Texas coach Steve Sarkisian looks around the locker room and the practice field and sounds downright giddy at what he sees.
The No. 1-ranked Longhorns are 4-0 heading into their SEC opener. The offense lost its starting running back in training camp and saw its quarterback sit for 1 1/2 games, and it still averages 47.5 points.
The defense has been tackling better and has allowed only two touchdowns so far this season. The Horns rank fifth nationally in total defense, and the “Texcalibur” turnover sword has been swung wildly each week.
“I love that our personality is coming out of this team,” Sarkisian said. “I think we've got a pretty cool swagger about us right now, but that swagger has been earned because of the work that they put in, day in and day out.”
WATCH AND SUBSCRIBE: Follow A to Z Sports’ Texas Longhorns channel on YouTube.
Texas plays its first SEC game this Saturday against Mississippi State (1-3, 0-1 SEC). With that in mind, here are five things we know now that UT’s non-conference schedule is complete:
Texas has the best 1-2 QB duo in college football
There’s simply no doubt that Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning are the envy of every coach in college football. Texas has them both in the same position room. Ewers was the Heisman frontrunner, according to oddsmakers, before suffering a strained abdominal injury. Manning came in against UTSA and went wild for five touchdowns.
Ewers is still questionable for this week’s game, but considering the Horns are 38.5-point favorites, he should probably sit out anyway. Ewers is super competitive, though. Either way, Texas has someone ready that every coach would trade for right now if they could.
Related: Here’s what Texas QB Quinn Ewers must do to convince Steve Sarkisian he should play in SEC opener
Offseason of reflection led to better defensive play
Sarkisian and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski spent the entire offseason debating the cause of Texas’ weak spots. Was the subpar pass defense a result of poor execution or the scheme? Were the Horns not getting enough push up front or was the tackling poor?
The short answer? Texas just needed to get better.
Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba helped shore up the defensive backfield. Defensive line transfers Jermayne Lole, Tiaoalii Savea, Bill Norton and Trey Moore bolstered the depth, allowing for more player rotations. Freshman Colin Simmons has been a huge spark off the edge.
Related: Ethan Burke’s pick-six belly flop a sure sign the Texas Longhorns defense is playing hard, having fun
Texas’ bumper crop of WRs all getting their shot
One of the biggest storylines in August was whether all these receivers would be happy playing their roles. So far, so good. Really good, actually. Isaiah Bond, one of the fastest players in college football, has gotten the most targets (20). But Matthew Golden, Silas Bolden, Johntay Cook II and DeAndre Moore have all found the end zone.
Sarkisian has continued to use the tight end, too. Gunnar Helm has 11 catches for 197 yards and one score.
Would everyone like to be the primary target? Of course. But there’s only one football, and the quarterbacks must spread it around. Team success leads to individual success.
Related: Texas football veterans acknowledge the long climb to No. 1 but know there’s a long journey to the CFP
Depth will keep Horns competitive all season
During Monday’s interview sessions with players, it’s striking how many questions are being asked about all sorts of different players. Normally, reporters ask about the starters. But with Texas, reporters are asking about second-, third- and sometimes fourth-stringers.
“Coach Sark says it all the time. He's built the team whereas regardless if it’s the ones, twos, threes or fours that you’re going to get the best of Texas,” senior linebacker David Gbenda said. “And the standard is the standard.”
No team can survive the grind of the SEC schedule without massive depth. It’s a huge credit to Sarkisian and his staff that they’ve spent three years building up a roster that’s competitive top to bottom.
Bottom line: Texas is SEC ready
There’s simply no other way to say it. Texas is ready for the Southeastern Conference. The quarterback play, the defensive aggression, the culture — it’s all there.
“Literally, business as usual,” Sarkisian said of this week’s preparation. “We believe in our formula for success and what that looks like. We respect that this is our first SEC game at home, and we’re going to embrace that side of it. But it’s not going to affect the way we prepare for the game and the way we go about our business in the game.”
Local News
Comments / 0