Texas O-Line Adjusts
Texas Offensive Line Reconfigures As Star Trevor Goosby Suffers Knee Injury
Key Points
Season opener opponent clarified: Texas is scheduled to open the 2026 season vs Texas State on Sept. 5 in Austin, with Ohio State visiting the following week, rather than an opener against UTSA as some summaries implied.
Wake Forest transfer Melvin Siani started all 13 games at right tackle last season and could move to left tackle to fill Goosby's spot, per Texas coaches.
Brandon Baker started 13 games at left guard last season and could move to tackle if Goosby is unavailable, a shift noted in reporting about potential line changes.
USA TODAY's mock draft projects Trevor Goosby as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, underscoring his high draft stock despite the injury.
Pro Football Focus graded Goosby 83.3 overall in 2025, with an 82.1 run-blocking grade and an 80.1 pass-blocking grade, allowing three sacks and 16 pressures.
Texas left tackle Trevor Goosby has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee, according to Reuters, after he went down with a non-contact injury during practice and limped off the field. An MRI confirmed the bruise, with a return timeline still described as "coming together in the near future," leaving his availability for the Longhorns' season opener in doubt.
The injury hits Texas hard. Goosby, who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 325 pounds, started all 13 games in 2025 and earned first-team All-SEC honors. USA TODAY projects him as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, making this one of the most closely watched injuries in college football this offseason.
Siani Could Slide Left to Replace Goosby
The most likely fix is Wake Forest transfer Melvin Siani moving from right tackle to left tackle, according to SI. Siani started 13 games at right tackle last season for Texas. He also started 13 games at left tackle during his time at Wake Forest, so the move is a familiar one for him.
Coach Steve Sarkisian has said the move would help the run game while keeping pass protection solid. Shifting Siani to the left side would open up a vacancy at right tackle that Texas would need to fill from within the roster.
Brandon Baker Could Shift from Guard to Tackle
If Goosby misses significant time, Texas may make a second change, per SI. Brandon Baker started all 13 games at left guard in 2025. Coaches could move him out to tackle, which would trigger a chain of adjustments across the interior of the line.
Those interior changes are still being worked out. Texas has two high-profile games early in the 2026 season — hosting Texas State on Sept. 5 and then Ohio State the following week. Getting the line right before those games is a clear priority for the coaching staff.
Goosby's Draft Stock Remains Sky-High Despite the Setback
A bone bruise is painful, but it typically heals within four to twelve weeks, according to ClutchPoints. That timeline means Goosby could miss the early portion of the season but return before things get critical. Doctors and coaches are monitoring his progress closely.
His NFL draft value is not expected to take a serious hit. Pro Football Focus graded Goosby 83.3 overall in 2025, with an 82.1 run-blocking grade and an 80.1 pass-blocking grade. He allowed just three sacks and 16 pressures all season. Those numbers keep him firmly among the top offensive line prospects in the country heading into 2026.
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