OL Hutson returns to Longhorns after NFL tryouts

Offensive lineman Cole Hutson has rejoined Texas after regaining a fifth year of eligibility, the school announced Friday. Hutson, who has played in 48 games for the Longhorns with 23 starts at three positions, had exhausted his eligibility last fall. After going undrafted, he participated in minicamps with the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys but did not land a professional contract. In July, Hutson filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in Travis County, Texas, seeking an additional year of eligibility, part of a wave of players who sought another season following the NCAA's new 5-for-5 plan that gives new players a blanket five years of eligibility when they enter college. Last week, U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted players like Hutson the right to play another year of college sports. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian told reporters in late July that he was monitoring Hutson's situation. "Cole's a guy with so much experience, played a lot of football for us," Sarkisian said. "He's a guy that unfortunately didn't get drafted. So he puts himself in a bit of a different situation than maybe most guys that got done playing their fourth year in college." Hutson (6-foot-5, 308 pounds) played center, guard and tackle for the Longhorns. His return adds experience to an offensive line that is somewhat of a question mark for Texas. The Longhorns' rushing offense last season averaged the fewest yards (137.8) of Sarkisian's head coaching career. Trevor Goosby, one of the best linemen in the country, opted to return for the 2026 season, and Texas has added two transfers, Western Kentucky All-American Laurence Seymore and Oregon State's Dylan Sikorski, at left guard, where Hutson started five games last season.