Texas Football: Zach Shackelford garnering unanticipated national hype

Picture of Texas offensive line

Heading into the 2019 season, the offensive line for this Texas football team isn’t the biggest concern among all the positional groups. However, losing three key starters from last year’s group is going to hurt. Not only was talent lost, but all three were starting seniors for the Longhorns.

Texas is set to lose the former Rice Owls graduate transfer offensive tackle Calvin Anderson, guard/center Elijah Rodriguez, and fellow guard Patrick Vahe. Head Texas football coach Tom Herman and offensive line coach Herb Hand were able to bring in Braun to help mitigate the loss a bit of those two former starting guards.

Yet, there is no doubt that linemen like Cosmi and Shackelford need to step up this coming season. Braun is a nice addition, but he is only one piece in a offensive line that will have three new faces from last season’s team. Shackelford looks to be the anchor of this group when it’s all said and done.

The other two projected starters for the Longhorns include rising junior offensive tackle Denzel Okafor and rising junior guard/tackle Derek Kerstetter. There is also a lot of talent that Herman managed to haul in from the past two recruiting cycles for the offensive line. Those 2018 and 2019 signees might not be ready quite yet.