Texas lineman makes ESPN’s projection of ‘breakout’ players for 2025
By Mark Kern
Published:
Expectations are at an all-time high in Austin as the Texas Longhorns enter the 2025 season as the No. 1 ranked team in college football.
While the expectations are high, there are some key positions that the Longhorns will need to replace some really good players.
Offensive tackle is the key spot for the Longhorns to replace, as that position will be responsible with protecting Arch Manning. Texas offensive lineman Brandon Baker arrived as a top prospect in last year’s class, and is No. 9 on ESPN’s projection of breakout candidates among second-year players for the 2025 season, which published on Monday morning.
Here’s some analysis from ESPN’s Billy Tucker:
Baker was a highly touted 2024 prospect (No. 2 OT in the ESPN 300) and was in a battle to start this season. Unfortunately for Texas Andre Cojoe recently went down with a season-ending injury, which means Baker has more than likely won the starting spot. He has improved his strength this offseason and has worked hard at the technical points of the position. He will be tasked with protecting the most anticipated player in all of college football in Arch Manning.
The Longhorns had a very good offensive line last season, but there were some games where the unit really struggled against the best teams in the country. In the loss to Georgia during the regular season, the Bulldogs had 7 sacks and 10 TFL’s.
Baker and that offensive line will get challenged in the season opener, as the Longhorns travel to Columbus to take on the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. In the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup last year, the Buckeyes had 4 sacks, with one of them being the scoop and score by Jack Sawyer that all but clinched the win.
For Texas to finally get over the hump and make it to the national championship, Baker and the offensive line will have to hold up against the best defenses in the country.
