Steve Sarkisian addresses how Texas is managing Jalen Catalon during camp

Steve Sarkisian wants to keep Jalen Catalon healthy but also wants him to play. On Monday, the Texas head coach revealed how he’s preparing Catalon ahead of his return to the gridiron.

“That’s a hard one. You know that his style of play is innate to him,” Sarkisian told the press. “He’s very intentional with his work. He’s got a high level of intensity and mental focus to communicate on a really high level.

“When he knows, he goes in, and that’s a great treat, not just for him, but for other guys to see a style of play in the secondary,” Sarkisian said. “We manage him with the days when we got him in a green jersey, we don’t want him to have contact. And then, we manage him with days when we do want to have him have contact.”

Catalon missed out on that contact during Texas’ spring practice. The Arkansas transfer did not participate in the team event but was forced to the sideline for mental reps. Sarkisian would rather be safe than sorry.

Catalon has not completed a season in the last two years due to injury. Nonetheless, when the 5-foot-10 defensive back is on the field, he’s fantastic. Catalon was a preseason Phil Steele First Team All-American in 2022 after making 159 tackles in four seasons for the Razorbacks.

Despite Sarkisian’s preseason concerns, he has no doubts Catalon will perform when necessary.

“I’m not concerned about Jalen Catalon, come week one, hitting somebody. I think that that is in his DNA. And so, we just got to manage it, as we get ourselves to the season,” Sarkisian said. “When we give him the green light to go play, we want him to play the way he’s accustomed.”

Texas needs the help. The Longhorns allowed 242.7 passing yards per game in 2022, ranking 91st in the nation. Further, the team recorded just 10 interceptions in 13 contests. Nevertheless, Sarkisian noted even if Catalon is entirely healthy, the Longhorns will need its bench.

“We’re gonna play rice at 2:30 [p.m.], Labor Day weekend. It’s gonna be hot,” Sarkisian said. “To think one guy is just going to play 75 [plays] straight is probably not realistic… Everybody’s gonna have to play, but in the ideal situation, ideal scenario, [Catalon] is an every down player for us.”

Watch Catalon make his debut for the Longhorns on Sept. 2 as Texas takes on Rice University in its season opener.