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It’s not a stretch to say that Mack Brown knows a thing or two about what it means to be the coach of a "deep" football team. After all, it was only four years ago when he coached a team that featured Vince Young, Cedric Benson and Roy Williams in the same offense. Such tradition makes it hard to believe that this year’s squad has the potential to be the deepest of Brown’s tenure at Texas, but when all is said and done, this could well be the legacy of the 2008 Longhorn offense.

It’s a testament to Brown’s savvy as a recruiter that the Horns even have the opportunity to rebound so strongly only a year after losing such stars as Limas Sweed, Jermichael Finley and Jamaal Charles. But what it lacks in starpower, this team can make up in sheer manpower, which holds particularly true for the big guys up front.

After a disappointing year marked by injury and inexperience, the offensive line appears to be primed for the most significant improvement, so much so that offensive coordinator Greg Davis has spoken of sending out two entirely different units on offense, a luxury rarely seen in college football.

“I do think we have as deep a line as I've ever been around… And if we can play two full teams, that's always our goal is to be able to play two full groups,” Davis told reporters Tuesday.

And considering the potential shootouts in which the Horns could find themselves in a loaded Big 12, the value of a deep O-line cannot be overstated. Despite the lack of coverage the big guys usually receive, their solid performance could go a long way in aiding the transition to the college ranks for newcomers at the skill positions.

Given the departure of Sweed, Finley and Charles, several holes at the skill positions remain that look to be filled by first- or second-year players: players that, despite their considerable skills and physical abilities, have yet to accrue a single NCAA statistic. Three such players are competing to join Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley as first-team receivers, all three of which will surely earn time considering their differing strengths.

Through a handful of full-team practices so far this fall, sophomore James Kirkendoll has taken the most snaps with the first team offense, but redshirt freshman Malcolm Williams is the team’s most viable deep threat to compliment Cosby and Shipley. Also likely to play a prominent role in the offense is Brandon Collins, a sure-handed second-year receiver that could be utilized in other roles as Davis looks to open up the playbook as he did in last season’s finale against Arizona State.

When asked about the depth of his receiving corps, Davis suggested that the duties would be performed on a by-committee basis. “I feel like by the time that we break camp, we'll have five or six guys that we'll feel really good about”, he said.

And given the depth of this team, a by-committee approach is something will likely be seen in the running game and even at the quarterback position.

Sophomore Vondrell McGee will likely lead a three-headed attack at running back, but similar to the situation at receiver, specific situations will dictate exactly who gets the call. Freshman Fozzy Whittaker is more of a finesse runner compared to the downhill style of McGee, while senior Chris Ogbonnaya is the most talented blocker of the three as well as the best receiver out of the backfield.

What most fans are anxious to see, however, is what coaches and coordinators have in store for sophomore quarterback John Chiles. While Colt McCoy’s job as the primary passer is safe, Chiles looks to join the junior gunslinger in the pocket much more frequently this season as a quarterback/running back/trick-play specialist that should cause more than a few headaches for opposing defensive coordinators.

This prospect for such offensive variety, while necessitated by a lack of proven starpower, is possible because of a glut of young talent that, while lacking in experience, has the potential to collectively allow Texas to remain a championship contender in an increasingly competitive Big 12.