Texas football schedule, roster, recruiting and what to watch in 2018

John E. Hoover

Texas football schedule, roster, recruiting and what to watch in 2018 image

It’s Year 2 for Tom Herman at Texas, and although the Longhorns finally won a bowl game last year and finished with a winning record — firsts since 2012 and 2013, respectively — Herman knows going 7-6 and winning the Texas Bowl isn’t anywhere close to good enough.

This Texas team still has big questions at quarterback and elsewhere, particularly on offense. The receiving corps is young and talented, but the running game is in shambles and may need a boost from incoming freshman running back Keaontay Ingram. The defense took some sizable losses, too, with four seniors and three juniors departing.

MORE: Texas still posting staggering financial numbers

Texas is ranked No. 22 in Sporting News' updated  way-too-early top 25 coming out of the spring and, with significant quarterback changes at the top of the Big 12, has become a dark horse to challenge for its first conference title since 2009.

Is Texas finally back? Maybe that question needs a qualifier: Is Texas finally good again, or good enough to win the Big 12? Here's a primer for the 2018 season:

Texas football schedule 2018

DateOpponentLocation
April 21Orange-White Spring GameAustin, Texas
Sept. 1at MarylandLandover, Md.
Sept. 8TulsaAustin, Texas
Sept. 15No. 12 USCAustin, Texas
Sept. 22No. 18 TCUAustin, Texas
Sept. 29at Kansas StateManhattan, Kan.
Oct. 6No. 5 OklahomaDallas, Texas
Oct. 13BaylorAustin, Texas
Oct. 20ByeOff
Oct. 27at No. 20 Oklahoma StateStillwater, Okla.
Nov. 3West VirginiaAustin, Texas
Nov. 10at Texas TechLubbock, Texas
Nov. 17Iowa StateAustin, Texas
Nov. 23at Kansas (Friday)Lawrence, Kan.
Dec. 1Big 12 championshipArlington, Texas
Bold denotes Big 12 games

Texas football recruiting 2018

The advent of the early signing period was a boon for the Longhorns, with a total of 19 newcomers signing in December. Texas added eight more on National Signing Day to sign two five-star players and 17 four-star players — including nine early enrollees — to finish with the No. 3 overall class according to 247Sports' Composite team rankings. The December class brought two 4-star quarterbacks — Casey Thompson, who grew up near Norman, Okla., the son of former Sooner quarterback Charles Thompson, and Cameron Rising, a former OU commit. Texas’ class is highlighted by five-star safety Caden Sterns.

MORE: Big 12 offseason primer

Texas football roster 2018

The Texas football roster will be updated throughout the spring and fall here.

No.NamePos.Year
1John BurtWRSr.
2Kris BoydDBSr.
3Cameron RisingQBFr.
4Anthony CookDBFr.
6Devin DuvernayWRJr.
7Shane BuecheleQBJr.
7Caden SternsDBFr.
8Ryan BujcevskiPFr.
8Casey ThompsonQBFr.
9Collin JohnsonWRJr.
11Sam EhlingerQBSo.
11P.J. Locke IIIDBSr.
13Jerrod HeardWRSr.
15Chris BrownDBSo.
16Davion CurtisWRSo.
18Davante DavisDBSr.
19Brandon JonesDBJr.
21Kyle PorterRBJr.
23Jeffrey McCullochLBJr.
24John BonneyDBSr.
25B.J. FosterDBFr.
26Eric Cuffee DBSo.
27Donovan Duvernay DBSo.
28Jarmarquis DurstDBSr.
28Kirk JohnsonRBJr.
29Josh ThompsonDBSo.
30Toneil CarterRBSo.
31Kyle HrncirLBJr.
32Malcolm RoachDEJr.
32Daniel YoungRBSo.
33Gary JohnsonLBSr.
33Tim YoderRBSr.
35Edwin FreemanLBSr.
35Russell HineLBFr.
36Demarco BoydLBSo.
37Chase MooreDBJr.
38Kobe BoyceDBFr.
38Jack GeigerKFr.
39Montrell EstellDBFr.
39Edward PequenoDLJr.
40Ayodele AdeoyeLBFr.
41Hank CoutoumanosDBSo.
41Tristian HoustonDBJr.
42Marqez BimageLBJr.
43Cameron TownsendLBJr.
44Breckyn HagerLBSr.
45Chris NaggarKSo.
45Anthony WheelerLBSr.
47Andrew BeckTESr.
48Andrew FitzgeraldDLSo.
49Ta'Quon GrahamDLSo.
49Joshua RowlandKSr.
50Hayden BruceLBFr.
52Samuel CosmiOLFr.
53Jak HolbrookDSSr.
55D'Andre ChristmasDLJr.
56Zach ShackelfordOLJr.
57Cort JaquessLBFR.
58Mikey GrandyOLSo.
61Ishan RisonOLJr.
67Tope ImadeOLSo.
68Derek KerstetterOLSo.
69Austin AllsupOLSr.
71J.P. UrquidezOLSo.
72Elijah RodriguezOLSr.
73Patrick HudsonOLSo.
77Patrick VaheOLSr.
78Denzel OkaforOLJr.
80Cade BrewerTESo.
81Reese Leitao TEFr.
82Brennan EaglesWRFr.
83Michael David PoujolDSSo.
84Lil'Jordan HumphreyWRJr.
85Philipp MoellerWRSr.
86Jordan PounceyWRFr.
87Austin HibbettsTESo.
88Kai JarmonWRFr.
89Max CumminsTEFr.
89Chris FehrTER-Sr.
90Charles Omenihu DLSr.
91Jamari ChisholmDLSr.
94Gerald WilbonDLJr.
97Chris NelsonDLSr.

What to watch in 2018:

1. Which QB: Ehlinger or Buechele?

Sam Ehlinger was the Longhorns’ best offensive player as a true freshman in 2017, but that comes with caveats: He sustained two concussions, partly a product of his fearless efforts running the football, and completed only 57.5 percent of his throws with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He did lead Texas with 385 rushing yards and always seemed to rally the troops. But 2016 starter Shane Buechele was a better passer (64.3 completion percentage with seven touchdowns and four interceptions) and was a serviceable runner. Ehlinger probably is ahead in this competition, but it will remain open.

2. Who’s left?

Six Longhorns underclassmen declared early for the NFL Draft, tied with LSU and Florida State for the most of any school. It won’t be easy to replace any of them: Stud offensive tackle Connor Williams, productive defensive back DeShon Elliott, super linebacker Malik Jefferson, big running back Chris Warren, big-play defensive back Holton Hill and even Ray Guy-winning punter Michael Dickson. The defense — by far Texas’ best unit last year — took the biggest hit. Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, who got a raise to nearly $2 million a year, has his work cut out for him.

3. Offense gets a Hand

The Longhorn offense under Tim Beck last year ranked 53rd nationally in scoring (29.5 points per game) and 66th in total yards (398.5 per game). Only one player, receiver Collin Johnson, surpassed 700 yards from scrimmage in 2017, averaging 58.3 total yards per game. So Herman hired veteran aide Herb Hand, widely regarded as one of college football’s top offensive line coaches, as co-offensive coordinator. Hand was previously at Auburn, but built his reputation at Penn State, Vanderbilt, Tulsa and West Virginia.

John E. Hoover