written by Chuck Wright
STRENGTHS: On offense Chris Simms returns for his senior year with all his skill position players intact. Simms set a single season record for touchdown passes and threwfor over 2,600 yards while leading the team to 10 wins. The biggest question mark is how he will respond to his 4-turnover performance in the Big XII title game and subsequent benching in the Holiday Bowl. If Simms cuts out the big game turnovers then Texas has a great chance to wind up in Tempe playing for the Sears Trophy. Sophomore Cedric Benson earned Freshman All American honors and looks to be fully recovered from a neck injury suffered in the Big XII championship game. He was the first Texas freshman running back to break the 1000-yard mark. Texas also features one of the best receiving corps in the nation. Juniors Roy Williams and BJ Johnson appeared to be coming into their own at the end of last season. Sloan Thomas will push for serious playing time while Tony Jeffery, Kyle Shanahan (son of Denver Bronco coach Mike Shanahan), and Brian Carter form a backup group that would start at most other schools. Williams has track speed on a 6'5, 210-pound frame and creates huge match up problems for defenders. Johnson is 6'2", 200 and has great ability with the ball in his hands, so well in fact the Horns love running reverses with him. Williams and Johnson are certain day one NFL picks if they choose to declare early next spring. Bo Scaife and Brock Edwards return as the tight end tandem and they are both talented. Bo should be among the nations leaders at the position while Brock is being used as both tight end and fullback to create match up problems for opposing defenses. Special teams were certainly an early weakness of Mack Brown's tenure in Austin, but no longer. Nathan Vasher showed off his return skills in the spring game with both a kickoff and punt return for touchdowns. Electric is the best word to describe this playmaker.

CONCERNS: The biggest questions for the Texas offense are on the line where first round pick Mike Williams, three-year starter Mike Anderson, and two year starter Antwan Kirk-Hughes have to be replaced. Jason Glynn has won the center spot and while smallish at 265 pounds, is one of the sharpest players on the team. Derrick Dockery and Tillman Holloway man the OG spots. Holloway started all games last season and Dockery, the leader of the line, started enough games that the coaches are not worried about these two. Biggest questions come at tackle. Robbie Doane returns for his senior year as last year's starter on the left side while redshirt freshman Jonathan Scott won the battle for the right side (blindside at Texas with lefty Simms). Scott looks to be the Longhorn's next offensive linemen taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.

CONCERNS: The Longhorns have two big questions to answer in repeating as the top rated defense in the nation again. First is replacing Quentin Jammer, who was an All American cornerback and Thorpe finalist. Good news for Texas is that Nathan Vasher slides over from safety to his natural position of cornerback after an All-Conference sophomore year. The other side will be manned by Rob Babers who didn't get the press that Jammer did but played almost as well. Safety may be another issue as both projected starters sat out the spring to work on grades. If both return then the secondary could be a huge team strength. Backing up this secondary is alot of talent (some of the top players in the nation) but very little experience. The next question is replacing the entire linebacker corps. On one side will be DJ Johnson, Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year. Great things are expected of DJ, who definitely qualified as a playmaker. The other outside spot will be manned by converted safety Lee Jackson who would have been a starter last year if not for injuries. Reed Boyd, who eliminated all competition in spring early and never let go, will hold down the middle.