Longhorns confident in Trevor Goosby’s preparation if future NFL draft pick Kelvin Banks can’t play vs. Georgia
Goosby stepped in vs. Texas A&M and had the highest pass-blocking grades of any Texas lineman
For offensive linemen, there’s nothing worse than seeing the backup come running into the huddle, out of breath, panicked and asking, “What am I supposed to do?”
Seven plays into Saturday’s pivotal rivalry game against Texas A&M, future first-round draft pick Kelvin Banks Jr. went down with an ankle injury. In came 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman Trevor Goosby, who appeared in 11 games in two seasons mostly with other backups.
Here’s what every high school recruit signing Wednesday needs to understand. Athletes never know when their number will be called. When it does, they better be ready. It could make or break their careers.
Goosby met the moment and excelled for the second-ranked Longhorns.
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“That’s a really bad feeling,” senior center Jake Majors said. “But we didn’t have any of that with Goosby. We’re very fortunate to have a guy like that part of our program who’s so dialed into the details.”
Goosby logged 74 snaps, easily the most playing time he’s ever had in a Texas game. According to Pro Football Focus, Goosby graded out with an 87.1 on pass protection, the highest total among any UT player against A&M. He did not allow a single quarterback pressure on 28 drop-back pass attempts.
“I didn’t think anybody blinked. You know, he didn’t,” coach Steve Sarkisian said. “The guys around him didn’t, and he played a heck of a game for us.”
If you hadn’t heard of Goosby before Saturday, that’s understandable. He was a three-star recruit coming out of Class 4A Melissa. Frankly, he blended into the signing class of 2023. Most linemen do. Coaches look for “big humans,” as Sarkisian likes to say, sign and develop them over the years.
Playing behind Banks — watching his daily work ethic, his study habits, weight room acumen — likely accelerated Goosby’s development.
“I saw a lot of growth and maturity from Goosby,” Majors said. “That’s a really big game and for that to be, technically, your first start? Man, what a what an opportunity for Goosby to come in and not skip a beat. You did a great job.
“I kind of define him as like a like a sponge. He wants to learn everything. Goosby does a great job of listening more than talking, because he wants to learn as much as he can from listening and then ask the questions.”
It’s unclear whether Goosby will be called upon again this week in the SEC championship game against No. 5 Georgia. Sarkisian said Banks’ health status will be determined as the week progresses.
After what happened Saturday, it’s clear the Horns will be confident if they need Goosby to start alongside four others who have started together all season long.
“I thought he showed great poise and composure,” Sarkisian said. “The moment didn’t seem too big for him. I thought he played a physical brand of football, and I think it’s definitely something that that he can build upon for his future.”
