OTF Premium Twenty years later, an early-season trip to Ohio State will determine where the Texas offensive line stands

[Jeff Howe]

Since Bob McKay wrapped up a Texas career (1968-69) worthy of induction into the College Football Hall of Fame three decades before Lyle Sendlein began his time with the Longhorns (2002-06), the 2005 national championship team’s starting center had an uphill climb to become the top player in program history to wear No. 62.

Still, Sendlein started each of the 26 games on the schedule over his last two seasons on campus before starting 133 combined regular-season and playoff games over nine NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. One of those starts Sendlein made came in Super Bowl XLIII, which pitted him against Texas and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Casey Hampton (the Steelers, with former Longhorns Tony Hills and Limas Sweed also on the roster, won, 27-23).

Sendlein’s second career start in burnt orange saw him jump from the frying pan into the fire, in the second game of the 2005 season, playing one of the biggest roles on a star-studded offense when No. 2 Texas went into Ohio Stadium, at night. It upended No. 4 Ohio State, 25-22, kickstarting, in earnest, a run to the program's most recent national title.

Sendlein’s redshirt junior season saw him replace departed starting center Jason Glynn, who was with the Longhorns for five seasons (2000-04) and started each of the last 38 games of his career. The Longhorn offensive line (left tackle Jonathan Scott, left guard Kasey Studdard, right guard Will Allen and right tackle Justin Blalock) had experience to share, combining for 89 career starts between the four returning starters from a squad that went 11-1 with a thrilling Rose Bowl win over Michigan in 2004.

The 2005 Texas offensive line started the season as a group oozing potential and fulfilled it, ending an unforgettable 13-0 campaign as arguably the best unit in school history. Sendlein helped elevate the line, which paved the way for an offense quarterbacked by Vince Young to record the best single-season marks in school history for points (50.2) and total yards per game (512.1).

When it comes to the similarities between the Longhorn offensive lines in 2005 and 2025, a new starting center is roughly where they end.

Cole Hutson started 13 games as a true freshman right guard in 2022, so he’s not new to the starting lineup. Hutson also logged 389 snaps in a reserve role last season, including a season-high 52 in the team's College Football Playoff first-round win over Clemson and 35 in the loss to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

The return bout with the Buckeyes, on Aug. 30 in Columbus, will mark Hutson’s starting debut at center. He’s taking the baton from Jake Majors, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent after starting a school-record 57 games in his career (2020-24).

Unlike Sendlein’s situation, there isn’t a lot of starting experience around Hutson. Major is one of four departed starters, accounting for more than 35 percent of the 161 combined starts Texas lost from last season.

DJ Campbell (30 career starts at right guard) and projected starting left tackle Trevor Goosby (two starts as a redshirt freshman last season) have 45 combined career starts between them. Those three account for all of the starting experience among Kyle Flood’s group.

What the group lacks in starting experience, it makes up for in raw, high-upside talent. If Neto Umeozulu and Brandon Baker continue to trend in the right direction from where they ended spring practice, the group charged with protecting Arch Manning and creating running lanes for a deep backfield has a tremendous opportunity to grow together en route to a possible third consecutive berth in the CFP.

While the 2005 offensive line merely added a new starting center to a mix of talented blockers coming together at the right time, the remaining members of a highly-touted 2022 signing class (Hutson, Campbell, Umeozulu and Connor Robertson are on the 2025 roster, Kelvin Banks and Cam Williams are in the NFL and Malik Agbo will suit up for West Virginia after entering the transfer portal during the spring window) and their 2025 linemates will get a good idea of where they stand and what's possible in Steve Sarkisian's fifth season leading the program after traveling to the Horseshoe in 62 days.

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[Jeff Howe]

I'm trying to see how many characters I can use in a headline before I get some kind of error message. Still hasn't happened yet.

[Jeff Howe]

In all seriousness, I like the growth potential for the 2025 offensive line. For me, it comes down to how quickly the group of Huston, Campbell and Neto comes together and how they set the tone in the running game. Those three could come together and make Texas a much better short-yardage/red-zone offense. 

[JMarquette]

Another banger, @Jeff Howe 

[MarkInAustin]

That was one nail biter of a football game. 

I believe that Texas, USC, and tOSU were simply better than everyone else that year and Texas claimed the Natty by beating the other two by a total of one TD split between the two games.

That OL had a fine moment I like to rewatch as much as I love 4th and 5.  On the play after VY's TD they went for two, and the Texas OL stormed USC so remarkably that VY ran straight in  for two points.

[Jeff Howe]

2 minutes ago, MarkInAustin said:

That was one nail biter of a football game. 

I believe that Texas, USC, and tOSU were simply better than everyone else that year and Texas claimed the Natty by beating the other two by a total of one TD split between the two games.

That OL had a fine moment I like to rewatch as much as I love 4th and 5.  On the play after VY's TD they went for two, and the Texas OL stormed USC so remarkably that VY ran straight in  for two points.

Justin Blalock decleating the blitzing safety was clutch. The same can be said for what that group did to help Selvin Young score the two-point conversion.

[NothinButDaHorns34]

Not really sold on cole hutson being an improvement in the run game, But hoping to be totally wrong. 

[Jeff Howe]

Just now, NothinButDaHorns34 said:

Not really sold on cole hutson being an improvement in the run game, But hoping to be totally wrong. 

For me, it's less Hutson by himself and more so the power of the trio of Hutson, Campbell and Neto.

[McCoy2Shipley]

How are we feeling on Baker’s outlook for the season?

[drag worm]

Really interesting year for the OL. This is the year Kyle Flood’s “big humans” approach to recruiting really makes its way to the starting lineup. Not necessarily the highest rated classes compared to the epic 2022 class, but ones that Kyle pinpointed for all their upside. 

[Jeff Howe]

11 minutes ago, McCoy2Shipley said:

How are we feeling on Baker’s outlook for the season?

I’m optimistic after he held off Cojoe and Nick Brooks in the spring. He was pushed and responded with a strong close.

[Rocky P]

41 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

In all seriousness, I like the growth potential for the 2025 offensive line. For me, it comes down to how quickly the group of Huston, Campbell and Neto comes together and how they set the tone in the running game. Those three could come together and make Texas a much better short-yardage/red-zone offense. 

DJ needs to have an all conference level season.

[Jeff Howe]

38 minutes ago, Rocky P said:

DJ needs to have an all conference level season.

He’s off to a good start because I don’t think I’ve seen him look better physically in his time at Texas than he has coming out of spring practice.

[GoHorns1]

55 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

He’s off to a good start because I don’t think I’ve seen him look better physically in his time at Texas than he has coming out of spring practice.

Contract year means being extremely physical on LOS.

[4thandFive]

A bigger push up front would be MUCH appreciated. 

[817 Boxing B]

2 hours ago, NothinButDaHorns34 said:

Not really sold on cole hutson being an improvement in the run game, But hoping to be totally wrong. 

I think Cruz will come in handy. Something tells me he has what we're looking for... I just think going into O St... Hutson will be better prepared for the environment. 

[817 Boxing B]

3 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

For me, it's less Hutson by himself and more so the power of the trio of Hutson, Campbell and Neto.

How did Cruz do over the spring and is there a possibility of him being the answer if Hut 💩s the bed at O St?

[SuperDave0805]

3 hours ago, MarkInAustin said:

That was one nail biter of a football game. 

I believe that Texas, USC, and tOSU were simply better than everyone else that year and Texas claimed the Natty by beating the other two by a total of one TD split between the two games.

That OL had a fine moment I like to rewatch as much as I love 4th and 5.  On the play after VY's TD they went for two, and the Texas OL stormed USC so remarkably that VY ran straight in  for two points.

USC had the better offense, Ohio St had the better defense, Texas had Superman 

[NothinButDaHorns34]

30 minutes ago, 817 Boxing B said:

I think Cruz will come in handy. Something tells me he has what we're looking for... I just think going into O St... Hutson will be better prepared for the environment. 

I would hope he’s better prepared than Cruz, But he’s just never looked very physical as a run blocker and his PFF grade run blocking was abysmal as well. 

[JdmHorns]

All the talk about this offense,I can’t wait to see the defense this year.