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AUSTIN – If you’re Texas player who doesn’t solidify a spot in the two deep by the end of the week, Tom Herman already knows where you’ll be the Longhorns begin prepping for the Sept. 2 season opener against Maryland.

“You’re probably going to [the] scout team,” Herman said following Monday’s practice at Whitaker Fields.

Herman isn’t using the scout team designation as a threat, but rather pointing out that the Longhorns will need bodies there for the time being. With the inability to add any walk-on players until the first class day on Aug. 30, which is the Wednesday before the Terrapins come to Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Herman has to form a scout team out of the 105 players he’s got available to him right now.

“You’re going to see a lot of scholarship guys on that scout team,” Herman said. “That’s a pretty big indication where you stand as of now.”

As key Longhorns get back on the practice field from injury, the result could be that some capable reserves will have to spend the first week of the season running Maryland’s offense and defense.

Positions like running back, where Texas should have a full complement of players now that Chris Warren III, Tristian Houston and Kirk Johnson are healthy (there’s still no specific timetable on when Kyle Porter will return from his shoulder injury), will be a spot where someone worthy of getting carries in a game for the Longhorns has to mimic Maryland’s talented backfield tandem of Lorenzo Harrison and Ty Johnson. The same goes for wide receiver, where the Longhorns appear to be as deep as 10 wideouts who could be in a position to take meaningful snaps against the Terrapins.

The secondary could also feature some scholarship scout team members with Brandon Jones (neck), John Bonney (knee), Josh Thompson (lower leg strain) and Davante Davis (dehydration) all having returned to the practice field on Monday. The offensive line, linebacker and tight end are position groups for the Longhorns where players are still fighting it out for playing time, making this week a critical one for players on the two-deep bubble.

Should a player find themselves on the scout team after this week, Herman said Monday, it’s not the end of the world.

“It’s certainly no reason to give up,” Herman said. “We’ve had guys go from scout team to starters in a couple of weeks and perform well.”

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