Texas Football: Breaking down the 2018 depth chart

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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Texas Spring Game AUSTIN, TX – APRIL 21: Ryan Bujcevski #8 of the Texas Longhorns punts the ball in the first 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)
Texas Spring Game AUSTIN, TX – APRIL 21: Ryan Bujcevski #8 of the Texas Longhorns punts the ball in the first 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) /

Kicker/Punter

Starting kicker: Cameron Dicker, freshman

Or: Joshua Rowland, senior

The kicking game was not near as good as the punting game for Texas last season. It was then junior kicker Joshua Rowland that struggled to hit field goals at any distance on a consistent basis. Last season, Rowland hit every one of his extra point attempts but only 61.1 percent of his field goal tries.

Rowland at least ended his 2017 campaign on a high note with four consecutive field goals made in the loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the bowl win over Mizzou. That could guide him past the challenger for the starting kicker job in true freshman Cameron Dicker who was rated as the fourth best at his position in the nation for the 2018 recruiting cycle.

Starting punter: Ryan Bujcevski, freshman

Replacing the Ray Guy Award-winning punter Michael Dickson is actually going to be one of the toughest things to do for the Horns this season. Landing the second-best punting prospect in the nation for the 2018 recruiting cycle, and Dickson’s cousin, in Australia native Ryan Bujcevski could help soften the blow.

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Yet, losing a punter that flipped the field possession battle in so many games and possibly even saved Texas on a few occasions last year is tough. Last year, Dickson averaged more than 47 yards per punt on 84 punts. Bujcevski will do his absolute best to fill his cousin’s void in his first year on campus.