This Texas Longhorns team is as talented as we have seen in over a decade. Something that really sets them apart, however, is their offensive line room heading into 2023. This Texas Longhorns offensive line hasn’t been this talented or this deep since, dare I say, 2005.
Not only is this Texas Longhorns offensive line talented, it is also insanely experienced. They will be returning 4,117 offensive line snaps out of the 4,315 total offensive linemen snaps. That is over 95% returning production along the offensive line. Furthermore, 144 of the total offensive line snaps being lost were Andrej Karic playing tight end on heavy packages, something that is easily replaceable or may not be apart of the offense at all in 2023. If you take those snaps out of the equation Texas returns 98.7% of their offensive line production! As you could likely tell, Texas will be returning all five of their 2022 starters.
The Texas Longhorns Offensive Line
We’ve talked enough about the returning production by the numbers, let’s start talking about this offensive line at the micro-level. We’ll take a look at how this depth chart is shaking out and who is competing for snaps in the 2023 season.
Left Tackle
Kelvin Banks was a consensus freshman All-American in his first year on the Forty Acres. He’s likely a future top ten pick in the NFL draft and still has two years left in his college tenure. Banks showed impressive movement ability and mirroring skills as a true freshman. He was elite as a pass protector and above average as a run blocker. With a full year in the Longhorns strength and conditioning program, it’s safe to project Banks taking a step forward as a run blocker and true people mover in the trenches.
Behind Banks there are a few options, however, the most talented of them is Sophomore Neto Umeozulu. Neto has a similar frame to Banks at 6’4″ 325 pounds and also has similar strengths and weaknesses. Neto is a very good mover and can mirror pass rushers well, but struggled when asked to be a people mover head-up with a defensive lineman. With another year to grow, I believe Neto could be an impressive back-up for the 2023 season. We may even see him take on the Andrej Karic role as a Jumbo TE in heavy personnel packages.
Left Guard
Hayden Conner returns for his third season with the Burnt Orange and White. Conner wasn’t the worst offensive lineman for Texas last year, but he must improve drastically as a run blocker to fend off his competition. However, he excelled as a pass protector. If Steve Sarkisian is going to air it out this season with the plethora of pass catchers Texas has acquired over the past 3 years, Conner should keep his starting role.
Competing with Conner for the starting left guard spot is mainly Malik Agbo. The former 2022 4-star recruit is now in his second year with the program. He didn’t get much playing time in 2022, but he’s talented and showed impressive flashes in the spring game in April.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if we saw Neto Umeozulu compete for the left guard position. Kelvin Banks is undoubtedly the starter at left tackle, but if Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood want to get their best five offensive linemen on the field Neto may have to slide to guard until the tackle position opens up.
Center
Jake Majors is the unquestioned leader and heart beat of this offensive line. His 1,662 career snaps are second along this offensive line. Majors is very well rounded as a pass protector and a run blocker. His ability to get the entire offensive line on the same page when reading defenses, potential blitzers and stunts will be his most important asset.
Conner Robertson, a former four-star in the 2022 class, will serve as the back-up to Majors. We haven’t seen much of Robertson on the field, however if he continues to learn under Majors and Flood he should prove to be a valuable depth piece for this offensive line.
Another option at the center position could be Cole Hutson. The returning starter at right guard has elite movement ability. Having your center be able to pull on power run plays and climb to the second level is a huge asset for an offense. However, Hutson would have to begin learning the nuances of the center position immediately for him to be a reliable option any time soon.
Right Guard
As mentioned above, Cole Hutson is the returning starter from the 2022 season. Hutson was thrown into the first early in his college career after Junior Angilau went down with a season ending injury. He had an overall impressive 2022 season, but was graded as the worst offensive lineman for Texas by PFF. He will need to continue to get stronger in the run game and lock-in as a pass protector to avoid any miscues on stunts or late blitzers.
Devon “DJ” Campbell is Hutson’s biggest competitor. This is easily the tightest battle along the offensive line this off-season. I talked about it heading into spring training, here. Campbell does have the former five-star pedigree and it’s apparent by his natural strength. What Campbell lacks is the same level of movement ability Cole Hutson possesses.
The question for Sarkisian and Flood will be what kind of player they want at the right guard position. I also wouldn’t be shocked if we saw these two players rotating based on matchups, game plans, and areas of the field. That would maximize their talents and the ceiling of this Texas Longhorns offensive line.
Right Tackle
Finally, let’s talk about the Texas Longhorns best returning starter along the offensive line. Yes, best returning starter along the Texas Longhorns offensive line. Over Kelvin Banks and Jake Majors, Christian Jones is the most well-rounded offensive lineman Texas has. Jones is entering his sixth season as a Texas Longhorn, using his 2020 COVID eligibility waiver as a redshirt senior. Jones’ development under Kyle Flood is a great indicator on what we can expect from the rest of these young offensive linemen in the future.
Behind Jones is big Cameron Williams. Listed at 6’5″ and 370 pounds, the word big is an understatement. He’s almost too big, he’ll likely have to stay under 370 pounds at his frame to stick at tackle. However, if he manages his weight and continues to work on his athleticism it’s going to be very difficult for edge rushers to get around him and close to impossible for them to get through him with a power rush.
The Incoming Freshmen
The 2022 recruiting class featured seven offensive linemen, all of which were composite four-stars. This incoming 2023 class, while not as impressive, still will give the Texas Longhorns offensive line incredible depth in the future. The class features two composite four-stars Jaydon Chatman and Trevor Goosby. It also features three high-upside composite three-stars: Payton Kirkland, Connor Stroh, and Andre Cojoe.
If all five of these offensive linemen stick around the Forty Acres, they could all develop to be key pieces for this Texas Longhorns program in the future. As mentioned earlier, Kyle Flood has done an impressive job with Christian Jones in his time here already. There’s little doubt Flood can take these young but talented offensive linemen and turn them into difference makers in the SEC.
Closing
Overall, this Texas Longhorns offensive line should be the best unit we have seen on the Forty Acres in a very, very long time. The combination of natural talent, development, experience, and cohesiveness is an exciting recipe for success for this offensive line. This is the kind of offensive line that could sneak up on the national college football media and win the Joe Moore award, handed out to the best offensive line unit in the country.
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