Texas Football: Longhorns release Week 1 depth chart vs. Rice

Just before kickoff between No. 11 Texas football and the Rice Owls at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Sep. 2 at 2:30 p.m. CT, head coach Steve Sarkisian released his team’s depth chart. Like last season, Sarkisian waited until the last minute to release Texas’ depth chart.

While there weren’t many eye-opening surprises on the Longhorns’ first depth chart of the season, there is still some notable movement for the young players on the two-deep. Here are some of the notable nuggets from the first depth chart of the season for Sark and the Longhorns.

Steve Sarkisian and Texas football releases Week 1 depth chart for the Rice game

• True freshman CJ Baxter Jr. is listed as the co-starter at running back alongside redshirt sophomore Jonathon Brooks.
• True freshman Arch Manning is listed as the co-backup at quarterback with redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy.
• True freshman Johntay Cook II is the sole backup at field receiver behind junior Xavier Worthy.
• Sophomores Cole Hutson and DJ Campbell are listed as co-starters at right guard. Campbell took the first-team reps at right guard in practice this week.
• Redshirt freshman Neto Umeozulu isn’t listed at guard on this depth chart.
• Senior Alfred Collins is the sole starter at defensive tackle opposite redshirt senior T’Vondre Sweat.
• Senior Jett Bush is the starter at sam linebacker, with junior Morice Blackwell Jr. likely out due to injury.
• Redshirt senior David Gbenda and true freshman Anthony Hill Jr. are co-starters at will linebacker.
• Redshirt junior Gavin Holmes and sophomore Terrance Brooks are co-starters at field corner.
• Worthy and redshirt senior wideouts Jordan Whittington are the top two kick returners.
• Redshirt senior running back Keilan Robinson is the first-team punt returner.

Sark has more freshmen listed among the starters/co-starters than was initially anticipated. This shows Sark and the Longhorns staff’s faith in all the young talents on both sides of the ball this fall.

Texas is a 35-point favorite ahead of kickoff against Rice at DKR on Sep. 2, which starts at 2:30 p.m. CT.