Texas Longhorns Offensive Line Believes Dominance Is Imminent as Rebuilt Unit Gears Up for Critical 2025 Football Season Push
The Texas Longhorns enter the 2025 college football season with a sense of confidence and anticipation that hasn’t been this high in years — and a major part of that optimism stems from the team’s offensive line. Once considered a position of weakness, the rebuilt offensive front now stands as a potential team strength, fueled by development, new additions, and hard-earned chemistry.
Following the Longhorns’ 2024 campaign, which fell short of lofty College Football Playoff goals, head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff made it a priority to address the offensive line — both through high school recruiting and the transfer portal. The goal was clear: protect the quarterback, dominate the trenches, and open lanes for a powerful running game. Mission accomplished, at least on paper.
Returning veterans have stepped into leadership roles, several young prospects are coming into their own, and the Longhorns have added plug-and-play linemen capable of elevating the unit’s performance immediately. With all these factors aligning, Texas believes its offensive line could be among the best in the nation in 2025 — and possibly the key to a true playoff run.
One of the most significant storylines heading into the offseason was the departure of key linemen to the NFL Draft, which initially raised concerns about experience and depth. However, what could’ve been viewed as a setback was instead embraced as an opportunity by the coaching staff and the next generation of linemen.
Returners like Kelvin Banks Jr. and DJ Campbell, who both saw meaningful snaps in 2024, are now the anchors of the line. Banks, in particular, is viewed as a likely first-round NFL talent and a potential All-American candidate. His maturity and consistency at left tackle give the Longhorns a foundational presence, while Campbell’s physicality and improved footwork make him a force on the interior.
Texas also saw a boost from the transfer portal, picking up key contributors from other Power Five programs. One notable addition is former LSU right tackle Marcus Henderson, who brings SEC experience and a nasty streak that fits perfectly with offensive line coach Kyle Flood’s identity. Henderson’s transition into the Texas system has been described as “seamless” by Flood, who praised the lineman’s quick adaptation during spring ball and early summer workouts.
In addition to Henderson, the Longhorns added interior depth with transfers from smaller programs, including standout center AJ Martinez from Boise State. Martinez earned All-Mountain West honors last season and has turned heads with his high football IQ and leadership during offseason workouts. Martinez’s communication and ability to call out protections have earned him the respect of both teammates and coaches, placing him in strong contention to be the starting center.
The infusion of new talent hasn’t just improved the top-line roster—it’s fostered fierce competition, something that players and coaches believe will sharpen the entire group. Sophomores and redshirt freshmen like Payton Kirkland, Connor Stroh, and Andre Cojoe are battling for significant reps, and reports out of the Texas strength program suggest each has made major gains both physically and technically.
That competition has also bred unity. During voluntary workouts and spring practices, the offensive line unit has taken the lead in team-building efforts — organizing group film sessions, workouts beyond the required hours, and even weekly cookouts that have brought the room closer together. Chemistry is critical in the trenches, and this group seems to have it.
Coach Flood, who is entering his fifth season at Texas, has been instrumental in the line’s evolution. Known for his player development and physical run-game philosophy, Flood’s fingerprints are all over this group’s resurgence. He’s emphasized a “finish mindset” — every play ends with a pancake or a pile — and that mentality has begun to show up consistently in practice film.
“This group is different,” Flood recently told reporters. “The way they prepare, the way they communicate, the way they hold each other accountable. They’re hungry.”
That hunger is evident not just in practice but in the weight room and film sessions. The offensive line collectively posted its best strength numbers since Sarkisian’s arrival in Austin, and according to insiders, the group has been the most locked-in during team meetings. No detail is too small, from hand placement to pre-snap communication. And perhaps most importantly, this line knows what’s at stake.
After a disappointing finish in 2024, where inconsistency in the trenches was partially to blame for late-season struggles, the offensive line has taken it personally. They’ve watched the film, they’ve read the criticism, and they’ve answered the call.
Quarterback Arch Manning, who’s expected to take over as the full-time starter in 2025, has already expressed confidence in the unit. “They’ve given me time all spring. It’s a different feel. You can tell they’ve bonded,” Manning said after the team’s spring game. His trust in the line will be essential as the sophomore quarterback steps into the spotlight.
The coaching staff has built an offense that depends on time in the pocket and a steady run game to function at its highest level. That means the line has to do more than just be competent — they need to dominate. Fortunately for Texas fans, all indications suggest they’re up to the task.
This fall, the Longhorns face a daunting early schedule that includes matchups against Michigan and Oklahoma, both of which boast fierce defensive fronts. It’ll be a baptism by fire for this rebuilt line, but that’s exactly how they want it. There’s a chip on their shoulders — a desire to prove they’re not just improved, but elite.
Recruiting has also played a massive role in the line’s reformation. Texas’s last two classes have included multiple four- and five-star offensive linemen, including standout tackle Jayden Gorman and versatile guard Landon Todd. Both enrolled early and have already made waves during spring ball. While it’s unlikely either starts Week 1, their presence ensures the line’s future is just as bright as its present.
The Longhorns also benefit from continuity in scheme. With Sarkisian and Flood returning, players don’t have to learn a new system or adjust to a different terminology. That familiarity has allowed the line to focus on refining techniques and execution, rather than starting from scratch. The result has been quicker installs during practices and far fewer missed assignments during scrimmages.
Moreover, the emphasis on tempo in Texas’s offense has encouraged linemen to focus on conditioning. This offseason, the entire unit participated in specialized endurance training, resulting in a more agile group that can operate effectively even during fast-paced drives. Flood calls it “football shape” — and insists it’s just as important as strength.
Former players and analysts who’ve watched Texas’s spring sessions say this group reminds them of the dominant Alabama and Georgia lines of recent years — balanced, nasty, and unrelenting. If those comparisons prove accurate, it could be a transformative year in Austin.
Perhaps the biggest intangible driving this group is legacy. Several of the upperclassmen have spoken about wanting to be remembered as the group that brought Texas football all the way back — not just as contenders, but champions. For a program as storied as Texas, the pressure is real. But this offensive line welcomes it.
In college football, titles are often won in the trenches. And in 2025, the Longhorns believe they finally have the horses up front to make a serious run. The journey won’t be easy. The margin for error will be slim. But for the first time in years, the offensive line isn’t the question mark. It’s the answer.
As fall camp approaches, one thing is clear: the Texas Longhorns’ rebuilt offensive line isn’t just confident — it’s ready. And if that confidence holds, 2025 could be the season when everything changes.
