Key Texas OT target Chad Lindberg announces commitment to Georgia

The Texas Longhorns’ top remaining offensive line target is taking his talents elsewhere.

On Sunday evening, following a week that saw the Georgia Bulldogs abruptly unseat Texas as the team to beat in the recruitment of four-star offensive tackle Chad Lindberg, the League City Clear Creek product took to Twitter to announce his commitment to Kirby Smart’s program.

A week ago, this news would have served as a considerable surprise, but momentum, of course, swung entirely in the Bulldogs favor in recent days.

Throughout virtually his entire recruitment, Lindberg was considered a heavy Longhorns lean — so much so that if often appeared to be a matter of when, not if he would pledge to Texas. That interest was apparent as Lindberg became a mainstay on the Forty Acres since the arrival of Texas head coach Tom Herman and offensive line coach Herb Hand, including a May 3 official visit. Furthermore, beyond developing relationships with several current Longhorns commits, Lindberg’s brother is currently a student at Texas.

Nevertheless, as Lindberg’s recruitment progressed and he entertained interest from programs such as Texas A&M, Stanford, LSU, and USC, it became clear in recent months that if any program could lure Lindberg away from the Longhorns, it would be Georgia.

Finally, on Sunday, in a move that transformed from tremendously unlikely at the front end of the spring to possible as the offseason progressed to suddenly expected within the previous several days, Georgia did outlast the Longhorns and land the nation’s No. 14 offensive tackle prospect, per the 247Sports Composite.

A key reason why that’s now reality? Early opportunities and a genuine relationship with Bulldogs offensive line coach Sam Pittman.

“In terms of playing time there, there is going to be a lot of playing time open with guys leaving for the NFL,” Lindberg told 247Sports Rusty Mansell. “I can see myself getting a great chance of playing there and it does not get any bigger than Georgia that is big time football.”

“Not to say he is the only genuine one, but Coach (Sam) Pittman is very genuine,” Lindberg added. ”His players say he does not change from a recruiter to a coach, he really does go out there and work for you to help your dreams come true. That is what his players tell me he actually does.”

With Lindberg taking his talents to the Peach State, it appears that Texas’ four-man 2020 offensive line class as it’s currently constructed may be complete.

• Jaylen Garth — 4-star OT — Port Neches-Groves
• Jake Majors — 4-star C — Prosper
• Logan Parr — 4-star OG — Helotes O’Connor
• Andrej Karic — 3-star OT — Southlake Carroll