Steve Sarkisian reveals his message to Texas recruits, transfer targets

Steve Sarkisian and Texas had plenty of recruiting success this year — both at the high school level and in the transfer portal. He also has quite a recruiting pitch, as he talked about this week.

Sarkisian spoke about what he tells recruits on the ESPN College Football Podcast, saying the university’s prestige is a big factor. He also said getting high-caliber recruits is huge because big-time players want to play with other big-time players.

“I think there’s a lot that goes into it … from a recruiting standpoint,” Sarkisian said. “But I think at the end of the day, great players want to play with other great players in a program where they feel like they’re going to be developed not only on the football field, but off the football field. We’ve got an amazing product at the University of Texas when you start talking about a world-class education in the city of Austin, which is the fastest growing city in the United States and an unbelievable economy, to go along with a blue-blood program. The history and tradition here at the University of Texas is tremendous.

“And now, getting to really know the recruits on a personal level, the fact that they’re going to come in and compete in their own position group with quality players that every day in practice, the guy lined up across from him is a quality player that’s going to push him to get better. So getting yourself surrounded by like-minded individuals like yourself when you’re driven, when you’re focused, when you want to be the best, that inspires us to be even better. I think the guys we’ve recruited — whether it’s been in the portal or out of the high school ranks — recognize that and they’re not afraid of the competition because that, ultimately, is what drives those types of individuals to be the best.”

A closer look at Texas’ recruiting success this year

The Longhorns landed some big fish this offseason, getting former Five Star Plus+ quarterback Quinn Ewers via the portal and securing Five Star Plus+ prospect Arch Manning — the No. 1 prospect from the class of 2023, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

This year, Texas had the No. 5 recruiting class in the country, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking. The Longhorns also did major work in the portal, bringing in four of the top-35 transfers to hit the portal, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.

Looking ahead to the future, the train is still rolling along for Sarkisian. Texas has the class of 2023’s No. 3 recruiting class in the country, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking. Manning, obviously, leads the way, but two top-75 wide receivers — four-stars Johntay Cook II and Ryan Niblett — are also set to come to Austin in 2023.