Head coach Steve Sarkisian kicked off his career at the University of Texas with the No. 17 overall recruiting class according to 247Sports. If history tells us anything, his recruiting classes are going to get better and his team’s records will do the same.

If you look back on his years as a head coach, the influence he had on the recruiting cycle should be a solid indicator of where the Longhorns could be headed.

Washington Huskies (2009-13)

The Washington Huskies were among the laughingstocks of the Pac-12 (Pac-10 at the time) with minimal success. Sarkisian’s first year as head coach resulted in the 75th-ranked recruiting class and a 5-7 record.

However, the program and recruiting classes got better from that point. If you look at his class rankings while at Washington combined with the way the team’s season ended, it demonstrates gradual progress.

2009: No. 75 class, 5-7 record

2010: No. 19 class, 7-6 record

2011: No. 24. class, 7-6 record

2012: No. 24. class, 7-6 record

2013: No. 18 class. class, 9-4 record

USC (2014-15)

After leaving the Huskies program, Sarkisian took over at USC. This program was used to landing highly rated recruits, and Sarkisian used his growing West Coast influence on an elite program.

2014: No. 10 class, 9-4 record

2015: No. 2 class, 8-6 (was fired after 3-2 start)

Alabama OC (2019-20)

Sarkisian was on Nick Saban’s staff in 2016 as an offensive analyst and interim offensive coordinator once Lane Kiffin left to become the head coach for Florida Atlantic.

After the 2016 season, he joined the Atlanta Falcons staff as their offensive coordinator and helped send the franchise to its second Super Bowl appearance behind what some called “The Greatest Show on Turf 2.0.”

Upon Sarkisian’s return to Alabama, the Crimson Tide changed its offensive philosophies. For the longest time, Saban’s teams relied on running the ball down defenses’ throats and fielding elite defenses. However, as the spread offense revolutionized the game, Alabama incorporated a spread offense of its own.

In his two seasons at Alabama, the Crimson Tide had the first and second overall recruiting classes with offensive talent from Sarkisian’s West Coast pipeline.

They finished second in total offense in 2019 behind eventual national champion LSU and second again in total offense in 2020 — this time resulting in a national championship.

Under Sarkisian’s offense, we witnessed the development of NFL players such as Najee Harris, Tua Tagovailoa, Alex Leatherwood, Jedrick Wills, DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs, Mac Jones and Jaylen Waddle.

His influence is already having a major impact on the Texas football program. He is landing recruits not just from the state of Texas but also from his established West Coast ties. His increasing influence on the East Coast and in SEC territory is worth noting. If history is any indicator, all arrows are pointing upward for the Longhorns.