Longhorn fans watching Saturday’s 58-7 absolute smackdown of the Texas State Bobcats had to be wondering about one particular name: fifth-year offensive lineman Cole Hutson. He was on the roster, sure, but missing from the depth chart. Then, when a whopping *70 players* saw the field for Texas, Hutson was still nowhere to be found. What in the world was going on?
The NCAA and SEC Are Making Cole Hutson’s Future A Nightmare
The mystery got a big, ugly answer from Head Coach Steve Sarkisian during his Monday press conference, and honestly, it’s a gut punch. Sarkisian revealed that Hutson is currently ineligible! Can you believe it? The guy’s going through some kind of appeals process with the NCAA, and that’s just one of the massive hurdles he’s facing to get back on the field in burnt orange and white. Sarkisian put it bluntly: “From Cole’s perspective, technically today he is ineligible, not because of the ruling, because of something different when it comes to the NCAA that he’s working through.” It’s a messy situation, and it just got even more complicated.
Adding another layer to this already frustrating saga is the Southeastern Conference. Just last month, the SEC dropped a unanimous 16-0 vote on a strict new policy. This rule straight-up prohibits any member institution from rostering athletes who have professional draft, contract, or even just roster ties. So, if you’ve been anywhere near the pro game, the SEC says, “Nope, not playing here.” Sarkisian acknowledged this huge factor, saying, “We are respecting the SEC’s decision, and once he can get cleared , if he gets cleared from the NCAA , then we’ll go back to the SEC.” It’s a double whammy for Hutson, needing clearance from two huge governing bodies!
Sarkisian Says Hutson’s Case Is Different. Is Anyone Listening?
Here’s where it gets really interesting, and frankly, a bit infuriating if you’re a Longhorns supporter. Coach Sarkisian has been vocal about players trying to come back to college after being on an NFL roster, even calling it “morally wrong.” He took a strong stance on that, no doubt. But for Hutson? Sark believes it’s a totally different ballgame than the drama we saw with LSU trying to add players who were actually on pro rosters. He’s emphatic about it!
“He falls under a little different category than what so much of the hoopla was made around,” Sarkisian explained. “I think it needs to be stated and it needs to be clear , Cole never signed a professional contract, he was never technically a professional player.” This is the key, isn’t it? Hutson reportedly just tried out with the Cowboys and, if Sarkisian remembers correctly, the Browns. He never put pen to paper on a pro deal. That’s a massive distinction in the eyes of his coach. “He was technically not a signed player, and so he falls under a little different caveat,” Sarkisian emphasized. It’s not like he was collecting NFL paychecks; he was just trying to make a dream happen!
So where does that leave Cole Hutson right now? Stuck. He’s in total limbo, completely unavailable to play for the Longhorns. His fate is now squarely in the hands of the powers-that-be. “We’ll leave it up to the NCAA, and then we’ll leave it up to the to the SEC to determine if he’s eligible to play for us or not,” Sarkisian stated. Longhorns fans are just left waiting, wondering when, or even if, their fifth-year lineman will ever get back on the field. This whole situation is a brutal blow, and we can only hope for some clarity, and fast, for Hutson and for Texas Football.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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