Three Things to know from Sark: Rotation at safety and receiver, what Sawyer Robertson offers for Baylor

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was available to the media for his regular Thursday Zoom and offered last minute thoughts on the No. 3 Longhorns’ upcoming matchup with Baylor.

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“This is an exciting week for our team starting Big 12 play,” Sarkisian said. “I love that shift from non-conference to conference play, and I think you could feel it in the energy and the intensity at practice. I think the guys are really focused and are going about their business in a workmanlike manner but are still having a lot of fun. I think that’s ultimately when we’re at our best, when we’ve got really good mental intensity and mental focus, yet we still have fun doing what we get to do.”

Here are three things to know from his 20 minutes with the media.

Texas continues to rotate at safety

So far this season, Jerrin Thompson has played in 113 snaps according to Pro Football Focus and started at the boundary spot against Alabama and Wyoming.

Jalen Catalon, the standout transfer from Arkansas, started the first two weeks of the season for the Horns at the field safety sport. However, Catalon doesn’t have near the snap volume of Thompson at this point.

Catalon has 84 snaps across three games, a number two behind fellow safety Kitan Crawford’s total of 86. Michael Taaffe, who started in Thompson’s place to open the season, has 39 plays to his name. Freshman Derek Williams has 53.

Sarkisian was asked about the reasoning behind his safety rotation.

“We want to play a lot of guys,” Sarkisian said. “We think it’s going to be beneficial for us, not only in game, but long term throughout the season. Jerrin has such a great amount of experience systematically for us. There’s a level of comfort there. (Catalon) is a really good player. I think he’s doing well.

“Kitan Crawford is playing really good football for us as well, not only on defense but on special teams. We know Michael Taaffe is a steadying voice back there because of his high football IQ. Derek Williams keeps getting better, he keeps coming.”

So far that group has combined for 36 tackles with one for loss, plus two interceptions courtesy of Thompson. And the rotation will likely continue throughout the season.

“We’re fortunate there to have five guys that we feel comfortable who can go in the game and play good football for us,” Sarkisian said. “Having that ability to rotate those guys has been good for us.”

The same rotation isn’t seen at receiver

The strategy to rotate at safety is one not employed at the wide receiver position. Adonai Mitchell has played in 175 snaps, while Xavier Worthy is not far behind at 165. Jordan Whittington has seen the field for 106 plays.

The receiver who has seen the fourth-most snaps? Johntay Cook, with 24.

Sarkisian explained why he uses a different strategy with his wideouts.

“Any time you start rotating receivers you’ve got to ask yourself, is that what’s in the best interest of our team to be successful in the moment?” Sarkisian said. “The moment I take Xavier off the field, or AD Mitchell off the field, or Jordan Whittington off the field, is that in the best interest?

“I would like to rotate guys more. Last week’s game was really difficult. You only run 52 snaps in the game and you’re in a tight ballgame. You want to make sure that the guys that are running those routes, you have the utmost confidence in to go do it.”

Sarkisian was also asked about Isaiah Neyor, a Wyoming transfer who has been on the field for only eight plays with a single catch in 2023.

“First of all, physically he’s great,” Sarkisian said. “It’s like anything when you have an injury like that, there’s a mental component to it too. I see some really good days. I see some days when it doesn’t feel as good. The challenge for him is finding that level of consistency day in and day out of what he brings and an understanding of what we’re doing.”

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Sark’s thoughts on Sawyer Robertson

Texas will face a backup quarterback for the second straight week when Sawyer Robertson goes under center for the Baylor offense.

“The athleticism for sure, his ability to create outside the pocket,” Sarkisian said regarding what stands out with Robertson. “The other challenge is a little bit of the unknown, right? He hasn’t played a ton of football that way, so you don’t have all the information you’d like.”

This year for the 1-2 Bears, Robertson is 28-for-62 for 444 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. He’s also rushed nine times for 47 yards and a score.

Last week in the Bears’ sole win of the year versus Long Island, Robertson was 10-for-22 for 113 yards and a touchdown. Baylor rushed the ball 48 times for 270 yards and three scores, and saw third-stringer RJ Martinez enter the game late with the game in hand.

Regarding Robertson, Sarkisian said “he’s a guy that I felt like probably played his best football the second half of last week and may be finding his stride a little bit more.”

Texas vs. Baylor kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on ABC Saturday night in Waco.