Texas is opening training camp on Wednesday with championship goals for 2026, and the first big question sits right where a season can get messy fast: the offensive line. The good news for the Longhorns is that this group should be better, and in a lot of ways, it has nowhere to go but up.
Last season’s running game was shaky for the first 10 weeks, and the issues weren’t pinned on the line alone. Offensive line coach Kyle Flood spent too long searching for the right five starters, not settling on the best combination until Game 9 against Vanderbilt.
Once that group finally clicked, the offense looked much more like itself. Texas went from averaging 76.8 yards per game on the ground and 312.5 yards of total offense over its first four SEC games to 134.6 rushing yards and 409 total yards in its last five games.
There’s real experience back in the room. Texas returns All-American left tackle Trevor Goosby, fifth-year senior center Connor Robertson, and junior Brandon Baker, who is shifting from right tackle to right guard. That move clears the way for Wake Forest senior transfer Melvin Siani to handle right tackle, the spot where he didn’t allow a sack last season.
The one unsettled spot is left guard. Texas added sixth-year senior transfer Laurence Seymore from Western Kentucky, a player with 1,328 career snaps under his belt. And the Longhorns may also be able to bring back fifth-year senior Cole Hutson, who has 1,959 snaps of experience and 23 starts, thanks to some recent court decisions.
In Other News...
Texas Freshmen Could Force A Rotation Battle Earlier Than Expected
Texas is heading into the season with the kind of roster that usually leans on experienced upperclassmen, rising sophomores and transfers, but a strong freshman class could make that plan harder to stick to than expected. Even before the 2026 recruiting haul has a chance to fully settle in, there are already a few newcomers who look like they could complicate the depth chart in a hurry, especially if their talent shows up quickly enough to force the staff's hand.
Jermaine Bishop Jr., Tyler Atkinson and Samari Matthews all bring traits that fit real needs for the Longhorns, and each one arrives with a path to the field if the right opening presents itself. For Texas, the question is less about whether those players have upside and more about how soon they can turn that upside into trust from the coaches, because once the season starts, every snap will tell a little more about where they fit in the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Texas May Have Found The Answer For Ohio States Biggest Weapon
Jeremiah Smith has already given Texas a couple of chances to test its defensive plan against Ohio States most dangerous weapon, and the Longhorns have come away feeling as if theyve found something workable. In the 2024 Cotton Bowl, Texas leaned on a two-high safety look and bracket coverage to make life difficult for the junior receiver, then followed that up in the next meeting with a more physical approach that cut down on the extra help over the top.
For Texas, the bigger question now is whether that blueprint travels the next time these teams line up. Smith is the kind of receiver who can change a game with a handful of plays, which is why any defense that slows him down without overcommitting has to treat the plan as more than a one-off. If the Longhorns keep mixing leverage, bodies and coverage help the way they have before, they may have found a credible answer to Ohio States biggest threat. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Spears Jr. Is Giving Texas Fans A Reason To Dream
There is a lot to like around Texas basketball as the Longhorns begin sorting out their pieces for the upcoming season, and true freshman Marcus Spears Jr. has already added to the buzz. The early looks in practice suggest he is settling in with ease, fitting into drills with a comfort level that has stood out on a roster getting a boost from a highly ranked recruiting class and transfer additions.
Sean Miller also has reason to feel encouraged by the way the rest of the group is coming together. Returning center Matas Vokietaitis has been praised for his physical condition, and the backcourt has another welcome development with Isaiah Johnson back on the floor after his thumb injury, giving Texas a fuller picture of what this roster could look like once everything starts to click. [Read more 🡒]