With four-straight years of top 20 recruiting efforts (top recruiting class in 2002), there looks to be plenty of diamonds in the Longhorn rough for another successful campaign. Well, that and the fact that Vince Young and many others have pledged to return for their senior years. Any arguments concerning Texas football eventually come back to Young, who appears to a “man amongst boys” as he rifles through defenses and zeros in on the Heisman. Young touches every snap, meaning his dual-threat ability has to be marked play-by-play, with defenders unable to relax into any kind of flow. Next to Young are too many qualified runners - Texas’ ground dimensions have been procured well by coach Mack Brown in case of any injuries. Up against Kansas (which was, at the time, leading the nation in run stuffing), Brown employed four different rushers. Three are currently underclassmen, and all got at least 60+ yards. Superior senior linemen will anchor newbies (LT, RG) on the offensive side, so, all-in-all, the ground game is amply covered. The only marginal hole on offense is at TE with top receiver David Thomas leaving. Replacements are either blockers or snarlers, but few truly developed in both, like Thomas. Opening up the middle might not happen as easily. Defensively, LB Aaron Harris vacating the middle should not be a big deal with Robert Killebrew shifting over from his present-outside spot. Robison, Okam & Co. all return as starters again on the DL, making their way into an opponent’s backfield at will for equal disruptions of both pass and run. Holes in their secondary look impacting, but depth there, too, means little drop off in any defensive dimension. Ohio State early makes for some “heated” fun in Austin, so advantage Longhorns there. Unless Oklahoma surges back, Texas looks good for at least the conference title game, let alone the Fiesta (BCS title). Again, they’re burning bright…