Texas Football: Brandon Baker a freshman to watch in spring

The hype surrounding this class of true freshman early enrollees for Texas football entering the spring is real. Texas brought in a record-setting 17 early enrollees for the spring semester among the high school signees in the 2024 recruiting class.

True freshman Texas football OT Brandon Baker making noise early in offseason workouts

One of the highest-rated signees for the Longhorns from the high school ranks in the 2024 class who is on campus as an early enrollee is freshman offensive tackle Brandon Baker. The former five-star recruit from Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei High School has high expectations to compete for a spot among the top group of eight offensive linemen this spring.

We know that Texas offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood likes to have a solid group of eight or 10 offensive linemen he can rely on in live-game action to ensure depth and consistent performance game in and game out.

Baker has the talent and physical ability to be one of those top offensive linemen entering his true freshman campaign this coming fall. But he has to prove that he can hold his own in practice during the spring for the Longhorns.

The early returns we've heard from offseason workouts certainly sound make it sound like Baker is on the right track to lock down a spot on the two-deep at offensive tackle during spring camp.

Orangebloods' Anwar Richardson reported a few days ago (subscriber content) that Baker has "caught the attention of many people during workouts" in winter S&C. He's reportedly "very fluid with his movements" and has the makings of "an elite player" from what he's shown during winter workouts.

The physical tools are there for Baker to be one of the most athletic and proficient offensive tackles in the SEC for multiple years in the future. He just needs to put in the work on the practice field and in the weight room to reach that level in live-game action.

Multiple early enrollees at OL standing out in winter S&C

Baker is not the only early enrollee for the Longhorns along the offensive line that has made a positive impression on people in and around the program early in offseason workouts. Former four-star center recruit from North Richland Hills (TX) Daniel Cruz has also stood out regarding his work ethic and athletic traits in winter workouts.

It's a good bet that Cruz and Baker will be two potential early-impact players to watch for Flood and the Longhorns along the offensive line in the next couple of years. Cruz is the future anchor of the offensive line at center.

Baker has all the tools necessary to become the next great offensive tackle in the Texas program.

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