Texas football receives crystal balls for 5-Star OT Brandon Baker

There are a few upcoming decision dates to watch for key targets of the 2024 Texas football recruiting class in late September. Two of the top five-star Texas targets with upcoming decision dates are Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei offensive tackle Brandon Baker on Sep. 24 and Timpson (TX) athlete Terry Bussey on Sep. 28.

Of the two aforementioned five-star Texas targets, Baker seems like the most likely to end up in this class for the Longhorns. Baker has a great relationship with offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood and the Longhorns staff.

While Bussey did include Texas among his five finalist schools, along with the Texas A&M Aggies, LSU Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, and Alabama Crimson Tide, the Longhorns are behind the eight ball in this recruitment a couple of weeks before his announcement date. Bussey has long been considered a Texas A&M lean. LSU has also made a late push in this recruitment.

Texas football trending for 5-Star OT priority Brandon Baker

Flood and the Longhorns are clearly prioritizing Baker as the centerpiece along the offensive line in the 2024 class. The No. 1 offensive tackle recruit in the nation in the 2024 class in the 247Sports Composite is a potential immediate impact addition for Flood and the Longhorns at right tackle upon the departure of super senior starter Christian Jones in 2024.

Texas is in a great spot for Baker’s Sep. 24 commitment date. 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong said on Sep. 18 (paid content) that Baker’s recruitment is “setting up nicely” for the Longhorns heading into his decision date this weekend.

Wiltfong entered a 247Sports Crystal Ball Prediction projecting Baker’s commitment to Texas on Sep. 19 (six out of 10 confidence). Fong doesn’t miss on these crystal balls often, so this is a big reassurance for Texas’ standing in this recruitment less than seven days from Baker’s announcement.

A second crystal ball prediction was entered on Sep. 19, projecting Baker’s commitment to Texas, from 247Sports national recruiting analyst Greg Biggins.

Baker also considering Nebraska, Oregon, and Ohio State

The other top schools for Baker heading into his Sep. 24 commitment date are the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and Ohio State Buckeyes. Baker officially visited Nebraska a couple of weekends ago, which was his final OV before his announcement.

Oregon was once considered the leader in this recruitment but has fallen back since the summer official visits.

Ohio State, meanwhile, made a spirited run late in this recruitment late in the summer and early in the fall. The Buckeyes have remained a wild card in this recruitment that could threaten Texas’ positioning with Baker. But it looks like Texas still holds a healthy lead over Ohio State and Oregon less than a week before his announcement.