You know how college football coaches always say, “It’s just business”? Yeah, well, sometimes that “business” sounds a whole lot like pushing athletes out the door. And with Texas Longhorns making that big-money leap from the Big 12 to the SEC last year, not everyone was invited on the rocket ship. Turns out, one player just dropped a quiet bombshell about how his time in Austin really ended, and he didn’t leave by choice.

When a powerhouse program like Texas joins the SEC, it’s not about just stadium upgrades and hype videos. Behind the scenes, there’s a quiet purge. Depth charts get messy and some players who gave years to the program suddenly don’t get called back. No press releases. No closure. Just a vibe shift that says ‘We’re building for the big leagues now.’ And finally, one former Longhorn is ready to tell that side of the story.

Two years after the fact, he’s dropping truth bombs about how things went down. Logan Parr, yes, the SMU Mustangs OL, has opened up, saying, “I kinda got run out of my old school.” That powerhouse was Texas under Steve Sarkisian. Parr, a 6 feet 4 inches, 315-pounder, played three seasons before transferring out. He’s finally speaking out now, saying his exit had a lot to do with all the changes going on when Texas was moving to the SEC. Did Sarkisian and the staff decide some guys didn’t fit the new model? Parr thinks so.

Before joining SMU, Parr featured in 17 games at Texas, seeing action in his redshirt freshman and sophomore years, and even played in a bowl game as a freshman. He’s since become a rock at SMU, starting all 13 games in 2024, earning Third-Team All-AAC honors, and anchoring a line that ranked in the top 3 for fewest sacks allowed. Despite this, Sarkisian decided to let go of Parr.

The Longhorns had a tremendous season in 2024, ending it with a record of 13-3. But the losses came when the win mattered most. They lost the SEC championship game to the Georgia Bulldogs (19-22). Imagine them winning the SEC championship trophy in their first-ever appearance. It could’ve sent the statement, but destiny had other plans. They also ended up losing the Cotton Bowl game against the Ohio State Buckeyes (14-28). Many believe that surely couldn’t be the reason behind Parr’s snub from the team. However, Sarkisian does have a lot of other players at OL, so did oversaturation lead to his exit?

How Texas’ offensive line looks now?

If we look at the current Texas squad, it’s clear the coaching staff opted to go younger and bigger. They’re expected to roll into 2025 with a new-look offensive line built around some promising names. Trevor Goosby, a 6-foot-7-inch redshirt sophomore, is likely to handle the duties at left tackle. At left guard, Neto Umeozulu brings bulk and some starting experience, while veteran Cole Hutson holds down the center spot with a steady presence and high football IQ.

On the right, DJ Campbell, arguably the most consistent force on last season’s line, returns at guard, and Brandon Baker, a true freshman out of Mater Dei, is pushing to start at right tackle. It’s a solid unit on paper. Young, talented, and packed with upside. But it’s also a group mostly built on potential rather than polish. However, losing a guy like Parr is not something any program would want, but Sarkisian has different things in his mind.

While Parr is now under Rhett Lashlee at SMU, they have been performing well after his arrival. Winning the American Athletic Conference Championship, but lost the ACC championship game last year to Clemson (31-34). That kind of experience doesn’t grow on trees, and Texas will soon find out if their ‘young and big’ squad can truly hold its own in the upcoming fall.