ESPN's Matt Miller: Texas has 9 to 10 NFL Draft-worthy players on its roster

As the Big 12 favorite and a high-powered offense, it’s not hard to see why Texas is dealing with heightened expectations in 2023. With Quinn Ewers back as the starting quarterback, the hype continues to build around the Longhorns this year.

But it also brings about the question about the 2024 NFL Draft. Multiple players have come up in early mock drafts, including Ewers and Xavier Worthy garnering some attention in the way-too-early projections.

According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, though, the Longhorns could be well-represented on the draft board.

“There’s 9, 10 players that you look at this year who are legitimate NFL Draft prospects,” Miller told Inside Texas’ Bobby Burton on On Texas Football. “That hasn’t been the case for a long time at Texas.”

Miller pointed to a few names, including Ewers and Worthy, who could become first-round picks. But on the whole, he noted the level of draft-caliber talent on the roster this year. Considering Steve Sarkisian is in his third year, he made sure to give credit to former coaches Charlie Strong and Tom Herman for getting the job done on the recruiting trail.

That said, Sarkisian deserves plenty of praise for his ability to develop players into potential NFL players. One example Miller used is Ja’Tavion Sanders, who has become one of the nation’s top tight end prospects.

“You look at, okay, last year, maybe it was a disappointment in the win-loss column. But you can see that Sark is starting to rebuild this program with real NFL talent,” Miller said. “And also, Charlie Strong, Tom Herman — those dudes could recruit. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was development, at least from how we who evaluate players look at it.

“I think [what] we’re seeing now is better player development where guys are taking that next step. Ja’Tavion Sanders, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a great example of that. Someone who is probably the second highest-rated tight end in college football behind Brock Bowers.”

Since 2012, Texas has had five players drafted three times — including in 2021 and 2023. However, the Longhorns went from 2015-23 without a first-round pick. Bijan Robinson ended that drought when the Atlanta Falcons drafted him with the No. 8 overall pick this past May. Ewers will look to be the first UT quarterback to go in the first round since Vince Young went No. 3 overall in 2006.