Every week, college football insider Shehan Jeyarajah will come to you with a roundup of everything he thinks – and things he thinks he thinks right now – about college football in Texas this week. 

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3 things I know

1. There aren’t many proven stars in Texas

Last week during the DCTF Mailbag, someone asked who the top overall returning player in the state is. There’s turnover every year, but that question put into perspective just how much rebuilding is going on. 

Sure, the quarterbacks are pretty solid. Sam Ehlinger is an All-America contender. Shane Buechele might be too. Charlie Brewer, Alan Bowman and Kellen Mond are all very good, if not excellent. Past that, though, James Lynch, Jordyn Brooks, James Proche, Zach Shackelford, Jalen Reagor and Mason Fine are among the elite dudes off to the next level. 

My answer to the question last week was SMU wide receiver Reggie Roberson, with Caden Sterns and Jack Anderson close behind if healthy. There’s plenty of potential across the board. But still, it’s a weak year for returning top-end production. 

2. Spring practice season is approaching

It barely feels like the offseason is upon us, but already spring practice is right around the corner. Texas Tech opens its schedule on March 3, and others will follow soon after. 

Spring is a great time because we start getting some early answers, but get to keep our boundless optimism. Stars will emerge, depth charts work themselves out and we’ll get to know a little about the new coaches in the state. 

Spring practice will be especially important for UTSA and Baylor, as both are breaking in new coaches. Those two teams don’t open practice until March 17 to give their staffs a little more time to acclimate, but the spring should be an exciting time as first time head coaches Jeff Traylor and Dave Aranda try to create a blueprint for their programs. 

3. Kobe Bryant changed Texas football

Yeah, this bullet point is a pitch for you to read my new feature on Texas football players named Kobe – it’s worth it, I promise! 

One of the coolest parts about the name “Kobe” is that it never really existed before Kobe Bryant. That made it easy to track just how much the name grew as Kobe became a superstar. And when you talk to the kids named after him, they see him as more than any athlete you can imagine. 

I got to speak to three different football players who will play Division-I football next year about how Kobe Bryant impacted them. It was unbelievable to see how young people used “Mamba Mentality” to fuel their work ethic. Just wait – the name is only going to get bigger. 

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3 things I think I know

1. A freshman superstar will emerge

Like we said, there are a limited amount of real stars returning in the state of Texas. That just opens the door for some members of the 2020 recruiting class – or a redshirt – to break into the conversation. 

Texas and Texas A&M both put together elite recruiting classes in 2020 and there are plenty of openings on the roster. Keep a close eye on Aggies wide receiver Demond Demas, one of the freakiest recruits in the nation. Texas running back Bijan Robinson could also get into the mix. 

Outside of those schools, TCU added elite wide receiver Quentin Johnston, who will be immediately asked to be the No. 1 receiver on the roster. We wouldn’t be surprised at all if Texas State receiver Dylan Jantz – the Gunter legend – broke out. Keep a close eye on these young bucks. 

2. Texan players will dominate the NFL Combine

National NFL folks fall into the trap of not taking college players from Big 12 schools and that run air raid-influenced offenses seriously enough. Well, this year it’ll cost them. 

A pair of Baylor Bears were absolute physical freaks. Wide receiver Denzel Mims showed his entire skill set during the Senior Bowl, and it was impressive. James Lynch is going to test way, way better than anyone expects. 

SMU wide receiver James Proche is one of the most undervalued players in the entire draft. TCU stars Jalen Reagor and Jeff Gladney can both move into the first round with good measurables. The flipside of losing a lot of talent from the state? The NFL is about to be filled with Texan talent. 

3. SMU’s transfers will save the defense again

SMU has done a tremendous job of addressing positions of need expeditiously, and this offseason was no exception. The Mustangs’ biggest questions came in the front seven – all SMU did was add future NFL defensive tackle Michael Williams as a grad transfer from Stanford.

In addition, the Mustangs appealed for a sixth year of eligibility for linebacker Richard McBryde, who led the defense in tackles a year ago. He got it. Transfer cornerback Brandon Stephens is back for his senior season, and safety Chevin Calloway will now play a bigger role after playing backup snaps in 2019. Cam’ron Jones will get in the mix. 

These transfers – along with NMMI prep school transfer defensive end Junior Aho – will make up the bones of SMU’s 2020 defense. That, combined with some solid high school recruiting, should keep SMU near the top of the AAC once again. Everything's coming up Sonny Dykes.