Steve Sarkisian Believes Longhorns Are 'Pretty Lucky' In QB Room
Steve Sarkisian knows that you win and lose championships based on the quarterback. Take a look back at the history of national title victors and see which team's struggling passer took the field in a winner-take-all showdown.
For Texas, the quarterback room should be considered a strength. Quinn Ewers is slated to return for his second season as the team's starter, but there's ample depth behind him that could fill the void in case of injury.
Maalik Murphy, who dazzled during the Longhorns' Orange-White spring game last month, elected to stay in Austin despite being courted by multiple programs. And while expected to take over as QB1 eventually, all eyes are on Arch Manning, the highly-touted passer from New Orleans who comes from football royalty.
“We’re pretty lucky in the quarterback room right now," Sarkisian told fans during his visit to Dallas as part of the Texas Fight Tour.
Finding a flaw in the Longhorns' QB room entering the summer is challenging. Vince Young, Matt Nordgren, and Colt McCoy eventually led Texas to a pair of national title appearances, including a championship win over USC in 2005.
The trio of Ewers, Murphy, and Manning could surpass the trio in the new era of College Football Playoff expansion. The Longhorns make the jump to the Southeastern Conference next season, the same year the CFP expands from four to 12 teams.
Ewers' first year on the Forty Acres was mixed. The former five-star from Southlake Carroll looked to be the real deal after his opening drive against then-No. 1 Alabama. He returned from an AC joint injury in time for the Red River Showdown and dominated Oklahoma with a 289-yard, four-touchdown performance.
Ewers struggled down the stretch, tossing five touchdowns against four picks in his final five games. He impressed in the Longhorns' 27-20 Alamo Bowl loss to No. 12 Washington in San Antonio, throwing for season-high 369 yards and a touchdown.
Sarkisian called Ewers a fantastic talent who should continue to elevate his game with another year in the system. Several way-too-early mock drafts predict Ewers to be the third quarterback selected behind USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye.
"Year Two is when you make those strides and become that elite player,” Sarkisian said. “I saw it with [former USC quarterback] Carson Palmer in Year Two; he wins the Heisman Trophy and ends up being the first pick in the draft. I saw it with Matt Leinart. I saw Jake's locker [at Washington]. He ends up being the 10th pick in the draft. So I’ve seen it years and years of playing in our system. I love what Quinn brings.”
Ewers will remain the starter, but Sarkisian gushed over Murphy's growth in the pocket throughout spring. Murphy, a four-star recruit from Junipero Serra (Calif.), missed the entire 2022 season after suffering an ankle injury in his final school game.
Sarkisian never wavered at the thought of benching Murphy but made it clear he wanted the freshman to be "full-go" before taking the field. Murphy shined during the spring game, going 9-of-13 for 165 yards and connecting with freshman Johntay Cook for a 76-yard touchdown.
As for Manning, Sarkisian wants to be patient with the process. Ewers has the physical reps under his belt. Murphy is mentally a year ahead of Peyton and Eli Manning's nephew. While Arch Manning could provide the best upside, confidence has always been an underlying trait of value for quarterbacks.
Thursting Manning into the fire without a safety net would be foolish for Sarkisian. Amid the high accolades from boosters and fans, Sarkisian won't force the top-rated QB into an uncomfortable situation.
Said Sarkisian: “We live in a world of instant gratification. I live in a world of development. And when your number is called, you play great. So I know everybody wants to see [Manning] on the field as fast as we can get him there. I want to make sure when we get him on the field; he could play like the player that he expects to be.”
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