Lucas Rhoa Turned Down His Dad’s School. Texas Is About to Find Out Why That Mattered.

Orange Lutheran’s No. 75 is the latest 300+ Trenches feature. The Longhorns commit has one regular-season game left, and it’s against the No. 1 team in California.

By Will League | RepMax Media | 300+ Trenches Spotlight

Kyle Flood didn’t open with a sales pitch. He opened with a slide.

During Lucas Rhoa’s official visit to Austin in June, the Texas offensive line coach pulled up his track record of developing linemen and walked Rhoa through it. Then he handed him the phone. On the other end was Kelvin Banks, Flood’s former left tackle at Texas and now an NFL offensive tackle with the New Orleans Saints.

“He pulled up a slide,” Rhoa said afterward. “His track record, he really has done it all.”

On June 25, the 6-5, 300-pound Orange Lutheran offensive lineman committed to Texas.

Getting there wasn’t simple.

Orange Lutheran offensive lineman and Texas commit Lucas Rhoa is the latest 300+ Trenches feature.Alt text: Orange Lutheran offensive lineman Lucas Rhoa, No. 75, featured on the 300+ Trenches magazine cover.

1. He Said No to Family History

Penn State should have been the easy answer. Much of Rhoa’s family went there, including his father, and he took an official visit to Happy Valley in mid-June. He also took officials at UCLA and Oregon, two schools that would have kept him close to home or on the West Coast.

He picked Texas over all of them.

That takes conviction at 17 years old. Rhoa chose the coach who showed him exactly how he’d be developed over the school his family already loved. He made that call based on how he’ll get better, and that’s how an offensive lineman should pick a school.

2. The Offer List Was Long, and It Was Real

Texas didn’t win a quiet recruitment. Rhoa held more than two dozen scholarship offers. ESPN’s school list for him includes:

• Alabama

• Georgia

• Oklahoma

• Tennessee

• Penn State

• USC

• UCLA

• Washington

He announced the Georgia offer himself in January 2026.

His recruitment also survived a full reset. In November 2025, coaching changes sent the process back to square one. He worked his way back through it, made his visits and closed it out before his senior season started.

3. The Measurables Are Built for the Next Level

The 300+ Trenches cover lists him at 6-5, 295. Most recruiting services have him at 6-5 and 305, and he lists himself at 300 pounds. At those numbers, he already has a Power Four lineman’s body.

The length is the bigger story. This spring, Rhoa measured nearly an 80-inch wingspan with 10-inch hands. Long arms let a tackle keep pass rushers off his chest and finish blocks without getting overextended. Big hands win the fight for control once contact happens.

247Sports analyst Gabe Brooks described him as a broad-torsoed lineman who can give a roster flexibility. He played primarily at left tackle for Orange Lutheran in 2025, and Texas sees him as a guard or tackle in college. Some evaluators believe he can develop at all five spots on the line.

College offensive line coaches love that kind of versatility. Injuries hit the offensive line every season, and the backup who can fill in anywhere usually ends up earning a starting job.

4. The Rankings Are Behind

Most services have him rated as a three-star. The 247Sports Composite ranks him the No. 54 offensive tackle in the 2027 class. Rivals’ industry ranking has him No. 47 in California.

Here’s my call: Lucas Rhoa will be a four-star in the industry rankings before the December early signing period.

Texas, Georgia, Alabama and Penn State don’t spend offers on depth pieces. Flood didn’t call Kelvin Banks for a backup plan. Rivals already called him a four-star once, back in 2025. The rest of the rankings will catch up to what college staffs saw on his film.

5. The Senior Season Is a Gauntlet

Orange Lutheran entered 2026 with what MaxPreps called the toughest schedule in the country. The Lancers faced eight teams in MaxPreps’ top 100 and five in its Top 25, under first-year head coach Ray Fenton.

Every Friday this fall has been a preview of college football for the guys up front. The finale is the biggest test yet.

On Oct. 30, Orange Lutheran hosts Santa Margarita, the No. 1 team in California. The Eagles’ defensive front includes Kingston “KJ” Jimmerson, another 300+ Trenches cover player and one of the best sophomore defensive linemen in the country.

Two cover players, one line of scrimmage. Clear your Friday.

Who wins the matchup up front: the Texas commit or the sophomore with six D1 offers? Make your pick in the comments.

Got film? Bring it to Trench Tuesday.

Every Tuesday, the Trench Tuesday podcast goes live. Hop on, upload your game film, and the crew will break down what wins in the trenches: hands, hips, pad level and finish. Linemen, parents and coaches are all welcome.