Steve Sarkisian going head-to-head with rivals for must-get IOL Kendrick Harris

Already deep on the recruiting trail for the class of 2028, despite the class of 2027 still nearly a year from joining the Texas Longhorns on campus, head coach Steve Sarkisian has a big-time target in his sights.

The only problem? So do a slew of other powerhouse programs that often butt heads with the Horns.

Texas, the Texas A&M Aggies, the Oklahoma Sooners, the LSU Tigers, and the SMU Mustangs are all on the hunt for four-star interior offensive lineman Kendrick Harris, the No. 2 IOL in the class of 2028.

Already standing at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, with another season or two of high school football ahead of him, Harris is genuinely one of the biggest targets in his recruiting cycle. The Longhorns are already going head-to-head with some of their biggest rivals for his attention.

"The relationships with the coaches and how they see me fitting into their program [are] what excites me the most," Harris told On3's Sam Siegelman while discussing the five programs currently at the top of his list.

A native of Duncanville, TX, it should come as no surprise that the Horns, Aggies, Mustangs, and Sooners are already at the front of the pack in his recruitment, with Harris growing up in North Texas.

Also read: The best pipeline states that Texas Longhorns have tapped on the recruiting trail

Additionally, with LSU's continued success at recruiting out of the Lone Star State, specifically the Dallas area, there are truly no surprises on Harris's list as of now. However, as he continues to garner national attention (and likely an additional star to his name), it also won't be surprising as more teams enter the conversation.

Blue-chip IOL Kendrick Harris should be a top target for Texas Longhorns

Texas's offensive line has been one of the biggest question marks in the program since Sarkisian took over in 2021, but with recent recruiting success (both out of high school and the transfer portal), the Horns have shored up a lot of the OL shortcomings.

Yet, one good recruiting class or a few good additions out of the portal don't guarantee the success that has become expected out of a team like the Longhorns, especially as Sarkisian and his staff continue to land some of the top quarterbacks in every cycle.

A prospect like Harris is a must-get for Texas, adding literal size and expected talent to the Horns' future offensive line room.

In the class of 2026, Sarkisian and Texas landed over two dozen commitments, but only made a few additions to the OL, including four-star IOLs John Turntine and Nicolas Robertson and three-star offensive tackle Kaden Scherer.

One cycle later, the Horns landed five-star interior offensive lineman Ismael Camara, bringing in one of the top offensive line prospects from the class of 2027. Texas also earned commitments from four-star IOL Brian Swanson, as well as three-star IOLs Keyon Hemphill-Woods, Lucas Rhoa, and Jackson Cook.

Read more: Longhorns' recruiting ranking ascent made even sweeter by leapfrog over rival Sooners

So far, Sarkisian has reeled in just one commitment from the class of 2028: four-star quarterback Neimann Lawrence, who would pair nicely with a little protection from a player like Harris, don't you think?

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