Steve Sarkisian provides update on the team's plans for Maalik Murphy

Four-star true freshman quarterback Maalik Murphy has not “been healthy,” since arriving on campus earlier this year, according to Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. Still, Murphy has been working hard to prove his worth within a talented Longhorns quarterback room.

“I’ve been impressed with Maalik,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “He’s really starting to get healthy, and I just think this is great experience for him. He’s really growing into his own. I’ve been proud of him of working the way that he has.

“The majority of his work is coming on scout team, and he’s given an awesome look to our defense. I just think the experience that he’s getting, a lot of that is obviously predicated on different position groups and what we need at each position group going on the road. The opportunity to bring four is I think beneficial for us, not only in the short term but in the long term.”

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Right now, Murphy is trying to stand out in a crowded quarterback room. Hudson Card has the most experience, while Quinn Ewers has raw talent that is hard to ignore, not to mention being the unquestionable QB1 on the Longhorns’ roster. Add in Arch Manning‘s arrival in 2023, and Murphy faces an uphill battle when it comes to game experience under center.

Considering the fact that Ewers and Murphy have the same amount of eligibility, he’s going to need to significantly develop to compete with the talented quarterback room on the Forty Acres.

Even if it doesn’t work out with the Longhorns, he’d still be a sought-after addition to many other Power Five offense if he chooses to enter the transfer portal.

The No. 12 quarterback in the class of 2022, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Murphy also held offers from the likes of Texas A&M, Alabama and Washington.