Steve Sarkisian reacts to Jim Harbaugh's 'optimistic' NFL Draft prediction, previews Texas' success

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh made waves with some recent comments to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, projecting the Wolverines will shatter the NFL draft record of 15 players taken set by Georgia. It’s a claim that Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian deemed “optimistic” on Tuesday.

Harbaugh told Feldman that Michigan could have 20 players drafted, obliterating the record. When asked about the idea, Sarkisian seemed dubious.

“What’s the record on draft picks?,” Sarkisian said, before getting the answer of Georgia with 15. “That seems a pretty optimistic number at 20.”

Sarkisian was asked where Texas hopes to end up in terms of year-to-year draft production.

He doesn’t have his sight set on any record, but Sarkisian wants the Longhorns to be producing around 10 draft picks a season. If they can live in the 8-to-12 players drafted a year range, he thinks that will be a reflection of a healthy program and good product on the field.

“I think if we hover in the 8-to-12 players drafted a year that we’ve developed the program that I think we’re all proud of and the players that we’re bringing in, the development of the player along the way and then ultimately the team success that we’re having. Because the NFL draft, whether we like it or not, it still gets swayed by the good teams. If you’re on a good team, generally you have good players and they’re performing and that’s who the NFL drafts,” Sarkisian said.

However, Sarkisian added that just being good on the field isn’t enough. It might draw the eyes of evaluators, but he and his staff know the importance of consistence recruit, developing and scheming to get players better and closer to drafted every day, not just Saturdays in the fall.

“But you have to do your part. You have to recruit ’em, you have to develop ’em, you have to play good football to make that happen. So if we’re on average between 8-to-12 a year, that means we’re doing something right,” Sarkisian said.

Plus, they might every once in a while catch lightning and have even more.

“And so are there are those years, maybe, where you end up with a 13, 14, 15 type year that I know Georgia and Alabama have had recently, sure,” Sarkisian said. But I think if we hover in that range, then we’re probably doing something right for the long term and for the future of the program.”