Takeaways: Texas Tech releases two-deep for season-opener

RELATED: Updates from Texas Tech's Monday press conference

Texas Tech included an updated version of its depth chart in its game notes for Saturday's season-opener against Stephen F. Austin.

The biggest news, notes and takeaways from the Red Raiders' two-deep are collected below:

... The offensive two-deep released today is literally the same as the one released last month in the program's media guide. It lists Baylen Brown as the starting left tackle, Jack Reichel as the starting left guard and Ian Sadler as a co-starter at Y-receiver with Jonathan Giles. Those things all seem unlikely based on comments that Kliff Kingsbury and others have made during camp, so it seems very doubtful that this is an exact look at how the offensive depth chart currently stands.

... Kolin Hill and Zach Barnes are still listed as co-starters at defensive end, like they were in July, but Hill now occupies the top line on the depth chart.

... JUCO transfer Mychealon Thomas has supplanted Talor Nunez as Breiden Fehoko's backup at defensive tackle.

... True freshman Jordyn Brooks is listed as Texas Tech's starting middle linebacker. The Stratford High School product was one of the program's highest-ranked defensive signees in 2016 and has clearly made a significant impression since arriving on campus in June.

... D'Vonta Hinton, who was listed as the starting middle linebacker heading into camp, heads into Week 1 as the team's starting weakside linebacker. Senior Malik Jenkins, on the strongside, joins him in the starting lineup. Freshmen Jonathan Picone and Brayden Stringer are listed on the second-team along with Houston transfer Luke Stice.

... There are no changes from July noted in the secondary. Justis Nelson is a co-starter at left corner with Paul Banks, D.J. Polite-Bray starts at right corner, and Jah'Shawn Johnson and Keenon Ward are listed as the starting safeties. Nelson is expected to be the Red Raiders' starting nickelback, with Banks and Polite-Bray manning the outside corner spots.

... The special teams two-deep is unchanged from July as well. Clayton Hatfield is the team's starting placekicker and Michael Barden will handle punts. Reginald Davis and Keke Coutee are co-starters at kick return and Cam Batson is listed as the primary punt returner.

... Texas Tech's posted two-deep includes 13 seniors (five offense, eight defense), 11 juniors (seven offense, four defense), 12 sophomores (seven offense, five defense) and eight freshmen (three offense, five defense).

... There are nine newcomers, including Kolin Hill and Ondre Pipkins who sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, on the two-deep.