Steve Sarkisian excited to see Bijan Robinson, others drafted into NFL

Former Texas running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson have set themselves up nicely ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, both ranked as two of the top players at the position. Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian was asked about his two former ball carries ahead of the draft, but made it clear that they aren’t the only two players he has high hopes for in this year’s draft.

“I think it’s great, and they’re not the only two, I mean I’m getting calls about all these guys and I think all of them have impressed a lot of the teams in the NFL,” Sarkisian said. “I think one thing is you can watch the tape of our players and you see a body of work that’s on film.”

Defensive lineman Moro Ojomo and Keondre Coburn, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, and tight end Jahleel Billingsley are other Longhorn draft hopefuls looking for their shot at the next level. And according to Sarkisian, they all have something in common.

“And then when people start to meet them, whether it’s the interview process at the combine, the workouts, or when they come visit us here for pro day or different visits, or when they have our players go visit them for one of the 30 visits they get, I think they start learning about the football IQ,” Sarkisian explained. “I think they start learning about the men that they are and how they carry themselves and I think all those things are bonuses on top of what the tape says right?”

Sarkisian continued, knowing that the play of former Longhorns speaks for itself. But that their character and the intangibles that they posses is what really separates them from the rest and is what’s elevating their draft stock.

“Because the film is just a silent film right? All you see is what you see, there’s no commentary when we watch tape, it’s silent,” Sarkisian said. “Then you get to learn about the person, you learn about the work ethic, you learn about their attention to detail, you learn about their IQ of the game. And I think that’s what’s been impressive here over the last couple weeks is that guys are starting to really learn our players, of who they are, and I think that’s what where we’re starting to see them growing in the eyes of the NFL right now.”

The NFL fate of Texas’ former players will be decided this week, as the first round NFL Draft kicks off this Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET.