Texas
Texas football 2025 offensive line preview: Besides guard DJ Campbell who else returns?
With Texas football now in the offseason, the American-Statesman is breaking down each position group.
Who’s gone from the 2024 squad that went 13-3 and fell a win short a national title-game appearance? Who’s back? And what portal arrivals and freshmen from the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class have joined the team?
The Longhorns are coming off an impressive season that include a record 16-game schedule, a spot in the SEC championship game, a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals for the second consecutive season, and a final ranking of No. 3 in the US LBM Coaches Poll for the past season. The ranking marks the best showing for the Longhorns in the final coaches poll since 2009. The 53 coaches who vote in the coaches poll listed Texas behind just national champion Ohio State and national runner-up Notre Dame.
Can Texas make another push for a CFP spot in 2025? The roster has a few holes but also boasts loads of potential, as evident by the program’s high ranking in way-too-early preseason polls.
This week, the Statesman will have a daily position-by-position breakdown of the 2025 Texas roster entering the offseason. Earlier this week, we looked at quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers. Today, we look at the Longhorns’ offensive line.
Texas football OL: Who’s gone?
Center Jake Majors (eligibility); guard Hayden Conner (eligibility); tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. (early NFL entry); tackle Cameron Williams (early NFL entry).
Texas football OL: Who’s back?
Rising senior guard DJ Campbell; rising senior guard Cole Hutson; rising redshirt junior center Connor Roberston; rising redshirt junior guard Malik Ogbo; rising redshirt junior guard Neto Umeozulu; rising redshirt sophomore tackle Trevor Goosby; rising redshirt sophomore tackle Jaydon Chatman; rising redshirt sophomore tackle Andre Cojoe; rising redshirt sophomore guard Connor Stroh; rising redshirt freshman tackle Brandon Baker; rising redshirt freshman tackle Nate Kibble; rising redshirt freshman guard Daniel Cruz.
Texas football OL: Who’s new?
Freshman Nick Brooks, a four-star recruit from Loganville, Georgia; Jackson Christian, a three-star recruit from Port Neches-Groves; Jordan Coleman, a three-star recruit from Cedar Hill; Devin Coleman, a three-star recruit from Cedar Hill.
Texas football OL: Overview
Four players depart after starting multiple seasons, but the Texas coaches are quietly optimistic about welding together another formidable front. Campbell returns as one starter at guard, and fellow guard Hutson also has plenty of starting experience. The versatile Hutson could also start at center, which would free up a guard spot for Umeozulu, who has impressed the coaches. Goosby will enter the season as a presumed starter at one tackle spot after getting one-game starts on both ends in 2024, and former five-star recruit Brandon Baker has the look of a prototypical left tackle. Plenty of young talent will battle for the remaining snaps.
Reach Texas beat reporter Thomas Jones via email at tjones@statesman.com.
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A day off at the pool — and a little sunburn — didn’t stop the Minnesota Twins’ momentum.
Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer as Minnesota scored multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game, and the Twins went on to complete a series sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 9-3 win Thursday.
Minnesota has won four games in a row and scored 25 runs in the three-games series in Texas. The two teams had a rare, mid-series day off on Wednesday with the England-Croatia World Cup game being played in Arlington.
“We’re locked in every day,” Lee told Audra Martin on the team’s broadcast. “Yesterday, taking time off, lay out by the pool, get a little burnt and then right back to it. We did a good job getting focused. I feel like we do that with rain delays, too, just lock back in and we’re doing it.”
Lee’s 12th homer capped a four-run first off Jack Leiter (3-7). Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to straightaway center that just cleared the extended glove of leaping Alejandro Osuna. Larnach’s third hit was an RBI single in the fifth, and Ryan Kriedler hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
Joe Ryan (5-3) struck out seven but needed 97 pitches to get through five scoreless innings while allowing three singles. Leiter was done after the fourth, and has given up 17 runs while losing three starts in a row.
The Twins never trailed in the sweep that extended their winning streak to four, matching their longest this season. Their 14-5 record at Globe Life Field is the best for any American League opponent since the ballpark opened in 2020.
Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran and Justin Foscue hit solo homers for the Rangers, who have lost five of six games. They are 0-15 when giving up multiple runs in the first inning.
Twins DH Josh Bell, who was born in nearby Irving and grew up in the area, had an RBI single before Lee’s homer. Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the series-opening 4-2 win Monday, and had an RBI single for a 2-0 lead in the first of a 12-2 win on Tuesday.
“We’re just passing the baton each time,” Lee said of the offensive output. “Our guys are hot. They feel good and they came out swinging today. It was awesome to see. We’ve done that for a while now.”
Up next
Twins rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA) starts Friday at Arizona. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to start right-hander Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11).
Watch CBS News
A Texas state trooper was killed in a crash in the Panhandle, becoming the 244th Texas Department of Public Safety officer to die in the line of duty since 1823, according to the agency.
Sergio Romero, 27, died Wednesday after a semi-truck pulled in front of him as he attempted a traffic stop around 4 p.m. on U.S. 287 in Childress County, DPS said.
In a statement, Col. Freeman F. Martin praised Romero’s courage, integrity, and service.
“Today, we grieve the loss of one of our own,” Martin said. “… Our hearts break alongside his family, friends, fellow troopers, and all who loved him. We will never forget the ultimate sacrifice he made in service of his fellow Texans.”
Romero previously served with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office before joining DPS as part of Class B-2025 in Childress, the agency said.
He is survived by his wife, Francisca, and their two young sons.
Funeral arrangements are pending. The crash remains under investigation.
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