{"id":399739,"date":"2026-08-06T23:38:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T23:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/399739\/"},"modified":"2026-08-06T23:38:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T23:38:09","slug":"how-cole-hutsons-return-to-texas-changes-the-longhorns-offensive-line-depth-chart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/399739\/","title":{"rendered":"How Cole Hutson’s Return to Texas Changes the Longhorns Offensive Line Depth Chart"},"content":{"rendered":"

The college football eligibility playbook continues to morph as the years roll on, with a breakthrough ruling now allowing some players to return to the college ranks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Texas offensive lineman Cole Hutson, who started 23 games and appeared in almost 50 across his college career, will return to the 40 Acres<\/a> despite going undrafted in this past year\u2019s draft and participating in minicamp for the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although he was out on the field for day one of fall camp for Texas yesterday, he was not officially listed on the roster. Today, it was officially announced that he\u2019ll suit up once again for the Longhorns after settling with the NCAA.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Texas O-Line Might Be The Deepest In The Country\"Hutso\"<\/p>\n

Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Cole Hutson (54) in action during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Hutson\u2019s return is a welcome addition to a Texas Longhorns<\/a> group that has all the expectations to be one of the final teams by the time next calendar year rolls around.<\/p>\n

When asked back at SEC Media Days in Tampa, Florida, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said he\u2019d love to have one of his experienced linemen back with the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, there\u2019s nothing like having an experienced player on your team, in your locker room, in the offensive line room,\u201d Sarkisian said. \u201cIt\u2019s been seven months since the last time we played. So there\u2019s a lot that we have to kind of sort through and unpack. But if we\u2019re fortunate enough to have him back, it\u2019d be great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sarkisian got his wish.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But for Huston, it’s not as simple as going back to his spot<\/a> from last season, either at left guard or center, the two positions he started last season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Because of how the situation has unfolded, Texas brought in two transfers at the left guard spot Hutson occupied: Western Kentucky guard Laurence Seymour and Oregon State\u2019s Dylan Sikorski as potential replacements in one of the most intriguing position battles at camp.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It’s a stiff bet from Hutson\u2019s end, deciding that being a practice squad body or trying his hand at Spring Football was not in the cards. It\u2019s a bold approach, challenging college football\u2019s governing body and returning to a team that already \u201cmoved on,\u201d per se.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Granted, Hutson has the Big 12\/Southeastern playing experience, and lots of it, compared to Seymour and Sikorski having half or a fraction of experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But this late into the season, missing both the spring and the practice window, it would be hard to see Hutson in a starting role come game one against Texas State in little under a month. But as life is in the trenches, injuries are unavoidable, and the Longhorns know all too well about shuffling offensive linemen groupings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While that left guard spot may have plenty of depth and Connor Robertson secured at center, it never hurts to have another lineman with experience snapping, especially already having chemistry with your incumbent starter. <\/p>\n

Sign up toour free newsletter<\/a>and follow us onFacebook<\/a>,X<\/a>andInstagram<\/a>for the latest news.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow<\/a>