Texas Football: Who Is Replacing Every Former Longhorn Taken in 2015 NFL … – Bleacher Report The Texas Longhorns had five players selected in the 2015 NFL draft, their most since 2010. Per SB Nation’s Jason Kirk, that figure also tied them for the sixth-most selections of any college program. On the flip side of that coin, the Horns now have to replace five pro-level talents, most of whom had unique and essential roles on the team. First-rounder Malcom Brown will be the toughest to replace, though his fellow selections each had key roles as well. As the Horns cycle in a big crop of young talent, their ability to plug guys into multiple roles diminishes. You simply can’t trust a freshman or a former backup to handle being moved all over the field. That said, it’s difficult to predict how each player’s production will be replaced beyond simply filling open roles. Replacement: DT Hassan Ridgeway You don’t simply replace a first-round pick like Malcom Brown, a consensus All-American who led the Longhorns both in sacks and tackles for loss. It’s going to be a team process, which will be led by the junior Ridgeway. Ridgeway started next to Brown last season, busting out with six sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Because of his size and ability to penetrate, he will be counted on to lead the attack up front alongside senior Desmond Jackson. As noted by Campus Insiders, Ridgeway doesn’t hold up against defenses the way Brown did, relying too often on his raw power to bull his way into the backfield. That’s a matter of technique, which he knows he must improve before the start of the season. “This year, that’s the one thing that I’m trying to focus on—to get my fundamentals down and get better at the little things that I didn’t do right,” Ridgeway told the Daily Texan‘s Ezra Siegel. With some improvement there, Ridgeway’s play should become more consistent. That’s a scary proposition for a guy with so much physical talent. Replacements: LB Peter Jinkens, LB Malik Jefferson As with Brown, it will take more than one player to replace what Jordan Hicks brought to the field. It certainly helps to have guys like Jinkens and Jefferson waiting in the wings. Though he was listed as an outside linebacker, Hicks functioned much like a middle backer. He diagnosed plays, communicated signals to the rest of the defense and generally served as a coach on the field, especially as a senior. It’s because of this on-field presence that the Eagles want Hicks to actually make the move to the middle as a pro: Seems like the #Eagles like Jordan Hicks as a MIKE LB. He talked about his ability to get defensive front lined up and intelligence. That said, there’s really no one player who can replace what Hicks did last season. Jinkens, the senior, has the range and some experience playing that outside position, but he’s been unreliable since his impressive freshman season. On the other hand, Texas has a do-it-all freshman in Jefferson, who played both inside and out during the spring game. Jefferson can hit, cover and rush the passer, so expect the Horns to move him around to take advantage of his versatile skill set. Jinkens will inherit most of Hicks’ responsibilities early, but he will cede more and more work to Jefferson as the season wears on. Replacements: CB Duke Thomas, CB Holton Hill Everyone, including Mykkele Thompson himself, was surprised to see the long defensive back selected in the draft, much less in the fifth round. Maybe we should give him more credit for everything he did in the defensive backfield last season. This doesn’t even feel real …. Man I’m Soo BLESSED !!! There’s always room for a 6’2″, 191-pound defensive back who runs in the 4.4s (per NFL.com). But Thompson is more than just a great athlete, playing every position in the Longhorn secondary last season while developing a more physical presence. Now Texas has to replace its versatile cover man, which will also take more than one player. Without a doubt, senior Duke Thomas will take over as the top boundary corner after earning All-Big 12 honors in 2014. From there, it gets a little messy with a slew of talented freshmen battling for roles in the defensive backfield. Holton Hill fits a similar physical profile as a long-armed cover man, but DeShon Elliott, Kris Boyd and P.J. Locke all have the talent to see some early action. The possibilities are endless, especially because incumbent Jason Hall and redshirt freshman John Bonney also have some versatile traits. The most likely outcome is those two fill their normal roles, while Thomas and Hill man the outside spots. Replacement: CB John Bonney Quandre Diggs split time between the boundary and slot corner spots, while Thompson also covered some safety when Jason Hall was out. Since Texas will have to simply fill positions until it sees what it has, expect John Bonney to fill the nickel spot on a full-time basis. For the most part, the nickel spot belonged to Quandre Diggs, whose quick feet and feisty attitude made him a first-team All-Big 12 player. While he often moved outside, his replacement will mostly stick to the slot. A redshirt freshman, Bonney emerged early in the spring as the clear-cut candidate to fill that all-important spot. He has a high football IQ as well as the physicality to come down against the run, which is an absolute must for the position. Bonney was one of the best players on the field during the spring game and should keep the job through the end of the season. Texas may not be able to move him around like it did with Diggs and Thompson, but he’ll allow the Horns to keep with their favored 3-3-5 look. Replacement: FB Alex De La Torre Yet another spot with no clarity entering the second phase of the offseason, the Longhorns have several options for their primary tight end. Over his two seasons at Texas, Geoff Swaim served almost exclusively as a blocker. He was highly effective in that role, but he almost never factored into the passing game. That should change in 2015 as the Longhorns transition to a spread offense. The tight end is a versatile weapon, and the right player can be a matchup nightmare in the middle of the field and the red zone. Andrew Beck looked like the player who would ascend into the role, but it was fullback Alex De La Torre who ran with the ones in the spring game. What works in the junior’s favor is that he would never have to leave the field because he’s a strong blocker. On the other hand, the glorified fullback offers almost no downfield threat, and that’s the difference-maker Texas really needs. To add that element in the offense, the Longhorns need to look at giving some early work to either DeAndre McNeal or Devonaire Clarington. The latter fits the flex mold as a big downfield target but will be a liability as a blocker until he adds some weight. McNeal, on the other hand, has the more versatile skill set at 6’2″, 228 pounds. He won’t be a great blocker early, but Texas can move him around much like De La Torre with the added explosive element. We’ll have to see how things work out this summer. Until then, the job belongs to the junior. Unless otherwise noted, all stats and information courtesy of TexasSports.com, with recruiting profiles courtesy of 247Sports.com.
First-round pick Malcom Brown is one of five NFL draft picks that the Longhorns must replace in 2015.
A starter last season, Ridgeway will have to turn into an every-down force in the wake of Brown’s departure.
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