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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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HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 27: Anthony Wheeler #45 of the Texas Longhorns picks up a fumble and returns for a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the Academy Sports & Outdoors Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 27: Anthony Wheeler #45 of the Texas Longhorns picks up a fumble and returns for a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the Academy Sports & Outdoors Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Middle Linebacker

Starter: Anthony Wheeler, senior

Backup: Jeffrey McCulloch, junior

Since senior Anthony Wheeler is suspended for the first half of the Maryland game, it will be up to the rest of the linebacking corps to make up for his loss. Wheeler was hit with a targeting call in the Texas Bowl win over Mizzou to cap off the 2017 season and misses the first two quarters of the 2018 season opener in effect.

Wheeler is one of the strongest and among the most sure-tacklers that Texas has. He’ll form quite the dynamic duo next to another key senior in the linebacking corps. It’ll be sad to see the seniors at this level of the defense leave after this season, but we should enjoy their skill and valuable experience while it lasts in Austin.

Texas doesn’t have another spot in the linebacking corps that is quite as solidified for the two-deep depth chart as middle linebacker. Junior Jeffrey McCulloch could fill in at b-linebacker. His more natural position fits in at middle linebacker. That versatility from McCulloch does make him even more valuable to this level of the defense, though.

The linebackers will rotate around to make up for the loss of Wheeler for the first half against the Terps. Since Adeoye and fellow freshman DeMarvion Overshown are also both ruled out on the injury report in Week 1, it’ll be either McCulloch stepping up or someone else moving from a different linebacker spot to occupy Wheeler’s vacancy.

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