Texas insider explains how Longhorns landed 5-star OT Brandon Baker

Steve Sarkisian and Texas made yet another splash on the recruiting trail on Sunday night, as the Longhorns landed the commitment of Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei five-star offensive tackle Brandon Baker.

The 6-foot-4.5, 300-pound trench monster is the No. 23 overall prospect and top-ranked OT in the 2024 cycle — per the On3 Industry Ranking. He bumped Texas’ recruiting class up to No. 11 in the nation — per the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking — and is now the second five-star to pledge to the Longhorns.

“I feel like they’re on the up-and up, and the O-line development is like no other honestly,” Baker told On3. “What Coach Flood is doing and what Coach Sarkisian is doing with the offense is special.”

Oregon, Ohio State and Nebraska all made legitimate runs for Baker, but ultimately there was too much to like down in Austin. InsideTexas’ Gerry Hamilton joined On3’s Josh Newberg to break down how Texas managed to beat out its competition for the massive commitment.

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Offensive line coach Kyle Flood stood out to Baker

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons Texas won Baker over was offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Kyle Flood. The veteran coach has been around his fair share of elite lineman, making a path for development much easier to see in the eyes of Baker.

“He’s done it down with the Falcons, at Alabama, and I’ve seen what he’s done,” Baker said. “He’s coached guys like Evan Neal and now Kelvin Banks and a lot of other great offensive linemen. He wants to build the best offensive line in the nation, and he wants me to help them keep building.”

“I think there’s a lot of factors that got Texas over the finish line here,” Hamilton said. “Kyle Flood’s résumé of development on the offensive line is a big one. I think that when the Baker family and Brandon looked at the recruiting process and then dug into college football and his goals, I think Kyle Flood’s résumé really stood out to Baker and his family.”

Sarkisian has history with Mater Dei

Sarkisian, a California native and former USC coach, has plenty of experience with Mater Dei alums. The powerhouse program has churned out elite prospects for decades, with Baker being one of the latest.

Sarkisian’s reputation out West played a positive factor for the Longhorns. Texas’ 2023 class included three Californians, including Mater Dei three-star tight end Spencer Shannon.

“(Sarkisian’s) had a couple decades worth of relationships at Mater Dei,” Hamilton said. “His son was once on the team at Mater Dei before he transferred … wide receivers coach Chris Jackson is a Mater Dei graduate, Texas is doing well at Mater Dei with a number of prospects.”

Baker sees the path to playing time in Austin

While relationships with the coaching staff and playing for a brand like Texas all proved to be vital contributions to Baker’s eventual pledge, there’s also a potential path to the lineman seeing the field early and often upon his arrival.

“Christian Jones — starting right tackle at Texas — is a senior. While they have some depth there, they don’t have anybody that’s started a game at right tackle besides Jones, so Brandon Baker can see a pretty good path to the field early,” Hamilton said.

Baker’s scouting report from On3 describes him as a “high-floor offensive tackle who is battle tested against top competition while playing at one of the nation’s top high school programs.” Bringing a prospect of his caliber is not always a guarantee, even for a program like Texas, so a starting spot at right tackle could have his name on it in 2024.

“He’s well-coached, I think he’s going to come in advanced in pass protection, he’s got that natural foot, body and reactive quickness as a pass-pro guy,” Hamilton said. “I think he’s going to come in right away for the right tackle spot. He’s so strong in pass-pro and he’s coming from a program that’s really prepared him mentally as a football player.”