Texas Football: Two-deep defensive depth chart for spring

Jack linebacker/edge rusher

Starter: Alfred Collins

Backup: Barryn Sorrell

Depending on whether Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns defensive coaching staff want to keep Collins playing as the Jack linebacker/edge rusher heading into the spring, this could be a position battle to watch in the weeks ahead.

At the moment, though, we have Collins as the starting edge rusher for this defensive front. It makes sense that Texas uses his immense talent and pass-rushing ability right now as the starting Jack linebacker.

It also makes more sense to use Collins as the starting Jack linebacker while Texas is drastically short on linebacker depth across the board in spring camp.

Texas definitely has a player to watch at the Jack linebacker position entering spring camp in rising sophomore Barryn Sorrell. Showing flashes of the ability to become a potential starter in the next year or two along the defensive front during his freshman campaign, Sorrell is a candidate to break out for Texas in 2022.

Buck linebacker

Starter: Ovie Oghoufo

Backup: DJ Harris Jr.

Buck linebacker could be another interesting position battle shaping up for Texas in spring ball. Given the shortage in linebacker depth in spring camp, Kwiatkowski and fellow co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Jeff Choate are going to have to get creative with how they allocate and develop the remaining linebackers on this spring roster.

At buck linebacker, though, the clear favorite to be the starter this fall at this point of the offseason should be the former Notre Dame transfer and returning senior Ovie Oghoufo.

There are some areas where Oghoufo needs to improve in 2022, but he is also extremely valuable to Texas’ defensive front right now given their depth shortage at this spot on this side of the ball.

The problem that Texas is facing with Oghoufo as the projected starter at buck linebacker is the fact that they might need him at other spots in this defensive front in spring camp. That is where the former four-star recruit and second-year linebacker/edge rusher DJ Harris Jr. comes into play.

We saw some solid contributions in limited snaps last fall for Harris. He is surely a player to watch that could climb up the depth chart in spring camp.