Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Trevor Goosby thrust into Longhorns’ spotlight but ‘it just felt natural’ in College Football Playoffs chase

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brian Davis | Last updated Dec 30, 2024 1:46 PM ET

Younger players never know when their name will be called. Redshirt freshman Trevor Goosby simply kept his head down, learned how to play both left and right tackle and looked toward his future.

Seven plays into the Texas A&M game, starting left tackle Kelvin Banks went down with an ankle injury. Goosby found himself inserted into the lineup, playing in front of 100,000 screaming fans in what was, at the time, the biggest game of Texas’ season.

“I thought I was going to be a little more nervous than I was,” Goosby told reporters Monday at Peach Bowl media day. “As soon as I got in there, it just felt natural. It just felt like practice. The stadium was super loud, but I was super focused on the field. I was able to lock in and do pretty well.”

WATCH AND SUBSCRIBE: Follow A to Z Sports’ Texas Longhorns channel on YouTube.

The 6-foot-7, 315-pounder wound up having the highest pass protection grades of any UT player against A&M, according to Pro Football Focus. Goosby then started against Georgia in the SEC championship.

Banks returned to the lineup against Clemson in the first round of the SEC championship. But right tackle Cam Williams went down in the first half of that game. Offensive line coach Kyle Flood didn’t hesitate. He sent Goosby in at right tackle.

“The way we play the game, we don’t have plays that we run to the left or to the right or protections or things like that,” Flood said. “For a guy who is a depth player like Trevor has been for us, he's been playing both sides the entire season. Not always. Not every week. Some weeks he’ll play one side and some weeks he might play the other. But he's had the experience of doing it. So he's had to be trained like that.”

Would Goosby have been able to do this if he hadn’t been cross-training all season long? Flood has his doubts.

“I think it's a testament to him to be able to do it, and to play at the level that he did,” Flood said. “So we’re certainly excited about him and his future.”

Williams went to Peach Bowl media day wearing a brace on his right knee, according to reporters who witnessed him there. It’s unclear how effective Williams will be, if he starts against Arizona State.

Goosby showed tremendous athleticism at Melissa High School. He threw the shot put and discuss, showing tremendous footwork in the ring.

“As he went through the spring before his senior year, you could really see him start to put on the weight,” Flood said. “When he ultimately officially visited in June before his senior year, I want to say we weighed him in around 270, 275 which for a guy with his frame was more than enough in my mind that we would be able to get him to where he wanted to get to.

“And I think he was 290 when he got here, and now he's usually between 310, 315, 317. That's usually where he is. But the athleticism was always there. I was really excited about his athleticism.”

Goosby is projected as a long-term piece in Flood’s offensive line. He simply got a jump-start over the last three games.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: