Texas Football: Breaking down the 2018 depth chart

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Texas Spring Game AUSTIN, TX – APRIL 21: Chris Brown #15 of the Texas Longhorns reacts in the second half during the Orange-White Spring Game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on April 21, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Safety

Starter: Caden Sterns, freshman

Backup: Chris Brown, redshirt sophomore

The only position that will have a true freshman starting Week 1 is also the only one that has a first-year player that was rated as the top prospect in the nation at is respective spot on the field. Five-star safety prospect Caden Sterns hails from Cibolo, TX, and won’t be too far from home when he starts to develop into the star he should be very soon.

Sterns is a rangy safety that should be able to fill the shoes of the departed Elliott within two years at the most. Moreover, Sterns probably has a higher ceiling than Elliott did from an all-around skill set perspective.

Behind Sterns is redshirt sophomore Chris Brown. Before Sterns really stepped up and gained a hold on this starting safety spot, Brown looked like he could be the top man here. Losing out on the services of senior safety John Bonney did open things up for both Sterns and Brown. Yet, Brown is sitting behind a true freshman already which doesn’t bode well for his future.

Depending on how long Sterns stays on the Forty Acres, this defensive backfield will have a rising star to anchor it down for the next three or four years. Sterns is already drawing comparisons to former Texas All-American safety Earl Thomas. That isn’t too far off given the hype level that Sterns is generating for his initial season in college.

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