Texas football: 2024 signees who will have the biggest impact as freshmen

Daniel Cruz, IOL

Offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood got the guy he wanted along the interior offensive line in the 2024 class in four-star North Richland Hills (TX) Richland IOL Daniel Cruz. Flood and the Longhorns weren't letting Cruz go anywhere else but Texas this cycle.

Cruz could wind up being an immediate impact player at center for the Longhorns, depending on what happens with senior starting center Jake Majors' NFL Draft decision next spring. Majors has one year of eligibility remaining after this season. He remains undecided if he will return to Texas for a fifth year.

If Majors does leave for the NFL Draft next spring, Flood and the Longhorns will need to find a starting center in camp next offseason.

Cruz would be in that competition among the interior offensive linemen who could replace Majors as the starting center in 2024, including redshirt freshman Connor Robertson, and sophomore Cole Hutson. Robertson played a handful of games for the Longhorns at center this season. He was Majors' backup in the last couple of seasons.

Hutson was moved around as Texas's versatile utility guy along the interior offensive line this season. He also started at right guard as a true freshman in 2022.

Moreover, Cruz is the anchor of the future along the offensive line for Flood and the Longhorns. He's a physical and intelligent 6-foot-3 and 310-pound center who holds his own in pass pro and run blocking. Cruz already has the build, football IQ, and quickness Flood wants in a center who is ready to compete at a Power Five level.