Longhorns Looking To Avoid Complacency In Spring Practice

Steve Sarkisian doesn't care about a player's past achievements. Like it, live with it and move on.

The third-year Texas Longhorns coach knows that the program has underachieved over the past decade-plus. Even in his two years at the helm, Texas has failed to make the Big 12 Championship or pick up a 10-win season. And while top-ranked recruits will continue to walk into the building, it's all about the development.

As the Longhorns returned to practice following spring break, Sarkisian shared a message he's been preaching to his players during a pivotal offseason.

"One of the key messages we've been talking to the team about, especially evaluating the first week, is you can't get complacent as a player," Sarkisian said. "Regardless of who you were a year ago, whether you were an All-American, an all-conference, a starter, maybe a reserve player, a special teams player, maybe a redshirt, maybe you're a newcomer here and this is your first time here, you can't just say 'Hey, all right, that's where I am and this is where I'm supposed to be.' You have to continue to strive and work for more, and not fall into the same habits."

Texas lost Doak Walker Award winner and All-American running back Bijan Robinson to the NFL draft. Former All-Big 12 linebacker DeMarvion Overshown also elected to head to the pros after recording 77 tackles in 2022.

That doesn't mean the Longhorns are bare of proven talent. Last season, linebacker Jaylan Ford was a first-team All-Big 12 defender and a third-team All-American. Tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders was named to the All-Big 12 roster after scoring 5 TDs. Freshman offensive lineman Kelvin Banks proved his value as a long-term answer at left tackle and garnered All-Big 12 freshman recognition.

The production from a season ago should be stepping for the young prospects in terms of building their stock for the next level. Nothing, however, is promised. The team that finished 8-5 last December no longer exists, but another version of that roster could if the players act as if their numbers are promised to improve without the work.

“We’re always trying to create new habits to raise our level of play. I think that’s been one of our key messages going into today and will be a key message this week and throughout the rest of spring where we can continue to grow as a program," Sarkisian said. "The only way you can do that is by growing individually as players.”

Sarkisian is also at fault for some of the concerns surrounding the program's complacency. He's 13-12 in his first two years and still has struggled to close out games. Last season, Texas could have finished 10-2 in the regular season, but a pair of second-half collapses against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State ultimately knocked the program out of conference contention.

When asked, the coach said everyone internally could use that same pep talk, himself included in the mix.

"My job as a head coach is to continually try to motivate our players to be the best that they can be," Sarkisian said. "And I just don't want that to settle in. I don't want them to feel like, 'Hey, I'm good. Whoever I am, whatever I am, I'm good.' We all have room for improvement. Coaches, players, everybody."

As the Longhorns prepare for the annual Orange-White game on April 15, Sarkisian is hoping for better competition. The best plan of action? Make it an open battle.

While all eyes are on Quinn Ewers, Maalik Murphy and Arch Manning for the starting quarterback job, Sarkisian is making every position up for grabs. So while Ford, Sanders, Worthy and Jordan Whittington on paper should see the field Week 1 against Rice as starters, a strong showcase from young talent could lead to change.

At least that's how Sarkisian is approaching it in the public eye.

Said Sarkisian: “Everybody should feel like ‘Man if I can push myself to perform at a higher level in order to push the guys around me, whether they’re the guys in front of me on the depth chart or behind me, everybody’s play should step up."

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Longhorns? Click Here to Subscribe to the Longhorns Country Newsletter

Want even more Texas Longhorns? Check out the SI.com team page here

Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook.

Make sure to subscribe to the Longhorns Country Podcast today! Click here To Listen.