Texas' offensive line named to Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll
The Texas Longhorns offensive line was named to the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll, The Foundation for Teamwork announced on Tuesday. The Joe Moore Award is presented annually to the most outstanding offensive line unit in college football.
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With the group sustaining injuries on an offensive line that began the season returning all five starters for the first time in Texas history – LT Kelvin Banks Jr., LG Hayden Conner, C Jake Majors, RG Cole Hutson and RT Christian Jones – Texas has produced offensively both through the air and on the ground.
Kyle Flood leads the Longhorns offensive line, playing a key role in UT’s converting 10-of-14 fourth downs this season, 18th-best in the FBS at 71.4%. Texas also ranks 13th nationally in total offense.
The Longhorns have used the same five starters along the offensive line in all six games this season. From left tackle to right tackle, Texas has started Banks, Conner, Majors, DJ Campbell and Jones. Hutson played in Tuscaloosa in the Texas-Alabama matchup before suffering an injury versus Wyoming.
The O-line opened lanes for running back Jonathon Brooks, who ranks fourth in the nation in rushing yards per game (121.0), sixth in all-purpose yards (141.17) and ninth in rushing yards (726).
The Longhorns have notched at least 500 yards of offense in each of the last three contests (503 – at Baylor; 661 – Kansas; 527 vs. Oklahoma), equaling the longest stretch in program history. It marks the sixth time in program history Texas has tallied 500-plus yards in three consecutive games with the prior instances occurring in 1968, 1969, 2005, 2007, and 2016.
Texas is among 23 offensive line units that have gained the attention of the Joe Moore Award voting committee as it moves closer to announcing the selection of semifinalists on Nov. 14 and finalists on Dec. 5. Selection of the 2023 Joe Moore Award winner will be made public after a surprise visit to the winning university’s campus in late December.
The Joe Moore Award voting committee judges solely on six criteria: toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique and finishing. Evaluations for the midseason honor roll were made solely through weekly review of actual game film and offensive line coach-provided cut-ups.
Texas returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 21 with a Big 12 Conference road matchup at Houston. The Longhorns and Cougars will kick off at 3:00 p.m. CT with the game airing on FOX.
