Texas has hired Oklahoma State offensive line coach Joe Wickline to fill the same role for the Longhorns, according to a report on Sunday from Yahoo Sports.
Wickline has been at OSU since 2005 and has produced some quality lines during that stretch. All-Americans Levi Adcock and Russell Okung were among his star pupils in Stillwater and the Cowboys routinely produce 1,000-yard rushers.
New Texas coach Charlie Strong now has most of his staff put together but has yet to name an offensive coordinator. Perhaps Wickline’s hiring is a clue as to the direction that Strong -- who employed a pro-style offense at Louisville -- intends to go on offense, since OSU utilizes a air-raid style spread scheme.
Whatever the case, Wickline’s first task will be to increase the efficiency of the Texas run game. In an era where backs routinely rush for six or seven yards per carry, the Longhorns’ top three rushers all averaged less than five yards per carry.