Longhorns Hit the Field for Spring Game as NFL Draft Looms
April 18 marks a pivotal transition point for the Texas Longhorns football program. As fans gathered at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium for the annual Spring Game, the celebration of the upcoming season was fundamentally intertwined with the looming reality of the 2026 NFL Draft.
With the draft kicking off on April 23 in Pittsburgh, the Longhorns boast an impressive 14 players eligible for selection. This list includes key foundational pieces from the 2025 campaign, most notably offensive lineman DJ Campbell.
Replacing Elite Production
The primary objective of this year’s spring camp has not been establishing a new offensive identity, but rather replacing elite, NFL-caliber production across the depth chart.
Replacing a dominant interior force like Campbell is rarely a seamless process. The Spring Game provides the first public, competitive glimpse into how Steve Sarkisian and offensive line coach Kyle Flood are addressing these voids. The recent NCAA eligibility waiver granted to incoming transfer Laurence Seymore was a critical step, but true cohesion is only forged in live-action scenarios.
The Rivalry Litmus Test
When evaluating the Longhorns through the specific lens of the Red River Rivalry, the ability to seamlessly backfill drafted talent is what separates good teams from perennial championship contenders.
Oklahoma is intimately familiar with the Longhorns’ drafted personnel. The Sooners’ defensive staff, led by Brent Venables, will undoubtedly be analyzing the Spring Game tape to identify any drop-off in physicality or execution along the Texas offensive line. If Texas experiences growing pains while integrating new starters, Oklahoma will scheme specifically to exploit those vulnerabilities in October.
Therefore, the success of the April 18 Spring Game isn’t measured by the final score, but by the visible competence of the new starters stepping into the massive shoes left by the 14 departing Longhorns headed for the NFL.
