Arizona transfer DL Bill Norton to visit Texas for Orange-White game

Texas is targeting another former Arizona Wildcat in the transfer portal.

Texas’ new linebackers coach Johnny Nansen is targeting another former Arizona Wildcat in the transfer portal. Continue reading “Arizona transfer DL Bill Norton to visit Texas for Orange-White game”

Texas HC Steve Sarkisian shares team motto for spring football

The Longhorns are cultivating an obsession for being their best in 2024.

We have a theme for the 2024 Texas football offseason. Head coach Steve Sarkisian is challenging his players to be obsessed with greatness.

Sarkisian shared the following to social media of the kind of obsession the team should have with being its very best.

“The obsessed inspire others to be obsessed. You can feel when someone loves what they do, when they live inside their craft. And, it pushes everyone around them to care about something that much.”

Sarkisian added another similar quote as the team kicks of spring football.

“It’s called a calling for a reason. When you find your obsession, you won’t be able to ignore it. Destiny doesn’t whisper. It screams.”

The quotes capture a new intensity that hasn’t been there in Austin for awhile. The Longhorns have wanted to win games in the past, but didn’t appear to want wins that badly.

The challenge ahead will require a high degree of obsession with getting better. It will require humility to ignore high praise. Outsiders could make the logical claim that Texas should accomplish all the things it did last season. But winning isn’t a given, and the Longhorns will need even more attention to detail to win 12 games again in 2024.

Steve Sarkisian wants his players to be obsessed with bringing their best effort this offseason. They will look to put up another strong product on the field next season.

Watch: Why Arch Manning’s spring game performance is no cause for concern

Arch Manning just turned 18 years old one week ago.

Arch Manning just turned 18 years old one week ago. That’s one of many good reasons why fans who were concerned by Manning’s performance in the Texas spring game should relax.

For one thing, he wasn’t playing with a full deck, having to throw behind the team’s third-string offensive line. Watch Bobby Burton of Inside Texas explain why Manning is still going to be a great QB some day.

More football stories

LSU’s top 10 recruits in the class of 2023

ESPN announces huge HS double-header

Watch: Every play for Arch Manning from Texas spring game

Now he has to prove that he belongs at the next level.

Isidore Newman (La.) quarterback Arch Manning was the No. 1 overall ranked player in the 2023 recruiting cycle. Now he has to prove that he belongs at the next level. This past weekend Manning got a taste of live college competition in front of a crowd at the Texas spring game.

Here is a video with every play Manning was involved in.

By the looks of things, Manning still has plenty of developing to do. He went 5/13 for 30 total passing yards. Meanwhile, Sophomore QB Maalik Murphy looked much sharper, totaling 165 yards and a touchdown.

However, Quinn Ewers has been named the starting QB by head coach Steve Sarkisian.

More football stories

Seven 4-star recruits announce their college commitments

Friday Night Notes: The race for Willis McGahee’s son

Texas QB Quinn Ewers discusses his offseason mindset change

“I’m going into summer workouts with the best mindset I’ve ever had going into any offseason.”

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian knows his starting quarterback is Quinn Ewers, and “(feels) very good about that.”

That’s what we’re gathering from Sarkisian’s post-spring game comments. Ewers had a strong showing as he completed 16-for-23 passing attempts for 195 yards, including a dime to receiver Xavier Worthy on the most difficult throw of the day.

Ewers’ 2022 struggles have made him a new man and it’s manifested itself in improved work ethic. The redshirt sophomore dished on what has changed over this offseason.

I’m going into summer workouts with the best mindset I’ve ever had going into any offseason. … I didn’t like where I was at last year. And obviously something had to change.

That change has manifested itself in a new look Quinn Ewers, and not simply due to his shorn off mullet. Ewers has transformed his physique with a better diet and exercise routine.

“I’m eating a lot better,” Ewers said after the 2023 Orange and White game. “I’m doing all the small things a lot harder, and I’m excited.”

There’s still plenty of room for improvement, but there’s reason to believe the starting quarterback has turned a corner.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

WATCH: Texas WR AD Mitchell snags one-handed touchdown from Quinn Ewers

It is easy to see Mitchell is a welcomed addition to Texas’ wide receiver unit.

Texas wide receiver AD Mitchell made his presence known in the Longhorns’ Orange-White spring game on Saturday.

The Georgia transfer made a handful of plays in the game, including a highlight-reel touchdown catch in the second quarter. Mitchell went way up in the air to snag a Quinn Ewers pass with one hand for the score. The touchdown put his team up 21-3 before the half.

It is easy to see Mitchell is a welcomed addition to Texas’ wide receiver unit. His ability to stretch the field opens up the opportunity for Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington and JT Sanders to thrive. Mitchell immediately raises the ceiling of the Longhorn offensive attack.

Team White took down Team Orange 21-10 to win the spring game. Texas next takes the field against Rice to kick off the 2023 campaign.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Texas Football: 12 takeaways from the Orange-White spring game

The offense put on a show unlike we’re used to seeing in the spring game.

The Texas Longhorns put their 2023 squad on display in Saturday’s Orange and White game. While we don’t want to make too much of the meaningless scrimmage, it looks like a handful of offensive players could be special.

The Texas offense went off in Saturday’s game. The most noticeable contribution came from the trio of Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington and AD Mitchell. Heading into the scrimmage, it seemed apparent that the wide receiver room was the strength of the team. That’s a testament to the work head coach Steve Sarkisian has done in receiver recruiting.

When Sarkisian took over at Texas, the cupboard was bare at receiver and offensive linemen. Those positions have vastly transformed as we saw firsthand in Saturday’s exhibition.

Texas’ top two quarterbacks made a number of plays as the offense looked better than usual in spring games. Quinn Ewers looked to have improved at the quarterback position, while Maalik Murphy proved able to step in and win games at the quarterback position.

Let’s look at our takeaways from the spring game.

WATCH: Texas QB Maalik Murphy finds freshman WR Johntay Cook for 79-yd TD

Play of the day?!

The highlights from Texas’ Orange-White spring game keep coming. Continue reading “WATCH: Texas QB Maalik Murphy finds freshman WR Johntay Cook for 79-yd TD”

WATCH: Arch Manning’s first completion, other highlights from first half of spring game

Arch Manning’s debut, Jaydon Blue’s touchdown run, AD Mitchell’s one-handed touchdown reception and more from the first half.

Texas’ annual Orange-White spring game offered no shortage of highlights in the first half. Continue reading “WATCH: Arch Manning’s first completion, other highlights from first half of spring game”

Texas LB’s Derrick Brown, Trevell Johnson enter transfer portal

Round two of the transfer portal is starting early for two Texas linebackers.

Round two of the transfer portal is starting early for two Texas linebackers. Derrick Brown and Trevell Johnson joined wide receiver Brenen Thompson as the most recent Longhorns looking for a change of scenery.

To be clear, all three individuals should contribute at their next stop. Each player will presumably play a pivotal role elsewhere. Albeit, perhaps the fit at Texas wasn’t there.

As for how it affects Texas, the team is now built to absorb roster losses despite the upside each player adds. Even so, the thin linebacker room is reason to anticipate head coach Steve Sarkisian could look to add experienced depth at the position.

The timing of the three transfer portal announcements makes one wonder if Sarkisian has began to tell players where they stand within the depth chart. Clearly, the Texas wide receiver room is reason for Thompson to explore options elsewhere. Nevertheless, one would figure Brown and Johnson could have an opportunity to push for playing time.

There could be more portal entries over the next week. We will continue to monitor how Texas players navigate the end of spring football.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]