(From Anwar)
Steve Sarkisian is less than two days away from leading his first spring game as a head coach since 2015 when he coached at USC.
Sarkisian hit the ground running when Texas hired him in January. He assembled a staff that shared his vision and the new coaches took a different approach with the players. Instead of creating a “staff versus players” atmosphere, Sarkisian’s staff worked on trying to earn the trust of Longhorn players. It spent the offseason teaching and never said anything negative about Texas’ previous coaching staff. Instead, the coaches tried to build on what the players already knew, which resonated with the players.
Also, Sarkisian’s staff has been pleased with the team it inherited. Multiple sources told me the coaches received “buy-ins” for this year’s team. They also believe there is enough talent on this team to compete for a Big 12 Championship. Sarkisian recently said if they continued trending in this direction, he believed Texas could compete for a conference championship.
That is the long-term goal.
The short-term goal is playing well in the spring game.
“Football is a game and it's meant to be fun and it's meant to be enjoyable,” Sarkisian said. “I want the guys to be in that frame of mind. Two, I want to see the guys that can really process and understand that situations within the game, and third downs, red area, goal line. Whatever it is that shows itself up, that they can get the calls from the sidelines. It's not scripted. Adjust to the scenarios as they present themselves, the situation as they present themselves, and play smart football. That’ll be part of the evaluation. Can they go into a game with a game plan, and then ultimately execute it based on the situations as they come and it not being scripted in practice?”
Longhorn observers are about to learn the answers to many questions.
Here is a spring football preview.
Quarterbacks
The staff has been satisfied with Casey Thompson and Hudson Card. So far, those inside the building believe they can win with either quarterback. Thompson entered and will exit spring as the quarterback to beat in this competition. One thing working in Thompson’s advantage is his willingness to do the little things it takes to win the job. Thompson is known for staying late after practice, organizing workouts, and film study. Card is known for having a great arm and has excelled in multiple practices.
The spring game will factor into the evaluation process. From what I’ve gathered, Thompson or Card needs to stand out on Saturday. This competition is expected to continue throughout the summer. A strong game by either quarterback could give that passer an edge heading into the offseason.
Running Backs
This is arguably the strongest position on Sarkisian’s team because Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson have stood out this spring. Robinson was known for breaking big plays in practice, but the staff loved Johnson’s consistency, plus his pass-blocking ability. Robinson is expected to start this season. A strong performance by Johnson means he is trending toward seeing more playing time.
This game will give us a chance to see Daniel Young for the first time since the 2019 season. Young was one of the unofficial leaders on the Longhorns before his departure. I was told Young has looked solid in his role behind Johnson and Thompson. Young is a player who could be called upon if the top two running backs miss a snap due to an injury.
Offensive Line
“I think Denzel [Okafor] is probably playing as good if not better than anybody up front right now for us,” Sarkisian said after the ninth practice.
That statement was hard for many Longhorn observers to comprehend because Okafor has never been viewed as an elite offensive lineman during his tenure at Texas. However, Sarkisian feels strongly about Okafor, and Longhorn observers will have the opportunity to see if he improved this offseason.
Some of the players we were told stood out this spring were Andrej Karic, Christian Jones, and there were a few whispers about Junior Angilau having the body of a mature offensive lineman.
Receivers
Jordan Whittington has emerged into a player Sarkisian and his staff think very highly of.
“I really like Jordan,” Sarkisian recently said. “From the day I got here, he's done everything I've asked. He’s part of our leadership committee. I think he's a guy who's really learned our system well. He’s probably the furthest along of understanding. Can play multiple positions at the wide receiver position right now. He's been a playmaker throughout the beginning of the spring ball and he's also been a real asset on special teams. Again, we're aware of some of the injuries he's had in the past. But like I said when I first got here was a clean slate. What you are now is who you are in our eyes and Jordan has been off to a great start.”
However, Troy Omeire has been mentioned more than Joshua Moore during spring practice. That is somewhat hard to comprehend considering Omeire was limited in practices due to a knee injury. In addition, Kelvontay Dixon and Marcus Washington have received more recognition than Moore. Moore needs a strong performance on Saturday to stay relevant in the competition at receiver.
Tight Ends
Cade Brewer has been the blocker the staff has praised this spring. Brewer excels in the 12-personnel. He has also developed a good relationship with tight end coach Jeff Banks. Also, Jared Wiley had a few strong moments in practice this spring, while freshmen tight ends freshman tight ends Gunnar Helm and Juan Davis have been praised.
“I think both Gunnar and Juan have both done a nice job,” Sarkisian said. “This transition for these young men when they come mid-year, and they go to school, they're in workouts, and then here comes spring ball and they should still be in high school. That's not an easy transition. And at that position, the tight end position, especially in our offense, is not an easy position because we rely on them a lot in the run game, and we also rely on them quite a bit in the passing game. There's a lot on their plate, but those guys have responded. They've had some good moments and had some tough moments, but that's all part of the progression that they're under. They keep coming back and working hard. I think they’ll both end up being really nice players for us.”
The player who has not been mentioned much is Malcolm Epps. The junior tight end is in danger of becoming an afterthought with this new staff without a strong performance on Saturday. It is unclear if Epps will remain at Texas if buried on the depth chart. This is arguably the biggest spring game of Epps’ tenure at Texas
Defensive Line
Keondre Coburn and Jacoby Jones have received a lot of recognition for their playing ability this spring. Coburn has been a force up the middle and emerged into a leader on the team. Sarkisian previously said Jones was “a problem” for the offensive line. Also, Vernon Broughton and Alfred Collins have emerged as reliable players this spring.
“Coach [Bo] Davis [defensive line coach] knows more than me,” Coburn said. “He was in the NFL. So, instead of just talking and [working on] a couple of my skills that I know, listen. Work on skills I haven’t worked on. Get better at some of the stuff I don’t know.”
Linebackers
Ray Thornton has been mentioned on and off the record more than any Longhorn this spring. Thornton is a grad transfer who hit the ground running and immediately earned the respect of his teammates. More than one Longhorn was skeptical about Thornton’s talent before he arrived, but he turned everyone into believers this spring. Thornton and Jones are the edge rushers who were able to attack the quarterback consistently this spring.
In addition, the staff loves David Gbenda. One person described him to me as a guy who has a knack for the ball. Jaylan Ford has flashed at times during practice, too.
Defensive backs
Sarkisian’s staff loves the talent in the defensive backfield. Cornerback Josh Thompson established himself as a playmaker this spring for his ability to grab interceptions. Thompson is viewed as one of the defensive leaders on Sarkisian’s team. D’Shawn Jamison is another player who the staff thinks highly of. Jamison and Thompson have played well consistently, while Chris Adimora and Anthony Cook are battling for the nickel spot. That competition has been closer than Thompson vs. Card, and the staff believes they can win with either player.
Jerrin Thompson might be a sophomore, but he has been praised for his leadership qualities, while B.J. Foster has been consistent during practice. Former safety to receiver and now back to safety Brenden Schooler has played well and has put himself in position to be a key contributor as well.
Defensive back Darion Dunn transferred to Texas because he believed playing for the Longhorns would improve his draft stock. I heard positive things about Dunn this spring, but he is still fighting for playing time right now.
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(From Suchomel)
Due to the dead period, Saturday’s spring game won’t have the usual recruiting impact, where coaches can spend time before the game and after wining and dining the prospects who show up, but the Longhorns will still have an opportunity to make an impact on some of their top targets.
I’d expect more guys to show up, but the following have confirmed that they’ll be in the stands on Saturday …
QB Maalik Murphy
OL Devon Campbell
OL Connor Robertson
DE David Oke
LB Trevell Johnson
CB Denver Harris
Several other targets are competing in regional track and field meets so they won’t be able to attend, and a handful of others I checked with are hitting other spring games on Saturday (A&M – Anthony Hill, Terrence Brooks, Derrick Brown; OU – Kip Lewis, Cole Hutson). There was some chatter that WR CJ Williams might sneak in, but he told me he “unfortunately” won’t be able to make it. 2023 5-star QB Arch Manning’s name has been throw around and while one source I checked with said he’s heard it’s a possibility, another simply didn’t respond (which could be a sign in itself … no firm confirmation on Manning either way).
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This will be UT commitment Maalik Murphy’s second trip to Austin in the last couple months, which is a pretty good indication of how Murphy feels about his pledge (he’ll be back in June for his OV). As he was on his first visit, he’ll be joined this weekend by his quarterback coach, Danny Hernandez. We caught up with Hernandez this week to talk about Murphy’s game and his recently completed junior season.
On what Murphy brings to the table …
“I just think his energy and the juice that he has. Maalik is the kind of guy that’s a face of a program kind of guy, can get along with everyone. He’s going to be a big locker room guy. People just automatically gravitate toward him. He’s one of those players who has a smile that lights up the whole room, is upbeat. You look for that in your team.
“I’ve been working with him since he was in the fourth grade and he always just kind of had that to him. I’ve seen him in environments working with some of the best quarterbacks in the country and he’s still that guy. You’re going to gravitate toward him.
“He owns the room. It’s interesting. I’ve worked with a ton of really good guys and there are two that just have that about them. Jake Garcia who is over at Miami, he kind of has that, shoulders pinned back, really confident. Not cocky or arrogant, but comfortable in their own skin. You want to be around someone like that and Maalik is that guy.”
On his physical attributes:
“He can make every throw. I think a guy that’s that big, sometimes it’s tougher for them to change their arm slots, throw from different angles, be able to find space to throw balls. He’s good with all of that. He can generate power in a really tight spot, or obviously if he has a super clean pocket he’s going to be able to do that. He has deceptive athleticism to him. You’re going to see a couple of those throws that are kind of like Aaron Rogers or Mahomes-ish – he’s going to be able to have a little bit of that in his game. But obviously he’ll have the regular three-step big boy throw, he’ll be able to handle that as well.”
On his junior season, where he helped Serra to a 4-2 record:
“I thought he did well. Maalik was put in a situation that was a little different than most quarterbacks have had to deal with there at Serra. This is probably the first year that I can remember that Serra didn’t have a Division I receiver lining up for them. There have been times when they’ve had four Power 5 guys lined up at the exact same time. This is the first time I’ve seen them not have that. Maalik knew that going in. He’s a very loyal kid. There are all kinds of high schools trying to recruit him to come over to their school because they might have a better case of receivers or whatever the case was. He remained loyal and stayed there at Serra. He stayed there knowing he wasn’t going to have the greatest receivers – they’re good but again, they’re not these big-time Power 5 guys.
“One of the things he knew that he had to do going into it, was how are you going to make everybody around you better? Right after the first game, that was kind of tough one against Long Beach Polly, I told him ‘You’re going to have to watch film and maybe look at this a little differently than you have in the past. I want you to get into coach mode and look at any sacks you took or pressures you took, how many of those were things that you could have changed? How many of those were maybe some scheme things that you could have gone back to your offensive line and said we need to be on the same page. Don’t just allow it to happen and say the blocking wasn’t that great or this didn’t happen. What are you going to do right now to make everybody else around you better? I think he embraced that role, knowing what he was getting himself into. He wasn’t in one of these situations like at St. John Bosco and Mater Dei where you have these super big-time guys lined up outside that he could throw it up to and they’re going to go up and make a play. I think he kind of pressed a little bit in the beginning where he was thinking he had to be too accurate. He had to get to the point where he’s not aiming, just be nice and comfortable, just be you and let it rip out there.”
On the progress he made as the season wore on:
“He made strides. And that was even with him being banged up through the year. He had a foot issue the entire year. He wasn’t as mobile as he wanted to be. But I think it really forced him to dig into film and really understand what was going on pre-snap to really put himself in a position to make the best decisions that he could.”
On Murphy’s potential under Steve Sarkisian:
“I think the upside with Sark, Sark is an extremely strong coach, very innovative with what he does offensively. I think the creativity that Maalik is going to see while he’s out there playing, I think he’s going to be so excited about that. I’m not saying anything about his high school situation, but it’s pretty simple. The stuff they’re going to be running over there with Sark is going to be a lot more complex. He’s going to be a lot more excited so I’m looking for that.”
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2023 Rivals100 DE Avion Carter is keeping things very open at this early stage of the process, but the Longhorns are a school that should factor into his recruitment.
“It was great. It’s a dream come true and I’m blessed,” Carter said of picking up the offer from UT.
Ranked No. 40 on the 2023 Rivals100, Carter said he loves that UT is close to home, but he’s not ready to narrow his focus.
“I’m just going to keep pushing, keep working hard, keep earning and just keep going,” Carter said. “I don’t think I’ll have a top 10 until probably next year.”
AJ Milwee has been the main point man on this one for Texas …
“They have been keeping in contact, which I really appreciate from them. I’m pretty sure they really want me. (Milwee) recruits down here so he knows the ways of around here. He’s a quarterback coach but he still recruits over here,” Carter said. “I’ve got to talk to coach Sark too. He’s a really good man.”
Carter currently has 11 offers, but that list will likely continue to grow. Along with Texas, schools like A&M, USC, OU and Notre Dame are after him early.
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We wrote about LB Robby Snelling’s interest in Texas in our 3-2-1 this week, but a couple comments from Snelling that we didn’t run in that column.
Snelling on what he brings to the table and areas in which he wants to improve …
“With my dad being a coach and everything, I'm around the film and I'm a film junkie. I'm always studying and picking up tendencies and stuff so before I go into the game, I'll have everything down and at that point it's just like taking a test. Like whatever formation they line up in, I know what play they're running. The studying side of things for me is one of my really big strengths,” Snelling said. “And I think my versatility in playing the inside backer and outside backer position is really good because I'm able to cover in space and then I can also get into the box and fill spaces. I think those are those are my two really big strengths. The stuff that I think I can work on a little bit more is my pass rush, instead of getting more contact, work on being able to shed better and get past the gaps and get into the backfield a little bit faster. I think that'll be my main point of emphasis this summer before going to football this fall.”
On being a standout in both football and baseball, and if he prefers one over the other …
“I love them both equally. One hasn't really presented itself in front of the other one. It’s just whatever season I'm in, that's the sport that I'm in love with. It was kind of crazy with the COVID stuff that was going on. We didn't think we were going to have a football season, so this just shows how fast the switch will flip for me. I was working on baseball and I was practically in mid-season baseball shape in the fall time. Then it was January and they said ‘Hey, you're going to have a football season’ and so that switch just flipped for me and I got into that into that football love mode and got into the weight room and got ready for the football season and loved that. Now it's back on to baseball so it's been pretty fast but, it's just great. I'm getting more of both sports this year than I think I have in years prior.”
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(From McComas)
Considering how frequently Texas contacts a new transfer name, this might be outdated by the time it’s published. But let’s take a look at the contact list to follow for Texas:
Dylan Disu - Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt struggled last season, especially when an injury ended Disu’s season early, but Disu did not. He finished No. 1 in defensive rebounding percentage in the SEC, 13th in block percentage, 10th in offensive rebounding percentage, and shot a good percentage at the free throw line (73.6%), from two-point range (56.0%) and beyond the arc (36.9%).
Now, the Hendrickson (Pflugerville) product, much to the frustration of Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse, is in the NCAA Transfer Portal. At this point, I’d be very surprised if he didn’t end up in Austin.
De’Vion Harmon - Oklahoma
The point guard just completed his sophomore season in Norman and completed a Zoom call earlier his week with Texas. Oregon, Arkansas, Oklahoma and BYU were mentioned by De’Vion’s father Deon earlier this week. They want to make a decision sooner than later, and playing point guard is important. My feel after talking to Deon is Texas is a major factor and Oregon because of Chris Crutchfield, who is now on staff there after being at Oklahoma. But with Devin Askew already signed, I do wonder about a fit if Harmon truly does want to be the main point guard.
Nick Ongenda - DePaul
Announced earlier this week Texas was in his top three along with DePaul and Oklahoma State. Yes, DePaul is included like Oklahoma also is for Harmon. Ongenda, a sophomore last season, is still considering his current school because of the coaching change. If new head coach Tony Stubblefied retains assistant Marc Hsu, who Ongenda followed from a Western Kentucky commitment to DePaul, Ongenda could stay put.
He’s a really intriguing, high-upside five best known for his rim protection. I don’t know if he’s ready to handle a starting role in the Big 12, but he’d be a good complimentary rotation piece to someone like Jericho Sims or another Texas big.
Sahvir Wheeler - Georgia
Another point guard from Texas who just completed his sophomore season, Wheeler was one of the top assist percentage point guards in college basketball. Originally, Wheeler was committed to Texas A&M out of high school and was recruited by Ulric Maligi. Then, Billy Kennedy was replaced by Buzz Williams, Maligi ended up at Texas Tech and Wheeler went to Georgia. Considering the Maligi and Wheeler connection, it’s not a surprise Texas was among the first schools to contact him. Like many players on this list, there will be a long line of suitors.
DeVante’ Jones - Coastal Carolina
Last year’s Sun Belt Player of the Year as a junior can do it all despite being a 6-1 point guard. Entered the NCAA Transfer Portal a couple days ago and reportedly heard from Texas and just about everyone else in the country.
Kur Kuath - Oklahoma
Texas fans remember the 6-10 big, who just completed his senior season, for totally changing the feel of UT’s game at Oklahoma. Then, surprisingly, Lon Kruger hid Kuath on the bench after 12 impactful minutes. At the high-major level, he’s probably best suited to be a rotational, role-playing big off the bench but his block and rebounding rates were elite when he was on the floor. He’s reportedly heard from Texas.
Bryson Williams - UTEP
Played for Rodney Terry at Fresno State and then again at UTEP. Williams, a senior in 2020-21, tweeted he’s heard from USC, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Washington, Texas A&M, Arkansas, DePaul, San Diego State, Washington State, and Arizona State. Another 4/5 player, I do wonder even with the Terry connection where he ranks on UT’s list because it already signed Christian Bishop, Timmy Allen, is waiting on Jericho Sims’s decision, and is now in on Disu, who is a better player.
Mentioned Texas Tech guard Mac McClung and Rutgers guard Jacob Young last week. Today, news broke McClung was removing his name from the NCAA Transfer Portal. As for Young, I don’t believe much has changed.
With plenty of available scholarships remaining, Texas fans shouldn’t worry about whether this staff will fill them with good players or not. Rather, I think the toughest thing for Chris Beard and company will become selling future players on roles because Texas has already landed three impact transfers.
I really think Jericho Sims is the big domino that impacts everything, and I’ve heard from multiple people Beard is doing everything he can to convince the big guy to play another season in Austin. With Sims in the fold, Texas would then be able to more aggressively pursue a player like Ongenda to play behind him at the five while also having a much better feel for how it can construct its frontcourt.
