Texas Football: 5 freshmen who should be vying for early playing time

Cornerback and linebacker both have a lot of questions for this Texas football defense entering the 2019 regular season. Even though both levels of the defense have a lot of young depth and talent in waiting, there’s not much proven experience to be excited about.

Texas lost a pair of senior starters in the linebacking corps and at corner during the offseason that were going to be costly no matter what. Those two senior starting linebackers were Anthony Wheeler and Gary Johnson and the corners were Kris Boyd and Davante Davis.

The son of former Boston College Eagles skill position standout Kenyatta Watson, a four-star Georgia native cornerback recruit Kenyatta Watson II could be ready to go right away. Watson II was one of the highest rated cornerbacks that Texas targeted on the recruiting trail during the 2019 cycle.

Texas needs help at cornerback. And if it doesn’t come from a list that includes redshirt freshman Jalen Green, sophomore Anthony Cook, or redshirt sophomore Kobe Boyce, then Watson II could be called upon by Orlando. Pretty much all the options the Longhorns secondary has on the table at cornerback are young. That could play in favor of Watson II getting a chance to prove himself this fall.