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Texas Football: Breaking down the 2018 depth chart

By Andrew Miller

AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 07: Derek Kerstetter #68 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates with Jerrod Heard #13 after a touchdown in the first overtime period against the Kansas State Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 07: Derek Kerstetter #68 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates with Jerrod Heard #13 after a touchdown in the first overtime period against the Kansas State Wildcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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BERKELEY, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Outside linebacker Malcolm Roach #32 of the Texas Longhorns sacks quarterback Davis Webb #7 of the California Golden Bears in the second quarter on September 17, 2016 at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Outside linebacker Malcolm Roach #32 of the Texas Longhorns sacks quarterback Davis Webb #7 of the California Golden Bears in the second quarter on September 17, 2016 at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

B-Linebacker

Starter: Malcolm Roach, junior

Backup: Joseph Ossai, freshman

Texas thinned out at b-linebacker a bit with some key losses in the linebacking corps during the off-season between Naashon Hughes and Malik Jefferson. Some other departures included sophomore Demarco Boyd and senior Edwin Freeman. A lot was made out of the lack of depth at linebacker for a bit, especially when injuries became an issue in fall camp.

For the season opener, the Horns are still missing three players that could all play linebacker. True freshman Ayodele Adeoye is the only one that likely could’ve fit in at b-linebacker, outside of another linebacker that is backing up another spot in the linebacking corps. Adeoye is one of three players total that is ruled out for the season opener at this point due to injury.

Ultimately, junior Malcolm Roach won out for the starting b-linebacker spot. Roach is a force in rushing the passer and should have his best season yet in 2018. He comes into the 2018 campaign with five career sacks and could match that just in the span of one season.

True freshman Joseph Ossai is also someone to watch that could work his way into some key playing time in his first year on campus. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Ossai has the right size to be a standout b-linebacker for the Horns. He can start to fulfill that promise by showing flashes of his immense talent this year.

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