The first move of the Steve Sarkisian era in Austin happened shortly before the new Texas head coach got off of the plane.
On Tuesday, the first puzzle piece of the 2022 recruiting cycle fell into place when Armani Winfield committed to Texas. It was only the second recruit to pledge to come to Austin after Phaizon Wilson decommitted in early October. The other being the No. 1 overall prospect of the class in Southlake Carroll quarterback Quinn Ewers. We’ve heard rumblings of Jaylon Guilbreau having second thoughts, but he never pulled the plug.
We all know the story of Ewers, he was born to be a Longhorn. He was raised a fan of the team which seemingly gave Texas the leg up on the recruiting trail. Former head coach Tom Herman and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich were able to secure his commitment to play for the Longhorns. Then, Herman and company proceeded to fumble that away with losses to Texas Christian and Oklahoma just weeks later.
Now a former Alabama and National Championship winning quarterback in Greg McElroy thinks that Sarkisian needs to go big game hunting in the 2022 class. According to 247Sports, Sark needs to continue being the quarterback guru.
“Sark needs to continue to be a quarterback guru … Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones both had incredible seasons by Sarkisian’s measure, and in large part too because he creates so many problems for defenses with matchups and pre-snap movements and pre-snap motions,” McElroy said Wednesday on College Football Live. “And he also makes it remarkably easy on quarterbacks. He needs to go out and sign a remarkably well-respected recruit for the 2022 class.”
Given what has transpired over the last several months for the program, one would think that it goes without saying that Sark needs a big fish. It began with Winfield, who many thought would be the next top Texas target to head north to the Buckeye state joining Caleb Burton and the aforementioned Ewers. McElroy went on to mention which big fish that Sark ‘could’ go after.
“That recruit might play at Southlake Carroll and his name might be Quinn Ewers. He was committed to Texas before switching and committing to Ohio State. If he signs with Texas, it’s going to signal that there’s a new sheriff in town in Austin and that’s it’s a destination for offensive talent to flock to. If he can make that move, it legitimately has a chance to send shockwaves through the rest of the college football world.”
Texas has felt those shockwaves before, twice. When Ewers originally stated that he would be coming to Texas, it raised a lot of eyebrows. Top-level talent across the country began to think about wearing the burnt orange right alongside him. The Forty Acres felt those shockwaves a second time when he re-opened his recruitment and eventually decided on Ohio State. The Dragons quarterback would then take Austin-area wide receiver, Burton, with him.
Ewers has developed a good relationship with Ryan Day and the Buckeyes staff to the point where he decided to play there rather than in his home state. It also has been noted that Sarkisian developed a pretty good relationship with the Texas product. Regardless if he would say no to Texas and Sarkisian, what does he have to lose to make a run at him?
When Ewers discussed his decision to go to Ohio State, it revolved around getting to the NFL. To this point it isn’t evident that coach Day has been able to produce NFL quarterbacks, not to say he can’t but it isn’t evident yet. With Sarkisian, he can point to all the quarterbacks that he has sent to the NFL in his system. Sark is about to send another in Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones.
Whether it is Ewers, Gunner Stockton or another top quarterback of the class, it’s officially hunting season.