What's next for the 2022 offensive line class?

Texas needed offensive line help after a 5-7 2021 season, and Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood went and got it in the form of a seven-man 2022 offensive line class. DJ Campbell, Kelvin Banks, Neto Umeozulu, Cameron Williams, Malik Agbo, Cole Hutson, and Connor Robertson saw opportunity in various forms ahead of them at Texas and decided to be the “Big Humans” preferred by Flood and Sarkisian.

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Campbell, Banks, and Hutson earned a considerable amount of playing time on standard downs in their first years on the 40 Acres, while Williams was a key part of the Longhorns’ special teams unit as a freshman.

More members of the group earned additional playing time in 2023. Now that the entire group is starting to come of age and become physically mature, what’s next for members of this celebrated signing class entering year three of their time as Longhorns?

DJ Campbell, OG

After swapping series with Hutson during the latter portion of the 2022 season, Campbell entrenched himself at right guard during the 2023 preseason. There was a plan to still swap places with Hutson in the early portion of the season, but an injury to his teammate in week three made the right guard role all Campbell’s. The Arlington (Texas) Bowie five-star started all 14 games for the Longhorns during and posted a Pro Football Focus grade of 63.4, including a 68.6 mark in pass protection.

Campbell could remain at right guard but may also be involved in the competition for left guard depending on what Flood decides to do with Hayden Conner (keep in the guard battle or move to tackle?).

Between Campbell, Hutson, and Umeozulu, there’s no shortage of guard options in the 2022 class.

One thing for Campbell to clean up is penalties. Jones led the team with eight penalties on offense last season. Campbell and Banks were tied for second at six, according to PFF.

Kelvin Banks, OT

In classic Mike Gundy fashion ahead of Texas’ 2022 matchup with Oklahoma State, the Cowboys head coach had this to say about Banks, who was once an OSU commit: “Good news, he won’t be there but three years. He’ll be gone.”

Gundy looks more and more prophetic by the day. A 2023 first-team All-Big 12 selection, Banks has flourished since locking down the left tackle spot ahead of his second-team All-Big 12 freshman campaign in 2022.

Banks is a strong candidate to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft pending another successful season as the Longhorns’ left tackle. He recorded a 76.5 offensive grade from PFF during the 2023 season, the highest among UT O-linemen. That was bolstered by an 86.8 pass-blocking grade. Banks surrendered just one sack the entire season.

Texas hasn’t put an offensive lineman into the first round of the draft since 2002. Banks could change that after the 2024 season.

Neto Umeozulu, OG

Of the seven-man 2022 class, Umeozulu is the only one who has had to wait his turn to see playing time during games where the result is still in question. He’s appeared in eight games total, and his five 2023 appearances were in blowout wins over Rice, Baylor, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State.

The fact that his opportunity has not yet arrived hasn’t driven him to enter the transfer portal. In fact, little brother 2024 EDGE Zina Umeozulu signing with the Longhorns during the most recent cycle indicates the brothers love the idea of playing together at Texas.

Umeozulu was a backup at the guard position last season. Like with Campbell, depending on how the staff replaces Jones and utilizes Conner, Umeozulu should be involved in a battle for playing time on the interior that begins in the upcoming spring.

Cameron Williams, OT

The mammoth 6-foot-5, 369-pound Williams saw most of his action on the field goal unit in 2022 and that continued in 2023. But he earned opportunity at right tackle during the Longhorns’ most recent season and was called into action when Jones was out for the Kansas State game.

In Jones’ stead, Williams had a strong 85.5 pass-blocking grade but a disappointing run-blocking grade of 52.0, something far lower than expected for someone of his size. In addition, he had three penalties charged against him in a contest where the Longhorns were deploying backup quarterback Maalik Murphy.

The opportunity for Williams to take over for Jones ahead of his third season is there for the taking. Others will attempt to take it from him, but it might be his to lose entering spring ball should he maintain the trajectory he’s been on.

Malik Agbo, OT/TE

After Andrej Karic transferred to Tennessee, Sarkisian, Flood, and Jeff Banks looked to Agbo to play in the “extra O-lineman with an eligible receiver’s number” role. A unique aspect of Sarkisian’s offense, the “heavy” 12 personnel look allows for Sarkisian to add an extra, capable blocker to the rushing attack while adding an extra O-lineman on deep shot plays.

Agbo played the role well, typically donning No. 80 instead of No. 67. Agbo appeared in all 14 games but nearly all of his snaps asked him to block. Pro Football Focus gave him a 52.1 run-blocking grade with a strong 70.6 pass-blocking mark. Much of that has to do with chipping and helping against EDGEs as opposed to one-on-one blocking but it’s still decent work. He even hauled in a six-yard reception during the Sugar Bowl, harkening back to his tight end days in 7-on-7 tournaments.

Agbo’s stop at tight end might be a temporary one. His 2023 role put him on the end of the line of scrimmage, something close to the right tackle spot he was repping at the beginning of preseason camp. Agbo has the versatility to play a number of different positions and is a great option for cross training in the coming weeks.

Cole Hutson, OG

Banks taking over the left tackle spot in 2022 was not a shock to close observers. Hutson taking the right guard spot? That came as a small surprise.

Hutson played the position well over the course of his debut season, but the coaches had the want and saw the need to rotate Campbell in at right guard. Both had their strong moments, but both made freshman mistakes.

A lingering shoulder injury was finally repaired in the last offseason and Hutson entered the summer the healthiest he’s been since enrolling early. He cross-trained at center some, providing competition for Jake Majors.

The rotation with Campbell continued in the first couple of weeks of the season, with Hutson playing a fantastic game against Alabama. But one week later, he would suffer a knee injury against Wyoming that sidelined him for several weeks.

Hutson played in the final seven games of the season on his way into an important offseason. Hutson will factor at all three internal positions and could find his way into the starting lineup once again at one of the guard spots depending on how the competition and deployment shakes out.

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Connor Robertson, OC

The pure center take in the 2022 class, Robertson saw considerable action against Oklahoma in 2023 when Majors was forced to exit due to injury. If it weren’t for the previously mentioned injury to Hutson, No. 54 would have been the man in the middle instead of No. 62.

He gave an admirable effort but there were times when the absences were felt, namely when Texas could not punch the ball into the end zone behind their third center from inside the five-yard line.

Robertson is pretty much pigeon-holed into the center position. His 2024 spring, summer, and fall will be spent working to solidify his position as Majors’ backup.