they have a full OL rebuild ahead of them. they have guys who have taken clear steps back year over year (Fatheree, Foster), they had a freshman AA from The Athletic in Kam Dewberry who then as a soph started 1 game vs ULM
TJ Shanahan played in 2 games (ULM and New Mexico.) Erb has played in 1 game over 2 years (ULM.) Thomasson played vs ULM and ACU. Crownover played in 9 games but started none. Aki played in like 4 games and had very few snaps IIRC
they bring back Nabou and Zuhn who started every game this year at LG and LT.
it's a full on OL rebuild, with a bunch of guys who have backslid since their first year on campus (Fatheree, Foster, Dewberry), or who weren't good in the first place (Shanahan, Thompasson, Erb, Crownover) - and getting good/talented OL is easily the toughest thing to find in the portal.
ask us how Texas fans know how much having a bad OL can hold back your talented skill players. ask Texas fans about the growing pains that come with playing a super young/green OL together.
meanwhile, they still have not announced their coaches (which i think means they can't recruit/do in homes?), they are burning the advantage they get from having bowl practices, we don't even know who is coaching their OL since per their website they literally have no one in that position (https://12thman.com/sports/football/coaches/2023)
here are their coaches for 2024:
here is what comes up if you are a recruit and search Texas A&M OL coach:
they are doing everything they can to not take advantage of bowl practices, additional coaching time, doing anything different with technique with the new OL coach, recruiting, anything.
in other words, they are pulling an Aggie.