Texas Football: Two-deep defensive depth chart for spring
Star/nickel
Starter: Jerrin Thompson
Backup: Jahdae Barron
One of the more hotly contested position battles on the defensive side of the ball in spring camp for the Longhorns could come at star (nickel). Texas has some worthy candidates for getting first-team reps in spring ball at this spot in the secondary.
But we’re giving the edge to the rising junior defensive back/safety Jerrin Thompson to get the starting job at the outset of spring camp at star. If Texas does decide to utilize the rising junior defensive back Jahdae Barron at the star position (which he looks to be cut out to play), he should really push Thompson for starting reps entering the fall.
The starting spot is anything but guaranteed for Thompson this year at star.
Free safety
Starter: JD Coffey II
Backup: BJ Allen Jr.
If Texas does make the move to have Thompson competing for starting reps at the star position, then it could really open the door for rising sophomore JD Coffey II to get the starting job at free/field safety. Coffey flashed in the last year or so that he could plenty capable of rising to the occasion as the starter at free safety.
Another candidate to push for first-team reps in spring camp at free safety will be the former touted blue-chip recruit and freshman BJ Allen Jr.
Texas has a lot to choose from at this safety spot entering spring ball. But Coffey should have the slight edge over Allen given the practice and limited game reps he already has under his belt with the program from last year.
Boundary safety
Starter: Anthony Cook
Backup: Kitan Crawford
Another one of the set-in-stone starters for the Longhorns entering spring camp is the returning senior safety Anthony Cook. After having played at multiple different positions in the secondary over the course of the last four seasons with Texas, Cook looks to have found a firm role in the latter stages of his collegiate career.
While he didn’t always receive the credit he deserved, Cook truly was one of the most productive and consistent players on this otherwise spotty Texas defense last season. He will return as one of the best and most proven players in the secondary in 2022.
Next. Spring 2-deep offensive depth chart. dark
Behind Cook is a really interesting backup situation for Texas at boundary safety. Texas could be looking at a situation where they have multiple players that switch positions in spring ball and compete for the backup spot at boundary safety. Yet, I would still have to go with the converted cornerback and rising junior Kitan Crawford as the favorite to win the backup job at this spot.