Get to know 2023 Texas commit Payton Kirkland
Whether you’re a diehard recruiting fan in need of a refresher or a casual fan in need of only the particulars, this will be the series for you.
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The first national signing period for college football runs from December 21-23. That puts it a week later than normal, which allows you even more time to familiarize yourself with the next class charged with helping restore Texas back to national prominence.
The preceding 2022 class is already off to a good start, but the way to win at a consistently high level is to stack talented class after talented class. At all times you need young players developing, creating competition, and providing valuable depth before becoming quality starters.
The top 5 contending 2023 class is just what Texas needed after the top 5 2022 class.
In the lead-up to NSD1, Inside Texas will offer profiles of each member of the 2023 signing class.
Next up, Payton Kirkland
The Player: Payton Kirkland, OL, Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips
The Rating: 89.00, On3 Consensus three-star, 6-foot-5, 355 pounds
The Ranking:
The Recruitment: Kirkland’s recruitment was a whirlwind. He was seemingly leaning to several schools early and late in the process prior to committing to Texas on July 23. He ultimately came down to Texas, Michigan State and Oklahoma after Miami’s recruitment ran hot and cold. In the end, the Longhorns made a lot of sense for Kirkland thanks to a combination of football tradition and academics, plus the fact that his mother is planning a move to the Houston area in 2023.
The Projection: Kirkland is one of those swing type offensive line prospects. He played both tackle and guard for Dr. Phillips High in Orlando. He certainly has the frame and arm length to play right tackle long term. The deciding factor will be his reactive foot quickness and body quickness at the next level that will determine if he stays outside, or moves inside.
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The Reasoning: “I always wanted to be a part of something with tradition. It’s a great tradition there and they’ve always been at the top of the ranks. Over the last few years, things have changed of course, but I feel like that’s a place where I can really grow as a man and a ballplayer and be able to be a part of something greater than myself and really contribute to something.” – Payton Kirkland.
The Relationship: “The communication really never stopped. Texas was always in my back pocket. They were always called the Sixth Man or the Dark Horse of my recruitment. They just ended up being in the front pocket and leading the way. Me and Coach Flood’s relationship, it really extends past football. It’s not really just a college football coach-recruiter type of relationship.” – Kirkland.
The Enrollment: Kirkland is a December high school graduate, and will enroll at Texas for the spring semester.
The Final Word: Kirkland is part of a two-year run of offensive line recruiting that has the Longhorns stocked up ahead of the move to the SEC. Kirkland’s upside is certainly higher than his prospect ranking and rating. How close he comes to reaching his ceiling will come down to answering the bell physically at the next level. If he does that, he is the large human prospect that Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood are ultimately looking for.
Series:
Connor Stroh, OL, Frisco (Texas) Wakeland
Johntay Cook, WR, Desoto (Texas)
Will Randle, TE, New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman
Trevor Goosby, OL, Melissa (Texas)
Derion Gullette, EDGE/LB, Teague (Texas)
Spencer Shannon, TE, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
Andre Cojoe, OL, Mansfield (Texas) Timberview
Billy Walton, EDGE, Dallas (Texas) South Oak Cliff
Cedric Baxter, RB, Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater
Jaydon Chatman, OL, Killeen (Texas) Harker Heights
