The Longhorns have been flying high this week after they defeated Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, and one Texas veteran recently took time to recognize the performance of one specific true freshman from week 7.
In a recent media session, starting left tackle Trevor Goosby was asked about the performance of Nick Brooks, who started the game at left guard after making an abrupt switch from offensive tackle.
"I was so proud of him" Goosby said.
"I just see a kid who just wanted to go out there and put his face on people, and I love that from him. We're still getting there mentally from him, but I just love the fact that he has so much effort, and puts so much effort into the game".
Needless to say, Goosby is a big fan of Brooks, and that's been abundantly clear over the past two weeks since Brooks has seen legitimate playing time. Goosby later revealed that Brooks has only been practicing at guard for a short amount of time after coming in as an offensive tackle this season.
At 6'7", 330 lbs., he has prototypical size and length for the offensive tackle position but has played pretty well at guard due to his overall athleticism and power. He's built like an absolute tank, and it's easy to see why he was factored into the discussion at offensive guard once the need came up for Steve Sarkisian and Co.
Sarkisian also had some praise for Brooks following the Oklahoma win:
"I think he's in the best shape he's been in since he got here. He was over 360 pounds. We were in training camp, he was in the 350s. This weekend, he was a shade over 330. He's getting in better shape, he's better conditioned."
"He's playing in between two really smart players in Trevor (Goosby) and Cole (Hutson). If he trusts those guys to make the calls, he's got the ability to go do it."
It's no secret that there's been a ton of uncertainty at the left guard position, with Connor Stroh underwhelming and Neto Umeozulu seemingly "unready" to contribute this season. After the performance of Brooks against both Florida and Oklahoma, the Longhorns may have finally found some stability on the interior.