Texas Football: Position-by-position grades for the 2023 class post-NSD
Offensive line
# of signees: 5
While this group didn’t have the same rating and national prominence along the offensive line in the 2023 class as it did during the last cycle, OL coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood and the Longhorns still have a solid bunch in the trenches. Most of the OL signees in the Longhorns 2023 class will be contributors further down the line.
Jaydon Chatman, 4-Star IOL (Harker Heights)
The offensive line signee in the Longhorns 2023 class that will be in the best spot to contribute early is the touted four-star Harker Heights (TX) interior offensive lineman Jaydon Chatman.
Dare I say that a blue-chip IOL such as Chatman is underrated, but he’s got a good frame and quick feet. Chatman is already adept at holding his own in pass protection and is a good run blocker. You can pull Chatman out in run blocking or get him to move bodies up the middle off the line of scrimmage.
Chatman is my favorite overall OL signee in this class.
Trevor Goosby, 3-Star OT (Melissa)
One of the potential long-term developmental offensive linemen in the 2023 class is the former TCU Horned Frogs three-star Melissa offensive tackle commit Trevor Goosby. While some of the offensive linemen in the last two recruiting classes could be long-term depth pieces, the 6-foot-6 and 285-pound Goosby is on a growth curve that projects him as a starter a few years down the road.
He’s already got the quick feet, good hands, and drive off the line of scrimmage down to be an impact offensive tackle both in pass pro and run blocking setting the edge.
Payton Kirkland, 3-Star OT (Orlando Dr. Phillips)
Although the Orlando Dr. Phillips offensive tackle Payton Kirkland was dropped was a four-star to a three-star recruit earlier this cycle, he still fits the bill of what Flood is looking for out of a big-bodied OL. The 6-foot-5 and 350-pound Kirkland is a mass of humanity, and he’s got the overall length to thrive along the offensive line in the future for the Longhorns.
What we need to see out of Kirkland is for him to get faster and more agile so that opposing defensive ends and edge rushers aren’t constantly blowing by him.
Connor Stroh, 3-Star OL (Frisco Wakeland)
My most underrated offensive line signee in the Longhorns 2023 class post-NSD1 is the three-star Frisco Wakeland offensive tackle Connor Stroh. Texas is getting another big human in the 6-foot-6 and 350-pound Stroh that continues to improve at a high rate.
If Stroh does get his body right early on in his collegiate career, he could wind up becoming a starter at multiple different spots along the offensive line in his first few years at Texas.
Andre Cojoe, 3-Star IOL (Mansfield Timberview)
Another big human that Flood and the Longhorns added in the trenches with the 2023 class is three-star Mansfield Timberview interior offensive lineman Andre Cojoe. Texas had to fight off a late run from TCU to hold onto Cojoe’s commitment through NSD1.
The 6-foot-6 and 340-pound Cojoe needs to add a little bit more foot speed and quickness off the line of scrimmage before he’s ready to contribute on a consistent basis at the Power Five level.