Steve Sarkisian breaks down how Texas quarterbacks have shown impressive levels of command

Most expect Texas to emerge as the Big 12 Conference’s top team this upcoming football season as the expectations are sky-high in Austin for the Longhorns. But Texas won’t make it very far without consistent and solid play at the quarterback position.

Quinn Ewers will guide the ship for Texas’ offense this season, but recently at fall camp, Longhorns’ head coach Steve Sarkisian detailed how he’s liked what he’s not only seen from Ewers, but backups Arch Manning and Maalik Murphy.

“From the quarterback standpoint, I really think their command has really improved at their varying stages,” Sarkisian said. “I think Quinn being a second-year starter, he’s definitely in command of that first unit and you feel good about that. I think that Arch and Maalik both have grown in their roles in what they’re doing and their command of the offense and taking charge.”

Some believe that the Longhorns currently have the deepest quarterback room in the country, comprised of two former five-star high school prospects ranked the No. 1 quarterbacks in the nation for their respective classes and one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the country in Murphy, who towers at 6-foot-5, 238 pounds.

Ewers will be the tip of the spear at the quarterback position this year for Texas, coming off a season where he earned honorable mention Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors after throwing for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns. But the talent behind him on the depth chart has likely kept the competition constant throughout fall camp and continued to push Ewers, as himself and the rest of the unit seek consistency.

“Obviously we gotta keep pushing consistency at that position whether it’s fundamentals, whether it’s progression, whether it’s pocket presence, whether it’s tempo, whatever that looks like, Sarkisian explained. “But there’s a level of consistency at that position that I think ultimately drives the unit, and so we gotta keep working on that, which that’s why we coach.”

Sarkisian has garnered a reputation as a quarterback whisperer of sorts throughout his collegiate coaching career across the coaching landscape. And if he plays his cards right with one of the most gifted units he’s ever had, the Longhorns won’t just meet the high expectations places on them this season, but could potentially have a bright future at the most important position in the sport of football for many years to come.