The 2025 Texas Longhorns are preparing for a pivotal season that could redefine their trajectory in the SEC, and all eyes are locked on one unit in particular: the offensive line. After a 2024 campaign that was plagued by inconsistency in the trenches, the Longhorns spent the offseason retooling and reinforcing the front five in hopes of building a foundation strong enough to compete with the best in college football. As Texas gears up for its highly anticipated opener, the buzz in Austin revolves around whether the new-look offensive line can deliver the consistency and dominance that fans, coaches, and players are expecting.
Entering year two in the SEC, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has emphasized physicality, discipline, and cohesion along the offensive front as essential ingredients for success. In a league dominated by elite defensive lines and NFL-caliber pass rushers, the ability to control the line of scrimmage is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. With a mix of returning veterans, talented transfers, and highly touted freshmen, the Longhorns have the personnel to make serious noise. The challenge now lies in translating that potential into reliable, week-to-week performance.
Last year, Texas struggled to find rhythm up front. Injuries, inconsistent pass protection, and an inability to consistently open running lanes made life difficult for quarterback Quinn Ewers and the rest of the offense. While there were moments of brilliance—especially in the Red River rivalry and key SEC matchups—there was never a sustained period where the offensive line looked like a cohesive, dominant unit. That reality played a major role in Texas falling short of a playoff berth and led to significant changes in both the roster and coaching staff.
One of the biggest moves came with the hire of new offensive line coach Marcus Johnson, who brings a no-nonsense approach and an SEC pedigree after successful stints at Missouri and Mississippi State. Johnson is known for developing toughness, instilling discipline, and demanding accountability in the trenches. His early work in spring practices has already made a difference, with players noting a sharper attention to technique, faster tempo, and increased physicality in every drill. For Johnson, the goal is simple: build a group that plays as one, communicates flawlessly, and finishes every play.
The centerpiece of the revamped line is returning left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., a future first-round NFL draft pick who continues to anchor the blind side with poise, strength, and elite footwork. Banks is the unquestioned leader of the unit, and his experience provides a critical stabilizing force for a group that will feature several new faces. Alongside him, sophomore interior linemen DJ Campbell and Connor Stroh are being counted on to take big steps forward, particularly in their ability to recognize blitz packages and handle complex SEC defensive schemes.
Texas also made a splash in the transfer portal, landing All-American guard Chance Simmons from Michigan State. Simmons brings a mauler’s mentality and a wealth of experience against top-tier competition. He’s expected to slot in at right guard and immediately elevate the unit’s run-blocking capabilities. With Simmons joining the fold and Banks returning as the anchor, the Longhorns have two pillars to build around—but chemistry remains the biggest question mark.
Developing that chemistry is what the offseason has been all about. Summer workouts have featured intense team-building sessions, film study marathons, and on-field reps focused on communication and situational awareness. Quarterback Arch Manning, who is taking over the reins of the offense this season, has also played a role in that development, frequently working with the offensive line on protection schemes and cadence adjustments. Manning’s poise and leadership have earned respect quickly, and his mobility adds an extra layer of unpredictability that could help the line’s learning curve.
The emphasis on consistency doesn’t just apply to pass protection. In order for Texas to fully unlock its offensive potential, the run game must become a reliable asset. The Longhorns feature a talented stable of running backs led by sophomore phenom CJ Baxter and veteran Jonathon Brooks, but they can only go as far as the offensive line allows. Last season, Texas ranked in the middle of the SEC in rushing yards per game, a stat that Sarkisian wants to see improve dramatically. The coaching staff has been drilling zone-blocking schemes and emphasizing pad level and leverage in hopes of creating cleaner running lanes and more explosive plays on the ground.
Another storyline to watch is the competition at center, where junior Logan Parr is battling early-enrollee freshman Bryce Foster, a five-star recruit who chose Texas over Alabama and Georgia. Parr brings more experience, but Foster has the raw strength and intelligence to push for early playing time. Whoever wins the job will be responsible for making protection calls and ensuring that the entire line is on the same page. It’s a high-pressure position that could make or break the Longhorns’ offensive success in critical SEC matchups.
The early schedule offers both opportunities and challenges for the offensive line to gel. Texas opens the season at home against North Texas, a game that should provide a chance to build confidence and work out any early kinks. But things escalate quickly, with a Week 2 road trip to Ann Arbor to face Michigan in what promises to be one of the biggest non-conference matchups of the year. The Wolverines boast a ferocious defensive line and a hostile environment, and that game will serve as an early measuring stick for how far this Texas offensive line has come.
SEC play brings its own gauntlet, including matchups against Georgia, LSU, Alabama, and Texas A\&M. Each of those teams features elite defensive fronts with speed, size, and experience. For Texas to emerge from that stretch as a playoff contender, it must find answers up front. There’s no room for missed assignments, poor communication, or fatigue-induced breakdowns. Consistency, especially in pass protection, will be the difference between winning close games and watching leads evaporate in the fourth quarter.
Beyond the physical challenges, the mental aspect of line play is something the staff has keyed in on. In the SEC, defenses disguise blitzes, shift pre-snap looks, and test linemen’s discipline with stunts and exotic packages. Johnson and the rest of the staff have been preparing the group to recognize these tricks, remain composed, and make smart adjustments on the fly. Veteran leadership from players like Banks and Simmons will be critical in helping younger teammates navigate these challenges.
There’s also the matter of depth. Injuries are a fact of life in college football, and offensive line depth often determines how well a team weathers the storm. Texas has made strides in that department, bringing in several high-upside freshmen who could contribute if called upon. Among them, keep an eye on four-star tackle Jamari Bennett and interior lineman Carter Davidson, both of whom impressed in spring practice and are earning rave reviews from coaches for their work ethic and adaptability.
In terms of expectations, Texas fans are cautiously optimistic. There’s a belief that this could be the year everything clicks—that the Longhorns have the talent, the quarterback, and now the offensive line to finally take the next step. Sarkisian has said repeatedly that the standard is championships, and he knows that those dreams begin and end with the play in the trenches. While the skill positions often grab headlines, it’s the offensive line that will determine whether Texas is a contender or a pretender in 2025.
Ultimately, the story of the 2025 Texas Longhorns will be written one block, one snap, and one protection call at a time. The potential is there. The pieces are in place. Now it’s about execution, consistency, and trust. If the offensive line can come together and form the backbone of a disciplined, physical team, there’s no reason Texas can’t challenge for the SEC crown and a spot in the College Football Playoff. The journey begins soon—and for the men in the trenches, the time to prove themselves is now.
