Texas Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017

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SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 05: Kris Boyd #2 of the Texas Longhorns tackles and dislodges the helmet of Jaylon Smith #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the fourth quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on September 5, 2015 in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish won 38-3. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Defensive Backs

Starting cornerbacks: Kris Boyd, Holton Hill
Backups: Davante Davis, Eric Cuffee

Texas had one of the worst secondaries in college football last season, ranked 105th against the pass, but there will be three new starters gracing the defensive backfield. Sometimes you need a fresh start, and this is it. Kris Boyd is the only returning starter and the junior corner had 48 total tackles, an interception and five pass deflections in 2016.

Some believe that junior Davante Davis will be the other starting corner, but Holton Hill is my favorite to win the job. Hill had 22 total tackles and a pass deflection while Davis had 15 and two passes defended. They will likely have an intense battle for the starting job. Eric Cuffee will also be in the rotation as a freshman.

Starting safeties: Brandon Jones, DeShon Elliott
Backups: Jason Hall, John Bonney

Remember when I said that there was only one returning starter in the Texas secondary for 2017? Well, that was only partially true. Jason Hall and John Bonney have starting experience at the two safety spots, but they aren’t likely to retain their No. 1 positions this fall.

In fact, junior DeShon Elliott and sophomore Brandon Jones are the early favorites to start in the defensive backfield. Elliott had 30 tackles, an interception and four pass deflections and Jones played sparingly, recording 15 tackles. Don’t count Hall and Bonney completely out, though. Sometimes experience wins out in the end.

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