Texas Football: Updated DB depth chart ahead of 2020 season

Projected Texas football DB depth chart: Safety

Safety 2: Caden Sterns, Junior

The dramatic decline for former elite five-star recruit and junior safety Caden Sterns was due to multiple factors last season, but nagging injury issues were likely a huge cause more so than anything else. The coverage grade for Sterns declined by a margin of nearly double-digits for his sophomore campaign compared to his freshman year.

Sterns does still bring back with him more than 120 career total tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, four interceptions, and five pass deflections. The good news for the Longhorns is that Sterns became a more sure-tackler last season, and a more well-rounded safety, as long as his coverage skills bounce back this fall.

Safety 2 Backup: Chris Brown, Senior

Of all the projected backups in the Longhorns defensive backfield on this list, the two that are likely to get the most significant role and the most overall playing time this fall are Thompson and rising senior safety Chris Brown. Injuries and clogs on the depth chart have constantly limited the production and effectiveness consistently of Brown.

But maybe this is finally the year in which we see Brown piece it all together and make some noise during his senior campaign. Brown has played in less than 20 games in his three years with the Texas program thus far. He’s registered 61 career total tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, two pass deflections, and one fumble recovery.