2015 Big 12 Position Rankings: Linebackers

No. 5: Texas

Nov 2, 2013; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns linebackers Dalton Santos (55) and Kendall Thompson (35) and cornerback Quandre Diggs (6) and safety Mykkele Thompson (2) tackle Kansas Jayhawks halfback Darrian Miller (6) during the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas beat Kansas 35-13. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

This year may be a trial by fire the Texas linebacker corps.

They have some good linebackers with marginal starting experience, and Dalton Santos looks to be the leader of the three-man unit, but he will have to step it up a notch if this group wants to help their team make a run at the conference title.

The problem for Texas might not be a talent problem, though, as much as it is a scheduling problem. They will get a solid Notre Dame team, and a high-octane Cal squad in their non-conference slate, and play TCU and Oklahoma early in their schedule as well. Where this comes into play is, incoming Freshman phenom Malik Jefferson might not have enough time to adjust to the college game, and fellow four-star linebacker Anthony Wheeler will be adjusting as well.

If the young guns can show up early in the season, they might just transform this position group into one of the best in the conference.