Payton Kirkland is a 4-star offensive tackle, originally from Chicago, Illinois. The senior OT has attended Dr. Phillips High School, in Orlando, Florida, for the majority of his high school career. 

Kirkland is regarded as one of the best players in the state of Florida and one of the best offensive linemen in the class of 2023. His impressive skillset and natural size has garnered national attention from college coaches and scouts. Kirkland announced his commitment to Texas on July 23rd, amongst family and friends. 

Kirkland’s relationship with Texas head coach, Steve Sarkisian, and offensive coordinator, Kyle Flood, began during their time at Alabama. They stayed connected during their transition between programs, Kirkland explained, “They made sure I was good and stayed in constant communication through injuries and everything. They were always there for me.” 

Texas’ currently holds the 2nd ranked recruiting class in 2023. When talking about the Longhorns’ talent that he will be surrounded by, Kirkland said, “The ultimate goal is to win a national championship. If we win a national championship, the majority of everybody gets drafted, so having the best of the best around you is amazing…I think we’re going to be able to build something very special over the next couple of years.”

On a spiritual level everything felt right

Payton Kirkland on commitment to Texas Longhorns

After Kirkland made the announcement that he would be committing to Texas, many of those who had been following his recruiting process were disappointed and outraged by his decision. Kirkland was bombarded with comments and messages across his social media. But Kirkland’s decision to go with Sarkisian and his staff was not strictly about football, stating, “On a spiritual level everything felt right.”

As Kirkland finishes out his high school career, he will be playing in the Adidas All-American Bowl on January 7th, before heading to Austin, Texas to play for Sarkisian and his staff.