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Turning Heads: Longhorn fans should be thrilled after one Spring Practice

by:RT Young•about 17 hours
Steve Sarkisian, Daylan McCutcheon
Steve Sarkisian, Daylan McCutcheon (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

I’m six weeks into having three kids. When your house is that full, you realize how easy it is for you and your wife to forget to share critical information with each other. We have to prioritize our kids because they’re the most pressing, but our house is built on our marriage. That’s how it feels on the 40 Acres right now for Texas Longhorn fans.

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With a new men’s basketball coach in Sean Miller, a sizzling start to the Jim Schlossnagle era, a great women’s basketball team, and the NFL Draft approaching, fans’ attention is pulled in a dozen directions. It’s funny because, like marriage, most people’s burnt orange fandom is built on football first.

The fact that it can take a backseat right now speaks to the sheer volume of things happening at the university but also how stable things are in year five of Steve Sarkisian’s reign in Austin. But after watching a portion of Texas Football’s first spring practice, I’m all the way back in.

When do we head to Columbus, Ohio? I’m ready for revenge.

Arch Manning

I wrote in January that the Arch Manning experience in Austin would be unlike anything we’ve seen before. Manning is a big deal on a level few college athletes ever reach. When we first got into practice, he was down on the South field, away from where the media scrum entered. Shortly after, he came into view. Just seeing No. 16 jog past a group of seasoned media members produced an audible gasp.

Both No. 16s, Manning and senior safety Michael Taaffe, have full command of this team. Manning and his receivers, outside of Ryan Wingo and DeAndre Moore Jr., still have to develop chemistry, but it was only the first practice. His corner-of-the-end-zone shot to Parker Livingstone made Sark turn, look, and holler at the next in line for football’s first family’s crown. Arch has a different level of fame than Texas recruiting legends like Cedric Benson or Quinn Ewers. For as long as he’s in burnt orange, he’ll turn heads—whether from fans or rivals.

Christian Clark

When the freshman running back out of Arizona ruptured his Achilles last fall, Longhorn fans who follow camp closely felt a collective pit in their stomachs. That’s why it was incredible to see how strong Clark looked today. The 6’0, 214-pound back was a full participant, with no green jersey and nothing visibly protecting his leg. Clark is the kind of powerful home run hitter Texas needs to emerge in the backfield.

Steve Sarkisian

We’ve talked plenty about how Sarkisian has transformed into a total football coach at Texas. His time under Pete Carroll and Nick Saban reinforced that, but he deserves credit for his own evolution. Unlike most offensive-minded coaches or quarterback gurus, Sark doesn’t stay glued to his QBs. He trusts his staff and players to take responsibility for their development.

When we entered practice, Sark was with a large portion of the team, shouting tackling instructions to players like Taaffe. It was a reminder that nobody is too experienced or too much of a star to get hard coaching. He was also constantly on freshman Michael Terry—not for mistakes, but because he expects more from the freshman athlete from Alamo Heights. The intensity was high, and Sark is the driver of it.

Talent Everywhere—And Not Just on the Roster

It’s hard not to be stunned by the size and speed on display. The Longhorns have NFL players everywhere. Ryan Wingo looks bigger. Jelani McDonald does too. I had one wow moment each from Parker Livingstone, Jamie Ffrench, and Daylan McCutcheon. But the talent surrounding the program is just as mind-boggling.

Neal Brown is doing a stint in Austin. Duane Akina is back on the 40 Acres. Michael Huff is leading player development. Oh and Texas legend Derrick Johnson is working with the linebackers as a volunteer coach during the season. This program is loaded from the roster to the staff and beyond.

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It might be a busy time on campus, but make no mistake—Texas Football is at the forefront of it all. And I can’t freaking wait.

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