Texas’ offensive line has found a real difference-maker in Dylan Sikorski.
The Longhorns made plenty of noise in the transfer portal this offseason, landing high-profile names like Cam Coleman, Rasheem Biles, Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers. But through three weeks, the most valuable addition may be the one who arrived with far less fanfare.
Sikorski came in as the 36th-ranked interior offensive line prospect and the 464th-ranked player overall in the portal after an uneven year at Oregon State, where he made six starts in 10 games. Texas still trusted him, and after a long battle in spring camp and fall practice, Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood settled on him as the starter at left guard.
That call has paid off in a big way. Texas has been the highest-graded pass-blocking team in the country this season according to PFF, and Sikorski has posted a 91.1 of his own. His rise has drawn praise from teammates too, including 2025 All-SEC first-teamer Trevor Goosby.
Trevor Goosby on transfer guard Dylan Sikorski 🤘 pic.twitter.com/dRUm2SWjVJ
Sarkisian and Flood have turned a former under-the-radar three-star recruit into one of the most reliable linemen on the roster, and his jump from a 59.9 pass-blocking grade last season has been striking. Against UTSA last Saturday, he turned in his best game yet.
Sikorski earned a career-high 88.2 pass-blocking grade against the Road Runners, while keeping his season-long run of zero penalties and zero pressures intact. He stayed low, played with power, and handled one-on-one reps with control. His hands were active and precise, and he gave Arch Manning a clean pocket to work from all night, including quick anchor work against bull rushes.
He also held up well in protection designs that asked more of him. Sikorski handled slide schemes, worked through stunts, and showed flashes of finding work when he didn’t have a clear assignment, even if that part of his game still looked a little awkward at times. Still, he never lost his base or got too far over his skis, and that balance helped him win leverage consistently.
The run game was the more encouraging part of the night. Sikorski finished with a 73.9 run-blocking grade, the second-best mark of his career, topping his previous two grades of 67.5 against Texas State and 56.1 against Ohio State. Texas asks a lot from its interior linemen in the run game, with responsibilities that include pulling, driving, down-blocking, combo-blocking, climbing and reaching, and Sikorski showed he can handle all of it.
He created real movement on drive and combo blocks, and on zone runs he was able to torque defenders out of gaps with good footwork, a strong core and excellent hand placement. He still had some issues in space, especially when pulling, but he also flashed enough to open lanes on the perimeter. The same traits that have made him such a strong pass-protector - pad level, lower-body strength, hand usage and intelligence - showed up in the run game against UTSA.
He wasn’t perfect, but the step forward was obvious. Three weeks in, Sikorski has protected Manning at a high level every time out and is beginning to bring the same consistency as a run blocker. That quiet kind of excellence has helped keep Texas sitting at No. 1 heading into Southeastern Conference play.
In Other News...
Arch Mannings Next Media Moment Feels Different For Texas Fans
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For a player who is under a brighter spotlight than almost anyone in the sport, that shift matters. Texas has seen Mannings name attached to plenty of outside noise already, but the tone around his press availability has changed, and not just because of one awkward moment. The next time he steps to a microphone, Longhorns fans will be watching not only what he says, but how carefully he says it. [Read more 🡒]
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Georgia Tech getting pulled into the debate is the latest reminder that these records are shaping more than just national chatter, because they also feed the arguments about strength of schedule and conference depth. The Big 12 has stumbled to 5-7, the ACC sits at 6-9 and the Big Ten is 4-9 against non-league Power Four opponents, leaving Texas and its league peers with a growing talking point even as the larger question of how much these results should really settle still hangs in the air. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Is Already Facing A Texas Spotlight Debate
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What has stood out since then is how much more guarded Manning has sounded in his recent media appearances, sticking almost entirely to football topics and giving short answers ahead of the Tennessee trip. Fans have noticed the shift and have already split over what it means, with some seeing a young quarterback learning how to handle the pressure and others wondering whether the controversy has changed the way he is being received. For a player who is always under a microscope, the next public turn may matter almost as much as the next snap. [Read more 🡒]