Texas Longhorns freshman Sam Cozart is on a full scholarship — just like all baseball recruits these days, after the House vs. NCAA settlement negated the old scholarship limit of 11.7 per team.
That’s a relief for Cozart, because it gives him and his family a shot to recoup some of the investment they poured into his footwear growing up.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) slides home for a score during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle talks UC Davis head coach Tommy Nicholson ahead of the game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) throws a pitch during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) misses a catch during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) celebrates a home run during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) celebrates a hit for a double during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) throws the ball to the infield during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) swings at a pitch during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) slides home for a score during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) misses a bunted ball during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Temo Becerra (1) swings at a pitch during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) misses a catch during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) leaves home plate after being walked during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Temo Becerra (1) throws the ball to first during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Temo Becerra (1) grabs a ground ball during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Max Grubbs (38) throws a pitch during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) swings at a pitch during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Josh Livingston (15) celebrates a score during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle disputes a call with an official during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) and catcher Carson Tinney (8) celebrate a score during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle watches from the dugout during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) runs home after a hit during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin. The home run was overturned and called a foul ball.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Casey Borba (31) runs to second after a hit for a double during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) steps up to bat during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) throws a pitch during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) swings at a pitch during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) throws the ball to first during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) swings at a pitch during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) celebrates a home run during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) celebrates a home run during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) runs home for a score during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) celebrates a score during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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UC Davis outfielder Braydon Woolridge (27) misses a catch during the game against the Texas Longhorns at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Ethan Mendoza (5) swings at a pitch during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns pitcher Max Grubbs (38) throws a pitch during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns infielder Temo Becerra (1) steps up to bat during the game against UC Davis at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle talks UC Davis head coach Tommy Nicholson ahead of the game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026 in Austin.
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Cozart, 19, stands at 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, wears a beard a mountain man would be proud of and requires a size 18 shoe.
Texas Longhorns pitcher Sam Cozart (35) steps up to pitch during the annual Texas Longhorns Alumni Baseball Game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 in Austin.
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“It was crazy. Every year I’d go up two sizes, and I’d always be having to find new shoes,” Cozart said. “The thing that most people don’t realize is, once you pass size 15, you can’t buy them in stores. So I had to go to just strictly online shopping.”
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When Cozart arrived at Texas, he encountered a problem. All of the Longhorns’ athletic teams are outfitted by Nike, and Nike doesn’t offer baseball cleats big enough to fit him. Instead, Cozart wears basketball shoes with holes drilled in them to make room for the spikes.
“We got the basketball shoes, and we just sent them off and had cleats made,” he said.
Cozart’s shoes gave him the platform he needed to produce a strong debut during the Longhorns’ 14-4 victory over Lamar on Tuesday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
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MORE: Several Longhorns assistants receive raises, contract extensions
Taking over in relief after a shaky start from Jason Flores and an effective spell from Ethan Walker, Cozart completed four innings of one-run ball while striking out four Cardinals. He threw 37 of his 54 pitches for strikes. It was an illustration of the abilities that have helped Cozart generate substantial buzz since his arrival.
“Cozart did what he’s done every day since he’s been on campus,” Texas coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “Just throw strikes and throw multiple pitches for strikes.”
Texas catcher Carson Tinney said Cozart “throws like 15 different pitches,” but highlighted his cutter and his splitter as particularly effective weapons.
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The consistency of the cutter and the control Cozart exerts over the pitch make it special, Tinney explained.
“He can put it wherever he wants,” Tinney said Tuesday night.
MORE: Texas baseball pitcher Dylan Volantis was already a star. Now he’s got a new pitch, too
That’s not something often said about freshman pitchers, especially at top programs, which tend to acquire live arms who need help molding their natural gifts.
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Little about Cozart gives a freshman feeling. Not his appearance. Not his shoes. Not his demeanor. And certainly not his performance on Tuesday night.
“Super composed,” Tinney said. “Very mature. I mean, he looks like he’s 40.”
So, how exactly will Texas deploy its 40-year-old freshman arm moving forward?
Schlossnagle indicated Tuesday that he’d be willing to use Cozart in a more important weekend role. The Longhorns have what appears to be a solidified weekend rotation in Ruger Riojas, Luke Harrison and Dylan Volantis. That unit allowed three earned runs in 17⅓ innings of work in Texas’ opening series.
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But injuries happen. And Cozart indicated that he’s willing to do any job his coach asks him to execute.
“We don’t have roles,” Cozart said. “We’re always just dominating the strike zone. We go out and we do our job and we sit down and we do what we’re told. If we’re told to go back out, we’ll go out, get three outs and then do it again. So I’ll never have a role. I’ll always just dominate the zone and go out there and compete my (butt) off.”