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Predicting Texas's Week 1 two-deep depth chart

Texas has as deep and talented of a depth chart on the two-deep as ever before in the four seasons under head coach Steve Sarkisian entering this fall in the SEC.

By Andrew Miller

Isaiah Bond, Texas football
Isaiah Bond, Texas football / Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Malik Muhammad, Texas football
Malik Muhammad, Texas football / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Field CB

Starter: Jahdae Barron (RS-SR) OR Gavin Holmes (SR)

Backup: Jay'Vion Cole (JR)

Texas has an embarrassment of riches among the proven players it can start at the field corner position this regular season. Seniors Jahdae Barron and Gavin Holmes have both taken first-team reps at field corner in fall practice in the past couple of weeks and in the two scrimmages.

Barron was the first-team field corner to start the scrimmage last weekend. Holmes has not gone away quietly in this position battle in camp, though. He could still be the starter at the field spot in Week 1 if he continues trending up in the latter stages of fall camp with his performance and consistency.

Boundary CB

Starter: Malik Muhammad (SO)

Backup: Warren Roberson (RS-FR)

There is no question about who is starting for Texas at boundary corner. Sophomore Malik Muhammad is a breakout star candidate for the Longhorns' secondary in the SEC this upcoming season. He has done amazing in fall camp and really looks the part of an All-SEC corner for the Longhorns.

Field safety

Starter: Andrew Mukuba (SR)

Backup: Derek Williams Jr. (SO)

Another position where Texas looks very solid this fall camp is field safety. Texas has multiple starting-caliber safeties Blake Gideon and PK can rotate that goes three or four deep this fall.

Senior Andrew Mukuba had a solid camp and is expected to be the Week 1 starter at safety, with sophomore Derek Williams Jr. rounding out the top three rotation, who will all see plenty of live-game snaps on defense this season.

Boundary safety

Starter: Michael Taaffe (RS-JR)

Backup: Jelani McDonald (SO)

Texas is in good shape at boundary safety, with an experienced returning starter leading this group on the practice field and the locker room in redshirt junior Michael Taaffe. The former walk-on now on scholarship started Texas's final eight games last season, and is favored again to start Week 1 at boundary safety.

Horns247 reports that Taaffe has continued to get the first-team reps at safety in the latter stages of fall practice for the past week or so in camp.

Star

Starter: Jaylon Guilbeau (JR) OR Jahdae Barron (RS-SR)

Backup: Wardell Mack (FR)

One of the biggest pleasant surprises of fall camp for the Longhorns was the emergence of junior defensive back Jaylon Guilbeau. Texas has been able to cross train Barron at corner, safety, and nickel thanks to the rise of Guilbeau at the star position this fall camp.

Guilbeau and Barron will both get frequent snaps at the star position this season for the Texas secondary.

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