Replacing the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year at linebacker, the Defensive Lineman of the Year and a Thorpe Award finalist is a tall task. But if anyone has the talent and potential to successfully do it, it’s Texas.

That’s been the offseason task for defensive coordinator Todd Orlando.

Malik Jefferson, Poona Ford and DeShon Elliott are all off to the NFL, but the Longhorns are trying to build a unit that won’t drop off after finishing second in the Big 12 in defensive yards per play and third in the league in scoring defense.

Elliott and cornerback Holton Hill are both gone, but the Longhorns can lean on seniors Kris Boyd and Davante Davis at corner, while P.J. Locke III returns at nickel back. Brandon Jones and John Bonney also return, but highly-touted true freshmen B.J. Foster, Caden Sterns and Anthony Cook will all factor into the rotation as three of the Longhorns’ nine early enrollees.

“(Deshon’s) position has typically had a lot of production in coach Orlando’s scheme. DeShon’s a great player and is going to make a heck of an NFL safety, but we probably feel a little bit better about replacing that production than Malik,” Herman said, “because there were some things Malik did that were not within the scheme were ‘Whoa!’ plays.”

Gary Johnson and Anthony Wheeler look prepared to step into starring roles in the middle of the defense as seniors. The concern is finding talent behind them.

“We’ve got to be able to spell those guys for a little bit and not feel like you’re exposing yourself,” Herman said. “The Edwin Freemans of the world and Demarco Boyd and Jeffrey McCulloch, those guys have to really step up and develop.”

The Longhorns worked junior defensive end Malcolm Roach, who played all seven positions up front in high school, at linebacker in the spring to add depth.

They have that luxury because of an embarrassment of riches on the defensive line, even without Ford. Chris Nelson, at 310 pounds, is in position to replace him at tackle, but Charles Omenihu and Breckyn Hager made 16 tackles for loss in a year ago and both impressed during spring. Ta’Quon Graham, Jamari Chisholm, Gerald Wilbon, D’Andre Christmas and Marqez Bimage are all prepared to play bigger roles. Finding time for each of them is a welcome problem.