Texas Football: OL Neto Umeozulu has ‘clearly improved’ this offseason

In a few days, Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian will kick off fall camp with the first practice ahead of the start of the 2023 season. Texas begins fall camp with the first fall practice on Aug. 2.

Plenty of eyes are on a few particular position groups for the Longhorns heading into fall camp. On the offensive side of the ball, at least, one might not be monitored by the fans and media more closely than the offensive line.

Texas and offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood are looking for some younger interior offensive linemen to step up to give them the best five-man combination heading into the regular season. Some of the younger offensive linemen that Flood and the Longhorns are looking to step up in camp are sophomore Cam Williams, redshirt freshman Neto Umeozulu, and redshirt freshman Malik Agbo, among others.

Redshirt freshman OL Neto Umeozulu showing growth for Texas football heading into fall camp

Umeozulu and Williams are two underclassmen along the offensive line capable of pushing for spots on the two-deep heading into fall camp. And the former of those two young offensive linemen for the Longhorns, Umeozulu, could be one of the big risers in fall practice this year.

During the spring, Umeozulu made progress as a second-team guard. His improved understanding of the blocking schemes and having another year on campus to get his body right have benefitted him greatly. Umeozulu now looks to be in a spot to push for a top-eight spot in the offensive line rotation this fall.

Even more encouraging, Inside Texas reported on July 28 (paid content) that Umeozulu looks like a “good athlete who has clearly improved year-over-year” heading into fall camp. It sounds like Umeozulu is putting himself in a spot to lock down the second-team left guard spot in fall camp behind junior starting guard Hayden Conner.

There is even a chance that Umeozulu could push Conner for starting reps by the end of the fall if he can take his game to the next level in practice and in rotational live-game action during the 2023 season.

Texas set for some important position battles along the IOL this fall

Flood and the Longhorns could see a good amount of movement along the interior offensive line during fall camp. Texas has the offensive tackle spots locked down between sophomore Kelvin Banks Jr. and super senior Christian Jones. But the interior offensive line could see the likes of sophomore DJ Campbell, sophomore Cole Hutson, Agbo, Williams, and Umeozulu, among others, all push for new starting spots or new positions along the IOL entirely this fall.