Texas offers rising 3-star OT Isaiah Hookfin

One of the prospects in attendance for Saturday’s game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium picked up an offer from the Texas Longhorns, as Sugar Land Dulles offensive tackle Isaiah Hookfin is now officially a Longhorns target:

The 6’5, 270-pounder recently surfaced on the Texas recruiting radar as position coach Herb Hand pursues at least one more offensive line prospect in the 2019 recruiting class.

Hookfin fits the profile of offensive tackles that Herman likes to recruit — lean and athletic, with the potential to grow into his frame while maintaining that athleticism. Think Sam Cosmi and Reese Moore.

In fact, Hookfin ran a 4.95 40-yard dash and recorded a 8’9 broad jump at the Houston Rivals Combine in March, so it’s fair to say that he has elite athleticism for the position.

Due to that athleticism, Hookfin is a player who could see his stock rise substantially later in the process, especially if he decides not to sign early. He recently received a big boost in the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Over the last several weeks, Hookfin has picked up offers from Arizona State, Auburn, Baylor, Duke, and Mississippi State, so he’s already starting to see increased interest after visiting Illinois for an official visit on October 13. Houston may also be a contender, but with the new offers coming in and the interest from Texas, it’s possible that the Cougars may fall out of the race in the near future. Arizona State will receive an official visit next weekend.

On Hookfin’s senior film, his athleticism is evident, especially pulling from his right tackle position or working to the second level and using his quick feet to wall off defenders and successfully execute his blocks. He reports a 345-pound bench maximum bench press and the ability to do 20 reps at 185 pounds, so he’s a player who is likely a developmental prospect because of his need to add strength and overall mass. However, when he does get his hands on defenders, he is effective at eventually creating movement and his highlights begin when he decleats a defender with a powerful punch in pass protection.

Whether it ends up being Hookfin or another player, Herman clearly likes the idea of taking a lean, athletic offensive tackle in every class, regardless of ranking, and then letting that player marinate for a year or more. Right now, Hookfin is the best candidate to fill that role and provide some balance in a recruiting class that currently features two much larger offensive tackles who aren’t guarantees to remain at the position.

A consensus four-star prospect, Hookfin is ranked as the No. 603 player nationally, the No. 57 offensive tackle, and the No. 71 player in Texas, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings