Some instant observations from the Texas Orange-White Scrimmage, which answered a lot of questions and brought up a few more for the Longhorns.

Top offensive performer

Johnathan Gray did what seniors should be allowed to do in the spring game -- take a couple of snaps and then relax. This created an opportunity for a number of Texas' young backs to get touches, and D'Onta Foreman took advantage. The rising sophomore from Texas City is known as a bruiser, but he displayed quickness in space and a wrecking-ball like downhill running ability. Foreman totaled 12 rushes for 75 yards and a touchdown. His longest tote of the day went for 28 yards, and he also showed toughness on the goal line to punch the ball in on fourth down. He won't start in 2015, but Foreman showed he is more than capable of helping Gray shoulder the load.

Top defensive performer

There are a lot of options here -- John Booney, Bryson Echols and Bryce Cottrell each had huge games -- but no one looked better than freshman linebacker Malik Jefferson. The former five-star recruit arrived on campus four months ago, but he still looked spectacular Saturday. He was asked to play different roles for Texas, and excelled at each. Jefferson created havoc when he rushed the passer and displayed his elite speed defending in the flat. Most impressively, he caught one of Texas' fastest players, Daje Johnson, from behind and forced a fumble after a monster hit. Edwin Freeman picked up the ball and sprinted for an easy defensive touchdown, points where much of the credit should go to Jefferson. He was the No. 1 player in the state for a reason in the 2015 class, and he looks like he might be one Texas' best on the field next season.

Reason to feel optimistic

A young and inexperienced Texas secondary looked very good, especially the first-team defense. Bryson Echols was forced into a starting role for the spring game due to injuries to Sheroid Evans and Duke Thomas, and he played really well. He's always been fast, but Echols showed great ball skills, especially on an interception of Jerrod Heard. He wasn't the only defensive back who flashed, either. John Bonney made a number of big tackles. The secondary got beat from time to time, but for the most part, it won almost every time over an equally inexperienced group of wide outs.

Also, in a bonus dose of optimism, Texas' new up-tempo attack looked good. It wasn't perfect, but it really looked like it fit the team's personnel. There were no major hiccups and the Longhorns moved the ball well and almost always snapped the ball in 20 seconds or less.

Reason to be Pessimistic

Speaking of the wide receivers, they had a pretty tough day. All the talk leading into the spring game was about how the quarterbacks would play -- more on Tyrone Swoopes and Heard later -- but the players on the outside didn't do the signal callers many favors. Armanti Foreman and Jacorey Warrick looked pretty solid inside and on quick outs, but Texas' other wide receivers had issues. Dorrian Lenoard got a lot of hype this spring, but managed just 3 catches for 22 yards. He also had three drops, one of which would have been a touchdown, and an unsportsmanlike penalty. Johnson was finally supposed to break out, but he fumbled twice. There are four freshman wide outs coming to campus this summer, and expect them to get a chance to contribute right away. The Longhorns need help with John Harris and Jaxon Shipley no longer on the Forty Acres.

Tweet of the Day

Charlie Strong says go say your sorry:

Tyrone Swoopes threw a ball away into the stands. Looks like he hit a kid. Strong sent Swoopes over to say sorry to the kid. — Max Olson (@max_olson) April 18, 2015

Modest proposal

Playing time in the a spring game is at a premium, everyone has to get some, so it's not a huge surprise some players didn't touch the ball too much. But one player that should moving forward is Warrick. The rising junior is the type of playmaker in space Texas needs, and a talent who could help Texas' new offensive tempo keep up the speed. There are plenty of options on the roster to do so, but Warrick made a positive contribution nearly every time he touched the ball Saturday.

Vines

Jefferson is making plays early in his Texas spring game debut:

His contribution didn't stop there, though. He lays the wood here:

That's not the end of that sequence; the fumble ended up resulting in a defensive touchdown:

Not a Vine, but still a heck of a play from Dillon Boldt.

El walkon Dillon Boldt intercepta a Swoopes, pero queda anulado por una falta defensiva #hookem #TexasSpringGame pic.twitter.com/d5s6KTDLi9 — Cuarenta Acres (@CuarentaAcres) April 18, 2015

Biggest question moving into the summer

Well, the obvious was saved for last. Of course we have to talk about the quarterbacks. Both Swoopes and Heard flashed Saturday, but neither shined. Swoopes looked pretty good in the pocket. He showed nice touch on deep balls, was solid on the move and displayed his big arm. But he was far from the difference maker Texas needs at the position. Some of Swoopes' throws still floated, and he missed some easy passes to the flat. Heard looked like what he is -- a very talented freshman. He displayed the speed that he did so many times at Denton Guyer and also, at times, made Texas' new up-tempo offense appear lethal. But he also made some poor throws into double coverage and his lack of elite arm strength was evident.

Here's a look at the stats from both QBs from Saturday:

Tyrone Swoopes -- Passing: 13-of-24, 112 yards; Rushing: 6 rushes, 16 yards, 1 TD

Jerrod Heard -- Passing: 20-of-29, 177 yards, 1 INT; Rushing: 12 rushes, 15 yards, 1 TD

Both quarterbacks have their pluses, but it's too close to call right now as to who will start come Texas' season opener against Notre Dame on Sept. 5. Don't be surprised if Swoopes and Heard each play quite a bit in 2015.