AUSTIN, Texas - The most important player signed by national champion Texas on Wednesday might be one already on campus.

Among the 25 players who signed national letters of intent with the Longhorns, Jevan Snead of Stephenville is among a handful already enrolled in class and set to participate in spring drills.

That means the battle to replace Vince Young begins Feb. 27 with the first spring practice. Snead starts his career competing with redshirt freshman Colt McCoy.

Young left the Longhorns for the NFL after leading Texas to a 13-0 season, a 41-38 win over Southern California in the Rose Bowl and Texas’ first outright national title since 1969.

“We did not think Vince was leaving until there were 19 seconds to go in the game,” coach Mack Brown joked. “We started calling QBs from the field.”

Actually, Young’s departure did catch Brown by surprise. Young had said he planned to stay for his senior season. His departure means Texas, which returns 15 starters, will start next season with a quarterback who has no college experience.

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“He (Snead) has been throwing already with the other guys. They have been very impressed with his arm strength,” Brown said. “He and Colt should have a great grasp of what’s going on in the spring. Our job is to get both these guys ready to play.”

Texas also signed quarterback Sherrod Harris of Arlington Bowie, but he won’t join the derby to replace Young until this summer.

Brown lived up to his reputation as a master recruiter by signing a group of players recruiting analysts rank among the nation’s best. Rivals.com rated Texas’ class No. 5 nationally.

The 2002 class, which included Young, was rated No. 1 at the time and proved it by winning the national title on the field.

There was little drama with the latest class. Every player who signed had verbally committed to Texas well before the Longhorns won the Rose Bowl. Snead originally intended to sign with Florida, but changed his mind late in the season.

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“They’ve got swagger and confidence about them,” Brown said.

Among the biggest names is linebacker Sergio Kindle, a Parade magazine and USA Today high school All-American from Dallas.

Kindle joins Snead, tight end Greg Smith and offensive lineman Buck Burnette in class this semester and spring drills.

As usual, Brown rounded up many of the best players in Texas.

Of the 25 players, only defensive tackle Ben Alexander of Anderson, S.C., and Lamarr Houston of Colorado Springs, Colo., came from out of state. Texas started only two players in the Rose Bowl who did not play high school football in the Lone Star state.

“It’s something that is a very fine line that you take care of the state of Texas and still being able to reach outside your state some,” Brown said. “You do not want to spend all your time flying around the country getting one out of five, when you can get most of what you want from the state of Texas.”