Texas freshman pitcher Sam Cozart dominates early with a 1.38 ERA and 18 strikeouts, giving the Longhorns a rising star on a loaded pitching staff.
Texas baseball may have found its next star on the mound, and he’s only a freshman.
Sam Cozart has quickly become one of the most talked-about pitchers on the Texas Longhorns roster during the early weeks of the 2026 college baseball season. The freshman right-hander has burst onto the scene with dominant outings that have helped fuel Texas’ undefeated start and strengthened the Longhorns’ reputation as one of the most dangerous teams in college baseball.
Cozart wasn’t expected to quietly blend into the background this year, but even the most optimistic projections didn’t quite look like this.
Through his first three collegiate starts, the North Carolina product has been nearly untouchable. Cozart owns a sparkling 1.38 ERA while surrendering just five hits across 13 innings of work. Opposing hitters have struggled to square him up, managing only eight base runners total against the freshman.
Even more impressive is how efficiently Cozart has attacked the strike zone.
The former Wesleyan Christian High standout has struck out 18 batters already, averaging more than a punch-out per inning while displaying impressive command for a pitcher making his first jump to the college level. He has issued only three walks during that stretch, keeping pressure firmly on opposing lineups every time he takes the mound.
Simply put, Cozart has looked like a veteran.
Each of his starts has placed Texas in a position to win, providing stability for a pitching staff that already features significant talent. His ability to miss bats and limit hard contact has made him one of the early breakout stories of the season.
And the Longhorns’ pitching depth doesn’t stop there.
Sunday starter Dylan Volantis has also been dominant, giving Texas a powerful one-two punch that few programs can match early in the season. With Cozart and Volantis anchoring the rotation, the Longhorns suddenly look like a team capable of making a serious run toward Omaha.
While the offense has grabbed plenty of headlines, it’s the pitching that has quietly fueled Texas’ early momentum.
For Cozart, the opportunity is only just beginning.
The college baseball season is long, and opposing teams will begin to adjust as scouting reports circulate. But if the freshman continues to attack hitters the way he has through three starts, the Longhorns may have discovered something special.
And if Sam Cozart keeps piling up strikeouts, Texas baseball’s ceiling in 2026 could be sky-high.