Projecting the Texas offensive depth chart

Around the country, there are plenty of depth charts available — for programs that played games in Week 0 or from programs that actually decide to release those depth charts publicly prior to the season opener.

The Texas Longhorns are not one of the those programs, because while head coach Steve Sarkisian did have a copy of the depth chart on the table in front of him during Monday’s game week press conference ahead of the season opener against the Texas State Bobcats, he didn’t share its contents beyond answering a question about which specialists will start for the Horns.

So, based on the available information, here’s the projected offensive depth chart with some thoughts added below.

• At the quarterback position, keep an eye on the backup battle between redshirt freshman KJ Lacey and freshman Dia Bell — Bell has the talent level to overtake Lacey at some point this season and position himself as the potential starter when Arch Manning departs.
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• The player listed first in the co-starter designation for fifth-year running back Raleek Brown and senior Hollywood Smothers doesn’t matter because they’re going to split carries this season.

• Beyond the starters, whether the outside receivers are listed at X or Y doesn’t matter much, either, given how Sarkisian deploys his wideouts. I’m also not sure whether freshman Jermaine Bishop would be the replacement for junior Emmett Mosley V in the slot if he takes a knock, but I am convinced that Bishop will have a package of plays that line him up at different spots to create mismatches.

• The tight ends are separated by in-line (Y) and H-back designations, but don’t be surprised if fifth-year Michael Masunas features in a multiple role as an H-back and split wide to block in space.

• When senior left tackle Trevor Goosby returns from injury, which could be as soon as this weekend, senior Andre Cojoe will be the swing tackle with a chance that senior Jaydon Chatman could be the second backup tackle. Fifth-year Cole Hutson could also feature as the first lineman off the bench at all three interior positions or he could be behind players at all three positions, so that’s something to watch on Saturday when the team releases the official depth chart in the press box. Given how much time sixth-year Laurence Seymore missed during preseason camp, it’s also possible that he splits reps with sophomore Dylan Sikorski on Saturday against Texas State — I was close to listing them as co-starters.

At the quarterback position, keep an eye on the backup battle between redshirt freshman KJ Lacey and freshman Dia Bell — Bell has the talent level to overtake Lacey at some point this season and position himself as the potential starter when Arch Manning departs.

The player listed first in the co-starter designation for fifth-year running back Raleek Brown and senior Hollywood Smothers doesn’t matter because they’re going to split carries this season.

Beyond the starters, whether the outside receivers are listed at X or Y doesn’t matter much, either, given how Sarkisian deploys his wideouts. I’m also not sure whether freshman Jermaine Bishop would be the replacement for junior Emmett Mosley V in the slot if he takes a knock, but I am convinced that Bishop will have a package of plays that line him up at different spots to create mismatches.

The tight ends are separated by in-line (Y) and H-back designations, but don’t be surprised if fifth-year Michael Masunas features in a multiple role as an H-back and split wide to block in space.

When senior left tackle Trevor Goosby returns from injury, which could be as soon as this weekend, senior Andre Cojoe will be the swing tackle with a chance that senior Jaydon Chatman could be the second backup tackle. Fifth-year Cole Hutson could also feature as the first lineman off the bench at all three interior positions or he could be behind players at all three positions, so that’s something to watch on Saturday when the team releases the official depth chart in the press box. Given how much time sixth-year Laurence Seymore missed during preseason camp, it’s also possible that he splits reps with sophomore Dylan Sikorski on Saturday against Texas State — I was close to listing them as co-starters.