Texas Football: Samuel Cosmi expected to opt out to prepare for NFL Draft

Texas football is expected to take a huge depth hit in the trenches following the loss to Iowa State, with offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi opting out.

News that is going to be really detrimental for the Texas football program surfaced on the morning of Nov. 29, following this team’s tough three-point loss back on Black Friday to the No. 13 ranked Iowa State Cyclones. Texas fell short to Iowa State on Nov. 27 on Senior Day by the final score of 23-20.

In the 48 hours following the Longhorns loss to the Cyclones, the news dropped that redshirt junior standout offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi is expected to opt out of the remainder of the 2020 season. This report surfaced early from Horns247 over the weekend, as fourth-year head coach Tom Herman and offensive line coach/co-offensive coordinator Herb Hand try to pick up the pieces.

Cosmi is the most consistent and valuable offensive lineman that the Longhorns have this season. Outside of fellow fourth-year offensive lineman, and versatile guard/center Derek Kerstetter, there’s not going to be a whole lot of experience left in the trenches for the Longhorns on offense.

This 6-foot-7 and 310 pound former three-star hidden gem recruit Cosmi was one of the best players left on the current Longhorns roster from that disappointing 2017 signing class. He and senior star quarterback Sam Ehlinger were about the best that was left at this point from that 2017 recruiting class. Now that list is down to just Ehlinger, at least on the offensive side of the ball.

Cosmi has now played in more than 600 snaps this season, allowing just eight quarterback pressures, and one quarterback hit. In addition, he did have two sacks allowed on the season to date. Cosmi has also been pretty solid in run blocking as the season moved along. He’s helped the breakout of true freshman running back Bijan Robinson in recent weeks (outside of the loss to Iowa State).

All in all, it does sound like Cosmi is done with the Longhorns for good at this point. He has reportedly emptied his locker following the loss to Iowa State back on Black Friday, and he is expected to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft after opting out of the rest of the 2020 college football season.

Texas moved to a record of 5-3 (4-3 Big 12) following the loss to Iowa State on Black Friday. Next up for the Longhorns is a road trip to Manhattan to face head coach Chris Klieman and the Kansas State Wildcats on Dec. 5.