Longhorns Country

Steve Sarkisian Throws Out First Pitch to Jonah Williams at Texas vs. Texas A&M

The Texas Longhorns pulled out all of the star power prior to the start of the first-ever SEC series against the Texas A&M Aggies.
Zach Dimmitt|
Texas Longhorns head football coach Steve Sarkisian takes a photo with pitcher Jonah Williams (55) ahead of the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, April 25, 2025.
Texas Longhorns head football coach Steve Sarkisian takes a photo with pitcher Jonah Williams (55) ahead of the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, April 25, 2025. | Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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AUSTIN -- Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian made an appearance at UFCU Disch-Falk Field Friday night prior to the first-ever SEC series between No. 1 Texas and Texas A&M.

Sarkisian, a former baseball player himself, threw out an impressive first pitch to none other than freshman two-sport star Jonah Williams, who plays left field for the baseball team and safety for the football team once he joins them ahead of fall camp.

According to Jeff Howe of OnTexasFootball, Sarkisian's pitch was logged at 58 miles per hour, a solid number for the 51-year-old.

Steve Sarkisian
Texas Longhorns head football coach Steve Sarkisian throws the first pitch ahead of the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday, April 25, 2025. | Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Longhorns would go on to win the first game of the series 2-1 thanks to a late home run from Tommy Farmer.

Take a look at Sarkisian's pitch:

While speaking with the media recently, Sarkisian talked about how impressed he's been with Williams, who has made his way into the starting lineup in the middle of SEC play. Despite catching the first pitch, he missed Friday's series opener as he continues to deal with an injury. He was listed as a game-time decision against the Aggies.

"The guy is out there looking like Juan Soto right now," Sarkisian said. “He’s playing on some big time series right now, he’s got a great opportunity, and he’s maximizing."

Sarkisian has also talked about his relationship with Texas baseball head coach Jim Schlossnagle and how they are in communication when it comes to balancing things for Williams.

"I think it's really important that [Schlossnagle] and I work well together, we've got a great relationship," Sarkisian said. "I did the dual-sport thing there for a couple years, so I respect it, what he's going through. He's maximizing that meeting time with us when he has that time, and then there will be that natural transition."

The Longhorns already have a ton of talent in the defensive secondary headed into the fall. Eventually adding Williams to the fold could make Texas' defense even more dangerous in 2025.

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Zach Dimmitt
ZACH DIMMITT

Zach Dimmitt is the Deputy Editor for Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI. He also contributes as a writer for the On SI channels of the Oregon Ducks, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Buffalo Bills on SI, Philadelphia Eagles on SI and Seattle Seahawks on SI. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Dimmitt received his Bachelor’s Degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin in 2022. He originally started with SI’s Fan Nation network in 2021, providing extensive coverage of the NFL and NBA along with college football and basketball. In that time, Dimmitt has published thousands of stories and has reached millions of people across multiple fan bases. You can follow him on X at @ZachDimmitt7

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