Want to know the last time the Longhorns had an offensive lineman selected in the first round of the NFL Draft? If you guessed 2002, you are tonight’s lucky winner! Despite the lack of NFL Draft success, the Longhorns have not had a lack of talent at the position. In addition, there is a sense of optimism that the 2021 NFL Draft will break this dearth of success.
With that said, in 2020, one of Texas’s key strengths could come from the offensive line unit. The two sure starters, Samuel Cosmi and Derek Kerstetter, are among the best in college football. However, the remaining three spots on the offensive line are up for grabs. Previously, we previewed Texas’s running backs, wide receivers and tight ends. Today, we will preview the Longhorns’ offensive line.
2020 Offensive Line Options:
LT: Samuel Cosmi (Redshirt Junior)
2019 Stats: 13 starts.
While Angilau is not guaranteed a starting job, he is the most likely to come out of fall camp with one. With a season of experience under his belt, Junior Angilau will look to become one of the leaders of the offensive line. However, Angilau will need to take another step forward in his progression in order to alleviate some pressure off of Texas’s two new starters on the offensive line. There is a chance that he will end up starting at right guard in 2020, however that will be something to keep an eye on in fall camp.
Junior has the potential to be one of Texas’s mainstays on the offensive line and was regarded as a four-star prospect coming out of high school. Which is something that even Samuel Cosmi and Derek Kerstetter cannot claim.
C: Derek Kerstetter (Senior)
2019 Stats: 13 starts.
With 28 career starts, Kerstetter is the most experienced Longhorn on the offensive line. In addition, Pro Football Focus gave Kerstetter their highest rated pass-blocking grade out of all of the returning offensive linemen in the power five conferences. In a year in which the Longhorns have legitimate reasons to make the College Football Playoff, it will be paramount that Kerstetter continues to be the leader of the group.
Similar to Samuel Cosmi, Kerstetter also has NFL Draft potential although he receives a fraction of the hype. If the Longhorns were to have two of their linemen drafted in 2021, their recruiting efforts would pay off tenfold.
Options to Start at Right Guard or Right Tackle:
Denzel Okafor (Redshirt Senior)
2019 Stats: Appeared in 13 games.
Similar to Johnson, Hookfin was also a four-star prospect who decided to burn a redshirt last season. The 6’5″ offensive lineman will have the rest of fall camp to try to at least secure a spot as a backup.
Outlook:
The staples of this group are among the best in the country. Samuel Cosmi and Derek Kerstetter will have a lot to prove to NFL scouts. However, it will be just as important for them to try to teach the nuances of the game to their more inexperienced teammates. The lack of in-game experience might manifest itself onto the field for the first few games of the season, however this will be a promising group.
