Former Texas Longhorns OL Payton Kirkland commits to Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes.
Former Texas guard Payton Kirkland has found a new home in the Big 12.
The Texas Longhorns lost a quality offensive lineman, Payton Kirkland, to the NCAA Transfer Portal earlier this month, one of several departures for the Longhorns toward the end of spring training.
Kirkland has found a new home, committing to Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes on Sunday.
Kirkland, a 6-foot-6, 366-pound former four-star prospect, selected Texas over Oklahoma, Michigan State, Alabama, Florida, and Miami.
He was a crucial member of the 2023 offensive line class, which was one of the most decorated in school history, alongside Andre Cojoe, Connor Stroh, Jaydon Chatman, and Trevor Goosby.
Kirkland had offers from more than 50 colleges globally, ranking as the No. 28 offensive tackle and No. 66 athlete in Florida, according to 247 Sports.
Kirkland eventually moved to left guard, falling behind Neto Umeozulu and expected starter Hayden Connor.
However, when other inside players emerged, especially Umeozulu, Kirkland’s route to a starting or even steady rotation role became less realistic.
Kirkland did not play a game during his stay in Austin and redshirted his freshman year.
After Kirkland’s pledge, the Longhorns have four more transfers in the portal seeking for new homes: Zac Swanson, Billy Walton III, J’Mond Tapp, and S’Maje Burrell.
The Horns will also likely want to add one or two bodies to the inside defensive line in order to create depth.
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