jordan, an incoming freshman who may be a hidden asset in the kicking game.

When Whittaker was lost for the season, Diggs stepped into his role as the returner. And though the freshman did not exactly mimic Whittaker's production, Diggs flashed brilliance in the open field. At a generously listed 5'10" Diggs figures to be a dynamic special teams player for the Longhorns in 2012.