Tag: Longhorn Football

Everything Steve Sarkisian said to the media on Tuesday

Steve Sarkisian met with the media on Tuesday following the Longhorns’ morning practice. 

Steve Sarkisian met with the media on Tuesday following the Longhorns’ morning practice.

The third-year Texas head coach provided some updates about where his team stands about halfway through spring practice.

Sarkisian had praise for a few players stepping up from a leadership capacity. He highlighted Jordan Whittington, Quinn Ewers, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Jerrin Thompson, Byron Murphy and Barryn Sorrell as growing leaders in the program.

The Texas staff feels confident about its depth at cornerback. With Ryan Watts as a returning starter coming back, Sarkisian mentioned a few names competing well across from Watts.

Sarkisian complemented the running back room for their efforts in Texas’ most recent scrimmage.

Kitan Crawford was singled out again as a standout in practice. Crawford’s emergence is becoming a common theme this Spring. With Arkansas transfer Jalen Catalon still sidelined with an injury, Crawford is making the most of his extra reps.

Here is a look at everything Steve Sarkisian said as Texas continues its preparation in spring ball.

LOOK: Archie Manning visits grandson Arch at Texas

Arch was recently paid a visit by his grandfather Archie Manning. 

Texas freshman quarterback Arch Manning is in the midst of his first spring semester at the college level. The former five-star is already turning heads by showing off his ability at team practices.

Arch comes from one of the more high-profile families in football. He was recently paid a visit by his grandfather Archie Manning.

Archie played college ball at Ole Miss before having an accomplished career as the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. He is the father of NFL hall of fame signal-callers Peyton and Eli Manning, as well as Arch’s dad Cooper, who was forced to medically retire from football prematurely.

Football comes naturally to the Manning family. Arch is hoping to carve out his own path to success as a Texas Longhorn.

Arch shared a photo of him and his grandfather in Texas’ practice bubble on his Instagram.

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LOOK: Bijan Robinson’s best photos from final season at Texas

A look back at the best photos from Bijan Robinson’s final campaign at Texas. Which is your favorite?

Bijan Robinson couldn’t bring Texas all the way “back,” but he certainly cemented his legacy at UT. Continue reading “LOOK: Bijan Robinson’s best photos from final season at Texas”

Texas among college football’s most lethal rosters for 2023

Texas fields one of the best rosters in college football for 2023.

Texas took strides in the right direction with an improved year two under Steve Sarkisian. The Longhorns saw a three-win jump in the win column, going from 5-7 to 8-5.

Another step forward in 2023 could have Texas closer to a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff birth.

247Sports named Texas as one of the 10 “most lethal rosters for 2023.” Texas came in at No. 5 on the list, behind only Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and LSU.

Given the wealth of talent that has been signed in Austin over the last five recruiting cycles, the Longhorns’ overall record doesn’t match up. That’s part of the reason this program has had a revolving door at head coach since Mack Brown’s decision to walk away. Boosters are hoping that coach Steve Sarkisian is the right man to lead Texas back to the national spotlight in 2023 with a top class coming in, highlighted by several five-stars. This isn’t Arch Manning’s team yet, but it will be down the road.

Recruiting at a high level is nothing new for Texas, but the wins have not correlated in recent years. Steve Sarkisian hopes his 2023 team is the one that pushes Texas back into national contention.

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Texas QB Quinn Ewers got his car towed during 52-10 win over UL Monroe

Not even being the star QB during a win can save you from campus parking authorities.

Anyone who has spent any amount of time on a college campus knows one thing to be true: the parking enforcement folks are no joke. You’ll never have your car ticketed or towed faster than when it’s in the wrong place on campus.

Saturday night, star Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers found out the hard way that helping lead your team to victory is no excuse for illegal parking. Ewers helped the Longhorns notch a 52-10 season opening win over the UL Monroe Warhawks, going 16-for-24 for 225 yards and two touchdowns (and one interception) in his debut. He also got his car towed, according to a tweet following the game.

Texas was favored heavily against UL Monroe — the Warhawks were 37.5 point underdogs according to Tipico Sportsbook — but Ewers might have himself a real battle ahead with the parking authorities in Austin.

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Quinn Ewers is in line to be the next star QB for Steve Sarkisian

Quinn Ewers has the chance to be special.

Steve Sarkisian broke the news this week that redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers is the Longhorns’ starting quarterback entering the 2022 season.

Ewers has been awarded the starting job after battling third-year quarterback Hudson Card over the course of the offseason.

The former five-star is in line to be the next star quarterback under Steve Sarkisian. Sark has one of the better quarterback resumes in his career, sending nine quarterbacks to the NFL as a play-caller. Tua Tagnoviloa and Mac Jones are the most recent successes from Sarkisian’s offense.

Ewers might be one of the most talented quarterbacks Sarkisian has ever worked with. He is one of the most highly rated recruits of all time and a perfect fit to run Sark’s system. Ewers, Bijan Robinson and Xavier Worthy make up one of the more exciting trios in college football.

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WATCH: Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice mic’d up at spring practice

Tashard Choice is bringing the energy to practice.

Steve Sarkisian turned to former Dallas Cowboys running back Tashard Choice after Stan Drayton departed to take the Temple head coaching job this offseason. Continue reading “WATCH: Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice mic’d up at spring practice”

Five-star OT Kelvin Banks decommits from Oregon

A major Texas target has decommited from Oregon.

The crazy college football coaching carousel continued over the weekend as Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal has decided to leave Eugene to become the head coach of Miami.

Due to the coaching change, five-star offensive tackle Kelvin Banks has decided to reopen his recruitment.

Steve Sarkisian’s staff had remained in close contact with Banks throughout his verbal commitment to Oregon. Now, the odds of Texas landing one of the nation’s top offensive lineman is becoming a strong possibility.

The Humble product made visits to both Texas and Texas A&M over the course of the fall.

The 247Sports composite ranking has Banks rated as the No. 2 offensive tackle prospect in the country and No. 5 overall payer in the state of Texas. If Banks chooses Texas, he would become the highest graded player in their 2022 recruiting class.

Recruiting analyst Gabe Brooks from 247Sports had high praise for Banks in his scouting report:

A high-floor offensive lineman who also still has significant developmental potential to provide a high ceiling in the long term. Should become a multi-year high-major starter. Possesses long-term potential to reach the early rounds of the NFL Draft.

Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood have made Banks a top priority as Texas needs help on the offensive line in a major way.

Getting more elite in-state talent to Austin will go a long way towards Texas competing for championships under Sarkisian.

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Four Longhorns named to All-Big 12 first team

Four Longhorns received first-team honors.

Texas had a disappointing 5-7 campaign in Steve Sarkisian’s first season as head coach.

The Horns were riding high after a 4-1 start to the season before Caleb Williams lead a historic comeback in the Cotton Bowl. Texas came crashing down to Earth after that game, losing six straight.

Texas still saw some excellent individual seasons from multiple players. Bijan Robinson, Xavier Worthy, Derek Kerstetter and Cameron Dicker were all voted first-team All-Big 12.

Robinson was the catalyst for the Texas offense all season long. The star running back finished with over 1,400 total yards and 15 touchdowns in only 10 games played. Robinson will be back at Texas next season for his junior year.

Texas found gold with freshman wide receiver Xavier Worthy. He set almost every freshman wide receiver record in program history and was named Big-12 Offensive Freshman of the year. Worthy is the first Longhorn to win the award since Colt McCoy in 2006.

Derek Kerstetter was one of the few bright spots on the Texas offensive line that struggled most of the year. Replacing the fifth-year senior will be a difficult task for offensive line coach Kyle Flood.

Lastly, Cameron Dicker had a phenomenal year punting the ball. Dicker average 46.8 yards per punt on the year, tops in the Big 12.

View the full list of Big 12 honors here.

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Texas ex Kenny Vaccaro retires from the NFL after eight seasons

Former Texas safety Kenney Vaccaro retires from the NFL, announces the launch of a new gaming company.

After spending eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans, former Longhorns safety Kenny Vaccaro announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday.

Vaccaro was drafted by New Orleans in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. The safety spent five years with the Saints before signing a free-agent deal with Tennessee, where he played the last three seasons. Vaccaro totaled 110 starts, 10 interceptions and over 600 tackles in his professional career.

Upon his retirement, Vaccaro is also launching a new Esports organization called “Gamers First.”

Vaccaro explained why gaming has always been important to him in this statement.

“I’ve been a gamer for even longer than I’ve played football, and I’ve always thought of myself as a gamer first. So this is the realization of a long-term dream for me. And while football has been how many have defined me, G1 is evidence for other athletes as well that life doesn’t end just because you put down the helmet. You can reinvent yourself.”

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