The coaching staff led by Steve Sarkisian may be the most talented group of coaches in Texas football history. The head coach of the Longhorns sent 11 players to a single NFL draft class in just three years of tenure in Austin.
From 1998 until 2013, the renowned head coach Mack Brown led Texas to nine consecutive seasons with ten wins, a national championship, and a winning record. In 2007, his best draft class produced seven NFL players.
Following wide receiver Adonai Mitchell’s selection as the No. 52 overall pick in the second round, Sarkisian’s 2024 class reached five selections.
Sarkisian has room for improvement in his role as head coach. He might win his first national title if his game management skills improve. Still, Sarkisian seems to have no trouble turning out NFL-caliber players or selecting the right coaches to help them grow.
The Texas head coach recently sent the league the 2024 draft class, which is led by a number of success stories. Christian Jones, an offensive tackle, and T’Vondre Sweat, a defensive tackle, were formerly gifted athletes but were unable to complete their game. Jordan Whittington, a wide receiver, used to be prone to injuries. Byron Murphy and linebacker Jaylan Ford were unsung three-stars. The same head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and special teams coach oversaw the development and draft of each player.
Although Sarkisian’s coaching staff has had many head coaches, one thing has remained constant: Sarkisian’s team may have developed players more than any previous Longhorns coaching staff. As time goes on, it will try to maintain that pattern.
Sarkisian still has work to do in order for Texas to see the kind of success he envisions in Austin. Still, he’s taking a step that Austin hasn’t taken in growth since the early 1980s, and as a result, the Longhorns stand to benefit greatly.