This story is about Texas Longhorns
5 breakout candidates for Texas football heading into the fall, including a pair of true freshmen
Roger Steinman/AP
Texas Longhorns Jeffrey McCulloch (23) runs onto the field before the first half of the NCAA Big 12 Conference football championship against the Oklahoma Sooners, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Oklahoma defeated Texas 39-27. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
By Trenton Daeschner , Texas Longhorns blogger Contact Trenton Daeschner on Twitter: @TrentDaeschner
Here are five potential breakout candidates for the Texas Longhorns' 2019 season:
1. Jordan Whittington, RB
Rodolfo Gonzalez/Special contributor
University of Texas running back Jordan Whittington (21) is tackled by defensive back Montrell Estell (39) as linebacker Ayodele Adeoye (40 ) reaches over to help during the Orange and White spring game held at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April, 13, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (Rodolfo Gonzalez/Special Contributor)
Whittington, the nation's No. 2-ranked athlete in the 2019 recruiting cycle, is as close to a sure-fire breakout candidate as one can be. His impressive athleticism, physicality and the strides he made in the spring as a playmaker within the offense suggest he's primed for a breakout season in his first year at Texas. Pairing him with Keaontay Ingram in the backfield makes for a lethal combination, too.
2. Jeffrey McCulloch, LB
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 06: Jeffrey McCulloch #23 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates a win against Oklahoma Sooners in the 2018 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 6, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
McCulloch is no stranger to being a starter, and he's had his moments as a linebacker. But there's still a lot more for "The Shark" to prove. With Gary Johnson and Anthony Wheeler both gone, McCulloch, a senior, will have the most experience in the linebacking corps, so he'll have to be a steady leader while also playing a big role in helping replace the lost production of Wheeler and Johnson.
3. Ta'Quon Graham, DE
Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer
Texas Longhorn defensive lineman Ta'Quon Graham is checked out after an injury during the second quarter of an NCAA football game between the Texas Longhorns and the USC Trojans on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)
With all three starters on the defensive line from a year ago leaving, including Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Charles Omenihu, Ta'Quon Graham is one of a handful of players who will have to step up in the trenches. The 6-foot-3, 295-pounder from Temple High School has plenty of potential as a pass rusher. Now he has to prove he can play consistently enough as a starter, and he has big shoes to fill with the loss of Omenihu.
4. Anthony Cook, CB
The hemet of Texas Longhorns defensive back Caden Sterns (7) flies off as he tackles West Virginia Mountaineers running back Kennedy McKoy (6) during the fourth quarter of a college football game between the University of Texas and West Virginia on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at Darrell Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Texas Longhorns defensive back Anthony Cook (4) is on the ground. (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)
Cook, as well as his counterpart Jalen Green, is a player who's received plenty of hype since he arrived at Texas. Now, with Kris Boyd and Davante Davis gone at both cornerback positions, Cook will transition into being a starter and have to prove he can be a force against some of the best wide receivers in the country who call the Big 12 home. Cook was sidelined for much of spring camp with a hamstring injury and didn't play in the spring game, which didn't allow Texas fans and the coaching staff to see what Cook can really do yet.
5. Bru McCoy, WR
Mike Craven/Mike Craven
Bru McCoy was a five-star recruit from Mater Dei in California who chose to play for USC over Texas at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 5. The No. 1-rated athlete in the 2019 cycle is now transferring away from USC after one week of class. [Mike Craven/American-Statesman]
He still has yet to get his transfer waiver sorted out, but barring the NCAA sidelining him, McCoy is a player who could make an instant impact and be a real weapon on offense in 2019. The top-ranked athlete prospect of the 2019 recruiting cycle played outside receiver for pretty much the entire spring, but he could eventually move into the slot, where Texas still needs to get things settled after the loss of Lil'Jordan Humphrey. If McCoy is ruled eligible for 2019, expect him to be a difference-maker in some shape or form.
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