54 days until Texas Football: Where will Cole Hutson factor on the 2023 offensive line?
Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on.
[Join Inside Texas today and get the best Texas Longhorns insider team info and recruiting intel!]
We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best.
Today is 54 days until kickoff. No. 54 for the Longhorns this season will be worn by Cole Hutson, a sophomore offensive lineman.
Cole Hutson season outlook
Hutson was the only member of the seven-man 2022 offensive line class to enroll early, and he reaped the benefits of arriving before his classmates by carving out a spot in the starting lineup at right guard.
As is typical for freshmen offensive linemen, there were plenty of times when Hutson’s lack of experience was apparent. But also as is typical, Hutson regularly showcased why Kyle Flood elected to trust him with significant responsibilities during his debut season.
Hutson had a season long average run blocking grade of 53.4 and a pass blocking grade of 34.7, according to Pro Football Focus. His pass blocking especially dipped toward the end of the season, a time when Hutson often traded reps with DJ Campbell.
Hutson missed spring drills due to a shoulder injury but is working to remain in the starting lineup, whether it be at his regular right guard spot or even elsewhere on the line.
No matter what spot he occupies, he has the experience of 13 games from his freshman season under his belt. That experience, in-game opportunities some of his classmates and teammates lack, will give Hutson a leg up in the competition for playing time on the interior of the offensive line.
Hutson played in and started all 13 games for Texas in his freshman season in 2022. He was named to the ESPN 2022 Preseason True Freshman All-American Team and selected to the 247Sports Preseason True Freshman All-American Team for 2022.
Hutson, an early enrollee, is a two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (spring 2022, fall 2022).
Cole Hutson as a recruit
Hutson was ranked as the No. 413 overall prospect, the No. 29 interior offensive lineman, and the No. 63 player in Texas in the 2022 On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. On3 ranked Hutson as the No. 44 interior offensive lineman and the No. 112 prospect in Texas
Recent player to wear No. 54: Garrett Graf
Graf played in three career games in his four-year career on the 40 Acres. He was named to the 2017 Academic All-Big 12 Second Team and was a four-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (spring 2016, fall 2016, spring 2017, fall 2017). He was also the subject of this viral clip with other UT walk-ons.
Joe Cook co-authored this story
