Longhorns’ spring practices signal start of last Big 12 run
AUSTIN — Texas will hold the first of 15 allotted spring football practices Monday morning. It marks the first steps toward a pivotal year for the program and third-year head coach, Steve Sarkisian.
Texas is 13-12 overall, 9-9 in Big 12 play and 0-1 in bowl games under Sarkisian. It capped the 2022 season with a 27-20 loss to Washington in the Alamo Bowl, just a few days after signing the nation’s thirdranked recruiting class.
And with Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC next summer, this will be the Longhorns’ last chance to claim a fourth and final Big 12 title. Here’s a look at three key questions as the Longhorns prepare to take the field for the first time this year.
Will Quinn Ewers lock down QB1?
Everyone knows about Arch Manning, the true freshman with the gilded family name and the makings of a future star.
But if the No. 1-ranked recruit out of Isidore Newman (New Orleans, La.) manages to outplay both redshirt sophomore Quinn Ewers and redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy this spring, then something has gone terribly wrong with the development of those two 2022 signees.
As good as Manning might already be, the early enrollee is at a considerable disadvantage. Ewers and Murphy have had a year with the playbook. They’ve worked within the system. They’ve benefitted from the rigorous strength and training program. They’ve digested tons of game film with the staff.
The expectation is for Ewers, another former top-ranked recruit like Manning, to secure the job — if not during spring ball, then during preseason practice in August — after starting 10 games last year.
Ewers had his ups and downs, notably when trying to link up with his wideouts on deep balls. But the innate talent and potential remains tantalizing, especially after Ewers threw for 369 yards and one touchdown without committing a turnover in Texas’ 27-20 Alamo Bowl loss to No. 12 Washington.
Coaches and teammates have also raved about Murphy, who was a partial participant in last year’s spring practices after suffering a severe ankle injury while leading Junipero Serra to the California Interscholastic Federation Division 1-A state championship in his high school finale. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Murphy was the 12th-ranked quarterback in 2022, per the 247Sports composite rankings.
“I think we’ve got a really talented (quarterback) room,” Sarkisian said. “Now we have to develop these guys and put them in position to perform when their number’s called.”
Who will replace Nfl-bound backs?
Those who weren’t already enamored with Texas draft prospects Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson likely fell head over heels for those two halfbacks during this week’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis. And while everyone in Austin wishes them the best in the pros, Sarkisian sure wishes he could’ve kept them on campus for another year.
Robinson claimed the 2022 Doak Walker award after finishing with 1,622 rushing yards, 314 receiving yards and 20 total touchdowns. Johnson was the team’s cultural leader — and also a “backup” who ran like an all-conference starter whenever Robinson wasn’t on the field, rushing for 563 yards while averaging 6 yards per attempt.
Texas probably won’t average 200 rushing yards a game again. But there’s a bevy of talented tailbacks on campus eager to eat up the touches that Robinson and Johnson dominated.
Senior Keilan Robinson still fits best as a speedy change-of-pace option who could thrive on passing downs. Redshirt sophomore Johnathon Brooks has the makings of an early-downs back. He was the third-stringer last season and rushed for 204 yards and five scores on just 30 carries. Redshirt freshman Jaydon Blue played sparingly after sitting out his senior season at Houston Klein Cain, but he’s not too far removed from rushing for 2,155 yards and 30 touchdowns on 227 carries as a junior.
Then there’s true freshman Cedric Baxter Jr., the top-ranked running back in the country out of Orlando, Fla. After amassing over 3,800 rushing yards and 57 touchdowns in high school, he could challenge the veterans for snaps.
“Baxter is a big, physical runner, one that we’re used to having in our system,” Sarkisian said.
Which early enrollee can find playing time?
Aside from Baxter, the most obvious candidate is Denton Ryan linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.
The nation’s top-ranked linebacker flipped from Texas A&M to Texas, and he could challenge for the starting spot vacated by former All-big 12 honoree Demarvion Overshown. Hill recorded 303 tackles, 13 sacks and nine forced fumbles over three years at Ryan.
Desoto wideout Johntay Cook II is also a candidate to challenge the veterans for reps. Texas returns starters Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington, and Wyoming transfer Isaiah Neyor is expected to return from last year’s season-ending ACL tear at some point. But Cook, the thirdranked wideout in the 2022 class, could play his way into a role after catching 84 passes for 1,469 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior.