Texas football is a different beast lately. You’ve probably noticed. Gone are the days of "is Texas back?" memes, replaced by a cold, hard reality: Steve Sarkisian has built a roster so deep it’s actually a little terrifying. But if you’re looking at the Texas Longhorns depth chart 2025, you’re probably making a huge mistake. Most fans just look at the names and assume they know who’s starting.
Honestly? It's way more fluid than that.
Take the quarterback spot. Everyone is obsessed with the transition from Quinn Ewers to Arch Manning. It's the most talked-about handoff in the country. But if you think Arch is just going to stroll in and play every snap without a hitch, you haven't been paying attention to how Sark operates. He values "the two-deep" more than the starting eleven.
The Manning Era and the Backup Safety Net
Arch Manning is finally the guy. After two years of waiting, the redshirt sophomore is the undisputed QB1. He showed flashes last year—that 67-yard touchdown run against UTSA was basically a fever dream for Longhorn fans—but the Texas Longhorns depth chart 2025 is built for contingencies.
Sarkisian mentioned to Colt McCoy on the "Clean Pocket" podcast that fans love the backup until that first interception happens. And it will happen. Behind Arch, the battle for QB2 is actually vital. You’ve got Trey Owens, a massive kid with a live arm, fighting it out with Matthew Caldwell, the veteran transfer from Troy.
Caldwell is the insurance policy. If Arch gets dinged up—which happened to Quinn almost every year—Sark wants a "grown-up" in the room. Don't be shocked if Caldwell is the one holding the clipboard on Saturdays while the freshman phenom KJ Lacey learns the ropes from the third string.
A Drastic Makeover on the Offensive Line
This is where things get kinda dicey for the Longhorns. They lost a ton of veteran leadership. Kelvin Banks Jr. and Jake Majors aren’t walking through that door anymore.
Basically, the "Texan" core of the line is gone, and the new Texas Longhorns depth chart 2025 looks a lot more like a national recruiting map. Trevor Goosby is likely your left tackle, but keep a very close eye on Melvin Siani. He’s a transfer from Wake Forest who just joined the squad in January 2026, but he’s eligible for the 2025 season push. He’s already calling himself a future first-round pick. Bold? Yeah. But he didn't allow a single sack last year in the ACC.
Here is how the projected front five shakes out as of now:
- LT: Trevor Goosby (The heir apparent)
- LG: Neto Umeozulu (A powerhouse from Allen)
- C: Cole Hutson (Moving inside to fill the veteran void)
- RG: DJ Campbell (The anchor of the interior)
- RT: Brandon Baker or Melvin Siani (The Mater Dei vs. Transfer battle)
It’s not just about who starts. Sark is pushing for "eight guys he can trust." If Andre Cojoe can stay healthy, he’s the swingman. If not, the depth behind the starters gets thin fast.
The Skill Positions: A Track Meet in Austin
If you like speed, you're going to love this offense. The wide receiver room is essentially a collection of four- and five-star sprinters. Ryan Wingo is the veteran presence now, which feels weird to say, but he’s the alpha.
DeAndre Moore Jr. left for the portal, which hurts. It really does. He had that "it" factor. But it opens the door for Emmett Mosley V, the Stanford transfer, to potentially start on the outside. Then you have the freshmen. Kaliq Lockett and Jaime Ffrench Jr. are probably the two most talented receivers Texas has signed in a decade.
Lockett is a vertical threat who will likely force his way onto the field by October.
At running back, things took a hit. CJ Baxter is coming back from that brutal LCL/PCL tear. He’s the starter if he’s 100%, but Tre Wisner is the only returning 1,000-yard rusher in the SEC. They’ll split carries. It’s not a "bell cow" system anymore. It’s a committee. Watch for Michael Terry III, the "athlete" recruit who can play literally anywhere. He’s the wildcard for the Texas Longhorns depth chart 2025.
The Defensive Core: 15 Starters?
Sarkisian famously said he has "15 or 16 starter-type players" on defense. That's not just coach-speak.
The defensive line rotation is deep. Really deep. You have the "Westlake Duo" of Ethan Burke and Colton Vasek at the JACK position. Then you have Colin Simmons, who led the team in sacks as a true freshman. He’s going to be a nightmare for SEC offensive tackles.
Defensive Front Rotation
- EDGE (BUCK): Colin Simmons / Zina Umeozulu
- DT: Maraad Watson / Alex January / Hero Kanu
- NT: Cole Brevard / Travis Shaw
- EDGE (JACK): Ethan Burke / Colton Vasek
The interior is where the transfer portal did work. Landing Travis Shaw (UNC) and Maraad Watson provides the bulk they desperately needed after losing T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy a couple of seasons back.
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The Secondary and the "Star" Battle
The biggest question on the defensive Texas Longhorns depth chart 2025 is the STAR position. That's the hybrid nickel/linebacker role that Pete Kwiatkowski loves. Jelani McDonald is the name everyone is penciling in, but freshman Graceson Littleton is a "baller"—Sark’s words, basically—and he might be too good to keep off the field.
Malik Muhammad is the superstar. He’s the guy you don’t throw at. Opposite him, Jaylon Guilbeau has the experience, but Kobe Black is the future. Don't be surprised if that corner spot rotates as much as the defensive line.
Key Secondary Personnel
- Cornerback 1: Malik Muhammad
- Cornerback 2: Jaylon Guilbeau (being pushed by Kobe Black)
- Safety: Michael Taaffe & Derek Williams Jr.
- Star: Jelani McDonald or Graceson Littleton
Derek Williams Jr. missed most of last season with an injury, so his return is like a "free" five-star transfer. He and Taaffe provide a level of communication in the back end that was missing during the middle of the 2024 campaign.
What the 2025 Schedule Means for Depth
Texas opens at Ohio State on August 30. That is a "grown man" football game. You can’t hide a weak depth chart in The Shoe.
If the Texas Longhorns depth chart 2025 isn't solidified by the time they fly to Columbus, it could be a long afternoon. But the schedule doesn't let up. They have Florida, Oklahoma in Dallas, and then a brutal road trip to Georgia in November.
This roster isn't just built to win games; it's built to survive the SEC. You need 22 starters to win this conference, not 11. Sarkisian has recruited for length, speed, and—most importantly—redundancy. If a tackle goes down, there’s a four-star waiting. If a safety misses a game, there’s a veteran transfer ready.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking this team leading up to the season, stop looking at the "1s" and "2s" as permanent.
- Watch the Portal: Texas is still active. The January 2026 window showed they are willing to add veteran offensive linemen like Melvin Siani even late in the cycle.
- Monitor Injury Reports: Specifically CJ Baxter. The run game's ceiling depends on his explosiveness returning.
- Freshman Impact: Don't assume the freshmen will redshirt. In this era of Texas football, if you're a five-star like Kaliq Lockett or Justus Terry, you're playing 15 snaps a game by Week 3.
- Check the STAR position: This is the barometer for the defense. If a freshman wins the job over a senior like Jelani McDonald, it means the talent level has truly hit an elite tier.
Keep an eye on the Saturday morning reports. The Texas Longhorns depth chart 2025 is a living document, and in the SEC, the names you see in August are rarely the names you see lifting a trophy in December.