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Texas Football: 5 freshmen the Longhorns should redshirt in 2018

By Andrew Miller

AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns walks into the stadium before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns walks into the stadium before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns walks into the stadium before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns walks into the stadium before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

A new redshirt rule combined with a 27-man 2018 recruiting class for Texas football makes for some strategic and impactful moves from the coaching staff.

Texas football will mostly be starting returning upperclassmen to the Forty Acres in 2018. However, the Longhorns have a lot of flexibility with the third ranked 2018 recruiting class in the nation that is now a deep group of freshmen on campus. Given the new NCAA redshirt rule announced during the off-season, head Texas football coach Tom Herman has a lot to think about in terms of how to use some of his more talented freshmen this fall.

This new redshirt rule allows each NCAA program to have their freshmen play four games before being forced to burn the redshirt altogether. In terms of the experimentation that Herman can take part in this year, it would be wise to at least give a look to some freshmen that the coaching staff is still planning to redshirt.

A few key redshirts for the Horns last year could pay dividends for the depth chart on both sides of the ball in 2018. On offense, Texas has two redshirt freshmen that could make an impact in wide receiver Jordan Pouncey (who had a nice spring camp show out) and tight end Max Cummins.

On the other side of the ball, Texas could really see some future contributors shine through this year in cornerback Kobe Boyce and safety Montrell Estell. Texas has more than 20 freshmen to choose from when handing out redshirts this fall.

Here’s a look at the five freshmen that the Texas Longhorns should redshirt in 2018.

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