EARLY BIRD 2009 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2008
TEXAS LONGHORNS
OFFENSE - 9
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 7
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Chris Ogbonnaya-RB, Quan Cosby-WR, Peter Ullman-TE, Cedric Dockery-OG
DEFENSE: Brian Orakpo-DE, Roy Miller-DT, Aaron Lewis-DT, Henry Melton-DE, Rashad Bobino-MLB, Ryan Palmer-CB
Quarterback / Offensive Line

Four year starter Colt McCoy will continue to be a Heisman front runner. The offensive line is stacked with a ton of talent and experience.

Defensive Line

Defensive linemen have been found readily in Austin, and that trend will have to continue as new faces step into starting roles.

QB Colt McCoy
 
LB Sergio Kindle
 
* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2009 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
 
TEXAS 2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Colt McCoy-Sr John Chiles-Jr
RB Vondrell McGee-Jr Fozzy Whittaker-So / Cody Johnson-So (FB)
WR Jordan Shipley-Sr Brandon Collins-Jr
WR Dan Buckner-So ..
WR Malcolm Williams-So James Kirkendoll-Jr
TE Greg Smith-Jr Blaine Irby-So
OT Adam Ulatoski-Sr ..
OG Charlie Tanner-Sr Michael Huey-Jr
C Chris Hall-Sr ..
OG .. ..
OT Kyle Hix-Jr ..
K Hunter Lawrence-Sr ..
 
TEXAS 2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Sam Acho-Jr ..
DT .. ..
DT Lamarr Houston-Sr ..
DE Eddie Jones-Jr ..
SLB Sergio Kindle-Sr Keenan Robinson-So
MLB Jared Norton-Sr ..
WLB Roddrick Muckelroy-Sr ..
CB Curtis Brown-Jr Aaron Williams-So
CB Deon Beasley-Sr Chykie Brown-Jr
SS Earl Thomas-So ..
FS Blake Gideon-So ..
P John Gold-Jr Justin Tucker-So
QUICK ANALYSIS

12/9/08
QB Colt McCoy currently says he is staying at Texas for his senior season. He wants to win a national championship after falling one spot short in 2008. If true, this is obviously great news for the Longhorns as they follow up on their one-loss regular season. The offensive skill positions are still somewhat cloudy – top receivers Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby will soon be history, and the running backs have yet to prove they can win any games on their own. Thankfully, the OL will be manned by three seniors (two of them All-Big 12 honorees) and two juniors from tight end to tackle, giving the Longhorns the best looking set of blockers in the conference. The nation's second-ranked run defense takes a few hits up front, but the trio of senior linebackers (each is a top five UT tackler and the group is led by athletic Ironman Sergio Kindle) will have their backs. Most defensive problems during the past two seasons have been in the secondary, which really hurts playing in the pass-happy Big 12. This group is still young; the returning safeties earned most of their playing time as freshmen. For Texas to climb the BCS/South Division mountain, this whole group will have to improve by leaps and bounds. Mack Brown's team has more talent, but also has more expectations heading into next season in comparison to this past year. They still have the same question marks pertaining to the running backs and pass defense. If someone can emerge in the off-season at one of these positions, they just might take the next step.

UPDATE: WR Jordan Shipley has been granted a sixth year of eligibility for 2009. His addition, combined with a return of QB Colt McCoy may be good enough to push Texas into a Top Two ranking this preseason.

 

TEXAS
2009 SCHEDULE

Sep. 5 Louisiana-Monroe
Sep. 12 at Wyoming
Sep. 19 UCF
Sep. 26 UTEP
Oct. 10 Colorado
Oct. 17 vs. Oklahoma @Dallas, TX
Oct. 24 at Missouri
Oct. 31 at Oklahoma State
Nov. 7 Texas Tech
Nov. 14 at Baylor
Nov. 21 Kansas
Nov. 26 Texas A&M