Texas football ‘very confident’ in its chances with 5-Star OT Brandon Baker

Offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood is on a tear on the recruiting trail this summer for Texas football in the 2024 class. Texas has already landed two key in-state targets along the offensive line in the 2024 class in four-star North Richland Hills (TX) Richland center Daniel Cruz and four-star Humble (TX) Atascocita interior offensive lineman Nate Kibble.

Flood and the Longhorns are now looking to get their prize target in the 2024 class this summer with the elite five-star Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei offensive tackle Brandon Baker. Texas is one of the top schools for the No. 1 rated offensive tackle recruit in the nation in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite and On3 Industry Ranking.

Texas football in a good spot for No. 1 2024 OT Brandon Baker this summer

During two successful visits since the spring, Baker and his family liked what they saw in Austin and from the Longhorns. Baker and his family like the strong academics at the University of Texas-Austin. And the opportunity for immediate playing time at offensive tackle at Texas appeals to Baker.

We wrote last week that Texas is “making a lot of sense” for Baker and his camp after the successful mid-June official visit.

His first trip to Austin was an unofficial visit for the spring game on April 15. Baker made a return trip for his official visit to Texas on the weekend of June 16.

Texas made up ground on Oregon this summer with Baker

Heading into this summer, the Oregon Ducks were viewed as the leader in this recruitment. But Texas and the Ohio State Buckeyes made big impressions on Baker during his summer official visits, closing the gap on the leading Ducks in the last couple of months.

And it sounds like some voices around Baker’s recruitment feel like Texas could even be the leader.

Orangebloods’ Jason Suchomel reported on July 20 (subscriber content) that “Texas feels very confident about being the leader at the moment” for the elite offensive tackle recruit out of California. It is important to note that this report says there is still “a long way to go”.

It’s probably not all that far-fetched to say that Texas is right there with Oregon among Baker’s top schools this summer. And maybe he’s said to some people in his camp that he’s liked Texas the most at different points since he officially visited Austin this summer. But that’s just based on speculation, given the gains that Texas and Ohio State have both seen in this recruitment this summer.

Baker doesn’t have a set decision timeline

Various reports this summer have mentioned Baker could make a decision before the start of his senior season at Mater Dei or early in the season. But nothing is for certain right now as far as Baker’s decision timeline is concerned.

If Baker does make an unofficial visit to Oregon once the dead period for in-person visits lifts on July 25, that would clearly favor the Ducks. On the other hand, if Baker doesn’t visit Eugene next week, and he does arrive at a decision before his senior season that favors Texas and Ohio State.

There is a lot of speculation to be had in this recruitment since Baker is one of the most highly-sought after offensive tackle recruits in the country in the 2024 class. He is the top priority along the offensive line for Flood and the Longhorns in the 2024 class heading into the fall.