Steve Sarkisian reveals leader in Texas' locker room Saturday

Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns finally snapped their six-game losing streak on Friday, and they did so despite the odds being stacked against them, with Roschon Johnson playing the role of the hero.

Not only did Sarkisian’s team trail 17-16 at halftime — only to shut out Kansas State in the second half and score two field goals to win 22-17 — but they also did so without star running back Bijan Robinson, who sustained a season-ending injury. In Robinson’s absence, Johnson took over as the Longhorns’ lead back, and Johnson excelled. He took 31 carries for 179 rushing yards and a touchdown, while adding a 10-yard reception.

Johnson made up for the loss of Robinson, and Sarkisian credited Johnson for his performance and leadership. After Friday’s result, Sarkisian said he’s further solidified himself as Texas’ leader.

“I think it’s helpful. I would say to — I don’t know if anybody in that locker room — everybody in that locker room respects No. 2,” Sarkisian said of Johnson. “I don’t think today was needed for that to happen. But I do think it’s helpful. He’s a warrior. But he also stands true to what he believes in. And whether it’s standing up in the locker room and demanding more of others, but then, like I’ve said before, the only thing he knows how to demand more of others is to give more of himself. And I think today was a prime example of he knew what it was like going into the game.”

Texas’ losing streak saw the Longhorns blow some incredible leads, too. First, against Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown, Sarkisian watched Texas blow a 28-7 first-half deficit, the second-largest comeback in Oklahoma program history. Perhaps even worse is that Texas lost three-straight against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Baylor in heartbreaking fashion, as the Longhorns blew a double-digit second-half lead in each contest. Friday was a different story. Instead, the Longhorns were the ones executing the comeback, and it was in large part thanks to Johnson.

“And mind you, the guy’s not 100 percent, he’s still dealing with a toe issue that’s been going on,” Sarkisian said of Johnson. “He was an emergency player two weeks ago, today he carries the ball 31 times. I think in the end, if you didn’t respect him, I think you respect him now, but I’d be hard-pressed to think there was a guy in that locker room that didn’t respect No. 2.”

Though Texas’ second-half comeback was made possible with two Cameron Dicker field goals, Johnson was the bellcow back, carrying the offense into opposing field position. Texas still found itself ending the season with fewer than six wins, going 5-7 for the first time since 2016, Charlie Strong’s last year at the helm. Moreover, the Longhorns are not eligible for a bowl game for the first time since then. However, they were able to end on a high note in Sarkisian’s first year.