2016 DEPTH CHART ANALYSIS: Week 1 (Stanford)

The first official depth chart for the 2016 season was unveiled today. Have a look:

By way of analysis, I'll hit the high points for each major position grouping.

Offense

Proving the spring game hype was not misplaced, Byron Pringle appears to have supplanted Deante Burton as the team's No. 1 wide receiver. This thankfully will allow Dominique Heath to return this more natural slot position. They are backed up by Zach Reuter, Isaiah Zuber and Corey Sutton. My third-stringers have a total of four game catches.

As expected since Fan Appreciation Day, the offensive line will have five new starters since Dalton Risner will replace Matt Kleinsorge at right tackle. Stepping in for Cody Whitehair is Scott Frantz, for Boston Stiverson is Tyler Mitchell, for Risner is Reid Najvar and for Luke Hayes is Terrale Johnson. Hard for us not to take a step back.

The time of Evan Curl and Adam Holtorf (make no mistake, Risner's still the backup center) is coming, but at this point, Will Ash, Alec Ruth and especially Bryce Fitzner have to be more than a little disappointed not to be starters.

No real surprises at quarterback (we're right back where we were exactly a year ago), fullback, running back or tight end, where Dayton Valentine was the only experienced player and Winston Dimel is expected to contribute some.

Defense

The battle to replace Marquel Bryant continues, with the experienced Tanner Wood trying to fend off the athletic Reggie Walker. It will be interesting to see who starts Friday, but both will play heavily alongside Jordan Willis.

Similarly, Craig Settles Jr. and Ray Price still are duking it out to see who will enter the four-man rotation at defensive tackle. It sure is impressive, though, that freshman Trey Dishon already has beat out junior Matt Seiwert.

The top five linebackers are the same, but Sam Sizelove is now playing WILL (and Will Davis MIKE and Mike Moore SAM — huh?), switching places with Trent Tanking, and Jayd Kirby has displaced Colborn Couchman as a SAM.

The biggest shocker on the entire depth chart for me is the starting status of D.J. Reed, who climbed past experienced Cre Moore, spring starter Johnathan Durham and Cedric "This Is My Only Year to Play" Dozier.

I guess all that experience at Fresno State and Cerritos College really paid off for Reed, who I had projected as a scout teamer. Suddenly, this looks like a surprisingly deep position group, with both Macks shutting off to nickel.

Not so much at safety, though, where there is little experienced depth behind Kendall Adams, Dante Barnett, Sean Newlan and Donnie Starks. Brogan Barry's residence in the two-deep, although expected, is a little troubling.

I will be watching closely to see how quickly Denzel Goolsby and Tevin Geddis can pick things up. If we have half as many injuries as last season, our season's defensive success could swing on their development.

Special Teams

Boy, it sure is nice to have your kickers and punters all back, isn't it? Drew Scott won't miss a beat at long snapper, where he has played already. And while there is truly no replacing Morgan Burns (or Tyler Lockett, for that matter), Heath and Pringle should provide some excitement. Don't rule out Dalvin Warmack or Zuber as returners, either.

What are your thoughts on the first depth chart of the season? Let's get some discussion going in the comments!