2022 Texas Longhorns Spring Football Preview: Offensive line
Derek Kerestetter manned the right tackle position well in 2021, eventually earning All-Big 12 first-team honors. The results from whoever rotated in at the four spots to his left were nothing worthy of an honorable mention.
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Christian Jones won the left tackle spot in camp and was thought to be on his way to a stellar year. The season ended with a stretch of games that saw him rotate with Andrej Karic, neither doing enough to truly pull away from the other. Denzel Okafor started at left guard before his season ended versus Oklahoma due to a knee injury. That forced previous right guard Junior Angilau to flip to left guard, where he started every game in the second half of the season.
Jake Majors, still in his second season playing center, was plagued by the issues that befell his linemates. Tope Imade ended his sixth collegiate year strong against Kansas State, but there were still regular showings as to why he struggled to find playing time during his Texas career.
The inconsistent nature of Texas’ offensive line play was evident in various portions of the season. Like at the beginning versus Arkansas, when they struggled to stop a three-man rush. Or at the midway point against Oklahoma. Same with the Iowa State game that lengthened Texas’ losing streak to four games, where Texas once again struggled to stop a three-man rush.
With Okafor, Imade, and Kerstetter having exhausted eligibility, nearly every spot on the offensive line save for Majors’ is up for grabs. Lack of clarity along the majority of the line is a big reason behind Texas’ historic offensive line haul in the 2022 class. Those guys are coming to Texas because they believe there’s an ability to play early and often, among other things.
That written, all but Cole Hutson from the #22EFFECT class won’t arrive on campus until June. Accordingly, Texas is having to adjust to the low numbers along the offensive line.
Past previews: Wide receiver | Running back | Tight end | Quarterback
2022 offensive linemen
Departures: Rafiti Ghirmai (transfer portal), Tope Imade (graduation), Derek Kerstetter (graduation), Denzel Okafor (graduation), Tyler Johnson (left program)
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Returners: Sawyer Goram-Welch, Michael Balis (walk-on), Jake Majors, Chad Wolf (walk-on) Andrej Karic, Christian Jones, Logan Parr, Isaiah Hookfin, Junior Angilau, Hayden Conner, Jaylen Garth, Max Merril
Newcomers: Cole Hutson (early enrollee)
Signees: Devon Campbell, Kelvin Banks, Neto Umeozulu, Cameron Williams, Malik Agbo, Connor Robertson
2022 preview
With just enough numbers for a two-deep of scholarship linemen, there is going to be a surplus of reps available for each linemen, from the walk-ons to returning seniors like Angilau and Jones. Considering the performance of the line last year, that’s a lot of extra work under Flood’s tutelage for players who could stand improvement.
Those opportunities may also give them a small-leg up for their coming competitions with members of the 2022 class. While there are a couple of long-term developmental projects in the 2022 class, there are also players like Campbell and Banks who have sights set on immediate playing time. But they don’t arrive until June, meaning players like Conner, Jones, and Karic can work with Flood in an attempt to try to hold off the five-star freshman (though the extra time still may not be enough).
Of course, health is important too. More reps equals more contact which means added risk of injury. Flood and Sarkisian will need to be cognizant of the need to make it through the spring while still getting in the needed work not just for the line, but for the entire team on both sides of the ball.
