Texas' 2022 O-line class is maturing nicely
Steve Sarkisian learned a lot during the 2021 season, namely that his offensive line needed a talent rejuvenation. Sarkisian and Kyle Flood then went out and signed seven O-linemen in the 2022 class, the result of their own hard work plus a few breaks from the coaching carousel they were able to make the most of.
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That effort and those breaks got Kelvin Banks, DJ Campbell, Cole Hutson, Cameron Williams, Neto Umeozulu, Malik Agbo, and Connor Robertson on campus. Once that happened, it became the responsibility of the Texas offensive brain trust to develop those players into quality blockers.
Two games into that O-line class’s third season in Austin here in 2024, and the Longhorns boast one of the top offensive lines and O-line rooms in the nation. It’s a group that handled a stout Michigan unit at the point of attack, and one that will need to maintain a high level of play during the 2024 season.
That’s a task that three years ago looked like it would be difficult to complete. Now? The Longhorns are making life difficult on opposing defenses, starting in the trenches.
“I think of some of the growing pains we had early on the offensive line in year one, and then going into year two when we were starting two true freshman that first year, to where we are now where we’re returning four or five starters and the guy who’s our fifth guy was a SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week in Cam Williams. The experience we have now, I think we benefit from right now,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “I think also the development of our younger players to where we’re not having to throw them into the fire too soon, that they’re getting so many quality reps in practice that Coach Flood can work on the development of them.”
It’s not a perfect group, but it’s one Sarkisian can do a lot of things with offensively both in the run game and with Quinn Ewers throwing the football.
“We’ve flipped the script in essence to where we were inexperienced and green on the offensive line to in year four, now we’ve got a lot of experience,” Sarkisian said.
Kelvin Banks, OT
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 22
On3 Ranking: No. 6
29 career games, 29 starts
Banks has been everything the Longhorns expected him to be as a five-star in the 2022 class. Once he showed up on campus, it took him a day to become the Longhorns’ left tackle. He hasn’t relinquished the spot since and will only do so once he heads to the NFL Draft to shake Roger Goodell’s hand during the first round.
DJ Campbell, OG
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 11
On3 Ranking: No. 34
23 career games, 16 starts
It took some time for Campbell to make his way to the field in 2022 for meaningful snaps, but he brought a level of athleticism and nastiness to right guard when he received his opportunities. He often rotated with Hutson (more on that to come), but solidified himself as a player on the right side of the O-line who can live up to his five-star billing. A possible early defection for the upcoming draft.
Cole Hutson, OG
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 410
On3 Ranking: N/R
24 career games, 13 starts
Hutson, along with Banks, was one of the first from this class to see the field and started all 13 games during his true freshman season in 2022. Toward the end of the year, he rotated with Campbell but maintained the starting job. Campbell grabbed the starting role in 2023 but Hutson saw plenty of in-game action, including during pivotal drives at Alabama. An injury suffered in non-conference play last year limited his ability to rotate in, but Hutson was on the field for important snaps in Ann Arbor against Michigan.
Why has the dynamic worked so well with both Hutson and Campbell this season?
“They earned that playing time predicated on the way they practice, prepare, and doing things the right way,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “We’re fortunate to have DJ and Cole both be good players for us over the years and both playing good football for us right now.”
Sarkisian would add, “The fact that we have two guys that are rotating, that it’s a healthy competition but they’re always pulling for one another, I think is all just a byproduct of our culture but also a byproduct of Coach Flood really laying out the plan of how we’re going to play guys in each game.”
Campbell has played 91 snaps this year while Hutson has been on the field for 50. That’s a sign of the trust in both players, as Sarkisian mentioned.
Look for Hutson to continue to receive opportunities in the coming weeks.
Cameron Williams, OT
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 243
On3 Ranking: No. 85
24 career games, 3 starts
Sarkisian and Flood didn’t wait to put Williams on the field, placing him on a couple of Longhorns special teams units during his true freshman season. He saw his first start in 2023 when Christian Jones missed the Kansas State game. He performed admirably though with a couple of penalties.
Williams earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors versus Colorado State, possibly because he pulled Jerrick Gibson into the end zone during the true freshman back’s first career touchdown. He had some struggles during his first career road start last week at Michigan, but Williams rounded into form to help the Longhorn offense thrive in the Big House.
Neto Umeozulu, OG
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 76
On3 Ranking: No. 49
9 career games
Likely in Flood’s circle of trust, Umeozulu competed with Hayden Conner at left guard during spring and even took the first-string spot during some of the media viewing portions of practice. Conner ultimately did not relinquish his spot, and Umeozulu remains one of the top players waiting in the wings.
Malik Agbo, OT/TE
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 364
On3 Ranking: N/R
18 career games
Agbo found a role as a jumbo tight end during the 2023 season as the Longhorns looked for ways to counter some of the 3-3-5 Flyover looks they faced while members of the Big 12. He played that role well and even caught a pass during the College Football Playoff semifinal against Washington.
This is a part of the offense not yet seen in 2024, but Agbo continues to wear a uniform number in No. 80 that keeps him eligible to receive a pass so long as he lines up properly. Even so, he’s doing plenty of work in a unique role and still has an opportunity to play along the offensive line in a conventional way in the coming years.
Connor Robertson, OC
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 440
On3 Ranking: No. 269
15 career games
Robertson has seen plenty of action as Texas’ second center and was thrust into first-string duties against Oklahoma in 2023, where he had an up-and-down day. He’s been a pure center since he arrived at Texas and will have a strong chance to succeed Jake Majors at the position once No. 65 moves on to a professional career.
From a seven-man class, there are three starters plus a player that rotates in with the first-string, a key part of a special package, a second-stringer who would be a part of most school’s starting lineup, and a quality option at one of the most difficult positions in sports.
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That’s a high hit rate for a class that needed it. As a result, the Longhorn O-line is looking like one of the best in the country during the 2024 season.
