The Texas Longhorns are bolstering their offensive line with a notable addition: Paris Patterson, a transfer from the SMU Mustangs. Standing at an imposing 6’5 and weighing in at 323 pounds, Patterson brings two more seasons of eligibility to the table.
Hailing from East St. Louis, Patterson initially caught the eye of top programs across the nation.
As part of the 2023 recruiting class, he chose Arkansas over schools like Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, LSU, Nebraska, and Tennessee. His journey through the recruiting ranks saw him emerge as a consensus three-star prospect, ranked No. 585 nationally and No. 51 among interior offensive linemen according to the 247Sports Composite.
Rivals had him pegged even higher, as the No. 10 offensive guard in the country.
During his time at Arkansas, Patterson didn’t see game action, prompting a move to the NCAA transfer portal. His potential still sparked interest from several Power Four programs before he settled at SMU. Although he didn’t crack the two-deep depth chart for the Mustangs’ season opener, he did manage to get some playing time, logging 21 snaps over four games at left guard.
Now with the Longhorns, Patterson enters a competitive mix on the offensive line. There’s optimism that under the guidance of offensive line coach Kyle Flood, Patterson can tap into the potential that once made him a sought-after recruit. Whether he finds his place as a guard or provides depth at tackle, Patterson’s journey with Texas will be one to watch.