Steve Sarkisian, Kyle Flood further re-shape the Texas' OL room with 2023 recruiting class
In two cycles, Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood have revamped the Texas offensive line room.
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Flood and Sarkisian have often spoken about their affinity for “big humans” in the trenches on both sides of the ball. That is a different philosophy, at least along the offensive line, than the philosophy of the previous staff.
The Longhorns’ seven-man 2022 class was the first opportunity for Flood and Sarkisian had to re-shape the room, and they took full advantage of that chance. Two starters and two regular contributors were in that group, but all seven received playing time during their freshmen seasons.
The 2023 cycle gave Sarkisian and Flood the opportunity to almost completely control what the offensive line room looked like. After signing a five-man class on Wednesday, the two have arguably completed their mission.
“When you think about in general, the idea that we signed 12 offensive linemen in the last two years alone, you talk about transforming a position group,” Sarkisian said Wednesday. “I think we’ve done a really good job. Coach Flood has done a really good job of identifying the players that we’re looking for, the styles of players that we’re looking for that in two years we’ve got 12 players in our program that are going to be in their first two years. We’ve got something to build on to our future.”
On Wednesday, Texas signed
- Jaydon Chatman, Harker Heights (Texas), 6-foot-4, 305 pounds
- Andre Cojoe, Mansfield (Texas) Timberview, 6-foot-6, 353 pounds
- Trevor Goosby, Melissa (Texas), 6-foot-7, 280 pounds
- Payton Kirkland, Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips, 6-foot-6, 370 pounds
- Connor Stroh, Frisco (Texas) Wakeland, 6-foot-7, 355 pounds
That a total of 1663 listed pounds of big humans, with what Sarkisian described as having a variety of skill sets.
“When you start talking about Andre Cojoe, Payton Kirkland, Connor Stroh, those are really big, physical players,” Sarkisian said. “Then, you look a guys that maybe a little bit more athletic that maybe need to bulk up some, the Jaydon Chatmans and Trevor Goosbys of the world. Either way, this is a really versatile group with tackles, with guards, with guys that are physical in nature, guys that are leaders on their team or in their district. High-level group.”
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Goosby, Stroh, Chatman, and Cojoe all committed on June 26, just days after Arch Manning announced his commitment to Texas. Kirkland would eventually join them about a month later, even without once stepping foot on UT’s campus. Since his commitment, he has made several treks to the Forty Acres.
Flood had his class locked up before preseason camp was even underway, and had a several different player profiles pledged in his five-man group.
After the 2022 class saw Kelvin Banks and Cole Hutson take starter roles, Sarkisian was asked on Wednesday if he thought anyone from this class was in line to contribute early.
“We’re going to give them their shot,” he said.
Even if none of them step into the first five right away and spends their first year in Austin redshirting and developing, they’ve helped Flood and Sarkisian create a bigger, and arguably better, offensive line room, especially compared to the one they were left with ahead of their first season in Austin.
