Opposing coach labels Steve Sarkisian as a 'quarterback whisperer'

Steve Sarkisian is said to have a certain touch for offenses, especially with his quarterbacks. That opinion once again came out from an opposing coach in a look ahead at this upcoming season.

An opposing coach credited Sarkisian for that gift of his in Lindy Sports’ National 2024 Preview. While a player like Quinn Ewers is a talent in his own right, having Sarkisian to coach him along has been a benefit to him, both for his present and his future, in the opinion of this opponent.

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“(Quinn Ewers) is a very good player. And in Sarkisian, you’ve got a quarterback whisperer,” the coach said. “I don’t know if Ewers is a first-round pick, but in their system, he’s talented.”

Ewers’ development from 2022 to 2023 is evidence of the work by him and Sarkisian. As a redshirt freshman in his first year at Texas, he was serviceable with 2,177 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions on 58.1% completion. Then, last season, Ewers’ statistics all took a jump. As a sophomore, he posted 3,479 yards, 22 touchdowns, and six picks on a completion rate of 69%.

That’s a decent-sized step for a player of the caliber of Ewers. It also should be even more confirmation for other quarterbacks, including their backup in Arch Manning, to buy into.

However, that’s not all that coaches had to say about Sarkisian’s work so far on The 40 Acres.

As two other anonymous opponents added, Sarkisian has done a great job through three seasons with the Longhorns. To them, much of that is due to what he has carried over from his experience at Alabama. Now, after what he has done there, specifically last season, they’re even better off for when they make their conference move this fall.

“I think Steve Sarkisian has really done like what Kirby Smart did at Georgia. Steve went to Alabama and soaked in the Saban way and adapted his personality to his player development, to his system, to his practices,” one coach said. “He’s made Texas a more physical operation. They really played like an SEC team last year.”

“Steve was one game short of doing what Saban did at Alabama. Texas wasn’t very good the first year, played for the conference championship the second year and then almost won it all. Whereas Nick won it all in Year 3,” another coach noted.

Sarkisian has certainly put himself as a coach and his program back among the best in college football. It could be ever better in 2024, though, with him entering year four, Ewers back for his junior year, and their move up into the SEC.