Steve Sarkisian identifies which veterans have stepped up into larger leadership roles

The Texas Longhorns are looking to take a leap in their third season under head coach Steve Sarkisian, and one way to do so is through a player-led leadership. During spring practice, Sarkisian had the chance to see which of his players from last season would transition to the team’s leaders this season, and revealed who those players were starting with the offense.

“I don’t know if it’s so much of a surprise, I think we’re pretty intentional with some of the guys of what they do and how they do it,” Sarkisian prefaced. “But I think Jordan Whittington is definitely kind of stepped into that role offensively, I think Quinn (Ewers) has done a nice job and is getting more and more comfortable in that role. I think JT Sanders, offensively those are a few guys.”

Both Sanders and Whittington earned Big 12 All-Conference honors last season, and Ewers was named honorable mention Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 2022. The trio provides veteran leadership as Sanders and Ewers enter their third college season and Whittington begins his fifth.

“I think defensively Jerrin Thompson definitely feels like one of those guys, I think Byron Murphy feels like one of those guys. So obviously I’m just naming a few, I think Barryn Sorrell has grown up that way,” Sarkisian said.

It seems like the Longhorns have their leadership established on both sides of the ball, which Sarkisian highlighted as a major key as he heads into year three at the helm in Austin.

“And a lot of those guys it’s helpful for them because they’ve been with us now, they’re going into year three with us from the beginning. So they’re very comfortable with the things that they know are meaningful to us, that are important to us as a staff,” Sarkisian explained.

A player-led culture is hard to build and takes time to do, but Sarkisian having his leaders echo the messages and values he enforces is a great place to start as the Longhorns look to take a leap this upcoming season.

“And they’ve learned now why it’s important, and so they can kind of be that conduit between a younger player and ourselves. And a lot of times that carries more weight coming from a player than it does coming from a coach, so the more those guys can support that message I think the more impactful it is on our team,” Sarkisian said.