Texas Longhorns

Quarterback competition aside, Texas must develop trustworthy targets

Published May. 18, 2015 11:31 a.m. ET

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Whether Tyrone Swoopes or Jerrod Heard wins the starting quarterback job for the Texas Longhorns, they'll need quality targets running pass routes.

The question is, who will they be?

We know who they won't be: John Harris, Jaxon Shipley, Geoff Swaim and M.J. McFarland are all gone.

It's going to be up to returning players and newcomers to get Texas' new up-tempo, spread scheme off the ground. Daje Johnson and Marcus Johnson are the top two candidates to become badly needed playmakers for a unit that finished better than only Kansas last season in passing offense.

In ranking the wide receiver/tight end units in the state of Texas, the Dallas Morning News slotted the Longhorns fifth out of 12 teams.

But put another way, they ranked last among the teams in Power 5 conferences, well behind the likes of Big 12 rivals Texas Tech (No. 4), TCU (No. 3) and Baylor (No. 1). Texas A&M was slotted at No. 2.

Texas receivers Armanti Foreman and Jacorey Warrick, plus incoming freshman Ryan Newsome and others will get every chance to show what they can do.

The Longhorns have depth at the position, but they lack a true go-to receiver. They'll need at least one to emerge if the Horns are going to give their quarterback, whichever one it is, a chance to consistently move the chains during a grueling schedule that opens with an instant challenge on Sept. 5 at Notre Dame.

(h/t Dallas Morning News)

Photo Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports