Texas Football: 5-Star OT target Brandon Baker sets commitment date

Sep. 24 is turning into a big day on the recruiting trail for Texas football in the 2024 class. Two top Texas targets are scheduled to announce their commitments on Sep. 24: four-star Missouri City (TX) Fort Bend Marshall safety Joshua Lair and five-star Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei offensive tackle Brandon Baker.

Lair told 247Sports/Horns247 earlier this week that he will announce his commitment on Sep. 24. He will pick between three finalist schools, the Baylor Bears, Washington Huskies, and Texas.

Meanwhile, Baker told On3 on Sep. 7 that he will announce his commitment on Sep. 24. Baker’s finalist schools are the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Texas.

Texas football OT priority Brandon Baker set to announce his commitment on Sep. 24

The No. 1 offensive tackle recruit in the nation in the 2024 class in the 247Sports Composite was considered to be an Oregon lean early in the 2023 offseason. But Texas, Ohio State, and Nebraska narrowed the gap on Oregon’s lead in this recruitment during the summer visits.

Texas made a big move in this recruitment the last few months after Baker had a successful mid-June official visit to Austin. Baker also buys into what offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood is building in the trenches upon Texas’ move to the SEC in 2024. Flood and the Longhorns did a nice job laying out the plan for Baker during his career at Texas when he officially visited Austin a few months ago.

"“That was pretty cool seeing who he compared me to and what he believes he can do with me.”"

Texas emerging as the trendy pick for Baker heading into his Sep. 24 decision date

On Sep. 7, two Inside Texas/On3 recruiting reporters/insiders entered On3 RPM picks projecting Baker’s commitment to Texas. Justin Wells and Gerry Hamilton of Inside Texas entered On3 RPM picks on Sep. 7 (with seven out of 10 confidence) projecting Baker’s commitment to the Longhorns.

The latest Rivals FutureCast for Baker also projects his commitment to Texas on Sep. 24.

Baker is Flood’s top remaining priority at OT in the 2024 class this fall

After landing three offensive line commitments during the summer (highlighted by 4-Star IOL Daniel Cruz), Texas is looking to get its crown jewel in the 2024 class in the elite California OT Baker. He is the clear-cut top remaining priority for Flood and the Longhorns along the offensive line in the 2024 class this fall.