Sarkisian Says More Longhorns Roster Shake-Up Could Be Coming
AUSTIN - The Texas Longhorns are progressing quickly through their third spring football camp under head coach Steve Sarkisian, and the new-look roster is beginning to take shape.
Among those new additions, are several players from the NCAA Transfer Portal, including wideout AD Mitchell, corner Gavin Holmes, and safety Jalen Catalon - each of whom is expected to have a significant impact next season.
The Longhorns have also lost several key players, such as QB Hudson Card and offensive linemen Junior Angilau and Andrej Karic, among others.
However, per Steve Sarkisian, the movement via the transfer portal may not yet be finished.
“The reality of it is we’ll probably have some movement at the end of spring, going and coming,” Sarkisian said. “I don’t know exactly what it’s going to look like yet. I don’t know if some players have made decisions or not. Ultimately, that’s the time we’re in nowadays.”
In today's college football landscape, this should come as no surprise, with a good portion of players opting to search for a better opportunity for more playing time if they find their current prospects on the depth chart dwindling.
And while some coaches may not like to indicate exactly where a player stands to lessen the risk of losing a talented player to the portal, Steve Sarkisian takes the opposite approach.
“I think you’d like to have an idea of remotely where you’re at,” Sarkisian said. “I meet with every player at the end of spring and I like to tell them where they’re at. ‘If we were playing next Saturday, this is where you would be on the depth chart.'"
Not only that, but he also gives them the opportunity to see their standing and take it as a challenge to either improve or figure out what is best for themselves and their future.
"That doesn’t mean it’s the end-all-be-all," Sarkisian continued. "‘Here’s what you need to work on to either keep that spot or what you need to do to earn that spot that’s in front of you.' We like to have an idea mostly so we can be honest and realistic with them of where they’re at, and then what they need to do moving forward to become the best player that they can.”
It is unclear as of now exactly where the soon-to-be turnover could take place on the roster.
And with tight competition all around the roster on both sides of the ball at nearly every position, things could get interesting for the Longhorns going forward.
You can follow Matt Galatzan on Twitter @MattGalatzan
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.
