Steve Sarkisian shares where Texas running back competition stands

While Quinn Ewers is the unquestioned starting quarterback for Texas heading into the 2023 season, who will join him in the backfield remains a mystery. Thus far, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has been patient when it comes to naming a starting running to replace Bijan Robinson.

That continued on Friday as Sarkisian was asked for an update on where the running back battle stands and if he’s ready to name a starter.

“We’re not there yet,” Sarkisian said. “I think that to be fair to those guys, they need another day tomorrow.”

Even though Sarkisian declined to name a starting running back on Friday, he did share what he is looking for in a starting running back.

The former Alabama offensive coordinator has a long list of aspects he considers.

“I look for a lot of different things, you know,” Sarkisian explained. “Like today, we did a heavy two-minute situation where, ‘How do guys respond in that scenario? What does that look like? What do they look like on the goal line and in short yardage? What do they look like on regular downs? What do they look like on third down and in pass protection?’”

Once Sarkisian has a better feel for who is most comfortable in what situation, he will name the starting running back for Texas. Sarkisian added that it’s also possible the Longhorns use a running back-by-committee approach and play different players in different scenarios, at least early on in the season.

“If one guy’s better at three of the four, hey, then it makes life a little easier,” Sarkisian said. “But that’s what we’re trying to figure out.”

Jonathan Brooks, Keilan Robinson, Jaydon Blue and Cedric Baxter are among the contenders vying for the starting running back job. Sarkisian feels good about the options Texas has.

“I do know this – we’ve got plenty of guys that can play. And that’s a positive,” Sarkisian said. “So inevitably, who are the best at what, and then maybe early on that’s how we kind of have to play them some.”

Steve Sarkisian says Texas’ backup quarterback competition is ‘rolling along’

In addition to the starting running back battle, there’s also a competition for the Longhorns backup quarterback job.

Sarkisian recently provided an update on it, too.

Maalik Murphy and Arch Manning are battling it out to be Quinn Ewers’ backup this year. Sarkisian has raved about the level of talent in the quarterback room this year, and Murphy and Manning are big reasons for that. As for which one will be QB2, though, Sarkisian said it’s still being worked out.

However, the offense as a whole is getting better because of the competition.

“I’d say that competition’s rolling along,” Sarkisian said. “Maalik’s done some great things for us, too. And I love it because I think that room, in general, is playing at a higher level than it was in spring. No question. And a higher level than it was a year ago at this time. So, as a coach, that’s a positive. I think the continuity on offense feels good, I feel like nobody’s just relying on one guy to go make a play, or two guys. I mean, I saw today plays made by Keilan Robinson, by Ced Baxter, by Jonathon Brooks. JT Sanders made a couple really good plays today. Xavier [Worthy] made a couple really nice plays today, kind of got the thing started. [Juan Davis] makes a big touchdown catch there at the end. Jordan Whittington was making plays. Johntay [Cook] had a really nice play there at the end.

“So all of a sudden, the ball’s moving around. And I think from a quarterback’s perspective, that puts them at ease, that they can just go where the read is telling them to go and not feel like they’re hanging on one guy longer than maybe they should. In turn, there’s good rhythm out of that room right now in the way that they’re playing.”