Fresh Faces on the Forty: Freshman OL Nicholas Robertson

Austin, Texas — When the Longhorns open the 2026 season, all eyes will be on an offensive line that has become the program’s most scrutinized unit. Into that pressure cooker steps Nicholas Robertson, a 6-foot-3, 331-pound freshman guard whose arrival has been delayed until summer, denying him the benefit of spring drills. Yet even as a late enrollee, Robertson is already being viewed as a potential solution to the depth issues that have dogged the front five.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian’s staff did not sign a large group of offensive linemen in the previous cycle, making Robertson’s development critical. With veteran Seymore not currently in Austin and awaiting word on a possible waiver for an additional season, the competition for backup—and perhaps starting—roles is wide open. Robertson will walk into a room where Dylan Sikorski, Jackson Christian, Jordan Coleman and others are vying for the same openings, but his sheer mass and natural leverage have coaches believing he can compress the learning curve.

Spring ball will come and go without Robertson, but fall camp represents his first true audition. If he can master the playbook quickly and display the nastiness the staff covets, he could leapfrog several classmates and secure a spot in the two-deep. The path is straightforward: hold his own in one-on-one pass-pro sets, show consistent pad level in the run game, and stay healthy through August scrimmages.

Brandon Baker is penciled in as the starting right guard, leaving the remaining interior jobs unsettled. Should Seymore’s waiver request be denied, a vacancy would open immediately, thrusting Robertson into contention alongside Sikorski and Coleman. Coaches have privately praised Robertson’s punch and anchor, traits that translate well against SEC-caliber defensive tackles.

Expectations will be measured early, but the Longhorns can ill afford to redshirt a player who already possesses the size and strength to hold up in conference play. If Robertson flashes in preseason practices, Sarkisian may have no choice but to burn the freshman’s redshirt and plug him into the rotation when Texas faces its rugged early-season slate.

Tomorrow’s installment of Fresh Faces on the Forty will spotlight Chris Stewart, the Shadow Creek wide receiver whose elite speed could add a vertical dimension to the offense.