Texas Football: Updated DB depth chart ahead of 2020 season

With the official depth chart released for Texas football on Sep. 7, how should the defensive backs look in the two-deep after the season opener?

The defensive backfield for the Texas football program will have to be better this fall than they were last season. The play of the secondary last season was a big reason for the firing of former defensive coordinator Todd Orlando at the conclusion of the regular season.

Once again, Texas wasn’t all that bad defending the run. While they did allow just over four yards per carry last year, they did give up less than 140 rushing yards per game and less than one score on the ground. The pass defense didn’t fair as well. Texas gave up just shy of 300 passing yards per game, allowed a completion percentage over 63.0 and gave up well over two passing touchdowns per game.

The Longhorns also didn’t force near enough turnovers across the board last season. They intercepted less than one ball per game and didn’t force many more fumbles in the process. That really should change this fall under the direction of recently hired defensive coordinator (and former Rutgers head coach) Chris Ash.

More good news comes for the secondary in that they return almost all of their starters at this level of the defense from last year’s squad. The lone major loss in the secondary this offseason was the former standout senior safety Brandon Jones, who was picked up by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

With most starters from last year returning and a new coaching staff in the mix, how will the Longhorns secondary look at the outset of the 2020 season?

Here’s a look into how the defensive backfield depth chart could shape up this fall.