Texas Longhorns 2015 Spring Game Preview: What to watch for

Apr 19, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong reacts with corner back Quandre Diggs (6) during the Spring Game at Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

3. Who Will Emerge For The Defense?

One of the few bright spots for Texas during the 2014 campaign was the defense. The Longhorns defensive unit was stingy in 2014, finishing the season ranked 32nd in the nation in scoring defense and 26th in total defense.

But headed into 2015, the defense has some holes to fill: key departures include defensive end Cedric Reed, linebackers Steve Edmond and Jordan Hicks, and defensive backs Mykkele Thompson and Quandre Diggs. This group contributed 428 tackles, so it’s quite a bit of production to replace.

Charlie Strong is a defensive minded coach who has recruited well, so Longhorn fans will be looking to see how newcomers to the defense will fare. A key addition is uber-recruit Malik Jefferson, a five-star linebacker from Mesquite, Texas who was the crown jewel of the Longhorns 2015 class.

Linebackers Dalton Santos and Peter Jinkins are expected to start and attempt to fill the big shoes of Edmond and Hicks, who led the team in tackles in 2014.

Next: Will Jonathan Gray Emerge As The Go-To Back?