3 things to know from Steve Sarkisian's Friday post-practice press conference
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian‘s team completed its first fully-padded practice of 2023 on Friday, and the Longhorns’ head man was available to the media ahead of the brief pause for spring break.
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“One week in, and I thought we got three really good days of work,” Sarkisian said. “Obviously the first two days were just helmet, so teaching, learning speed, trying to teach our effort and getting our effort right. Today was definitely a much more physical practice, which we intended to have. That was kind of the structure of what we did. I think there’s a lot to learn from today, the value of still playing physical, knowing what to do, how to do, why to do, and things of that nature.
“I’m pleased with where we’re at through three days, but by no means are we a finished product.”
Here are three things to know from what he said, including notes on first-year wide receivers, how the EDGE positions are faring so far, and Sarkisian’s message to the team ahead of their vacation.
Three first-year wide receivers have moved into the two-deep
Texas returns 10 starters on offense from 2022’s 8-5 campaign, including all three starting wide receivers.
Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington were the mainstays at the position last season, and were the two pass-catchers on the field most considering Texas leaned into heavy usage of 12 personnel. Casey Cain was WR3, played in all 13 and started three for the Longhorns, and ended the year with his best performance in a Texas uniform with a 100-yard game versus Washington in the Alamo Bowl.
That trio represents the first string at wide receiver, a first string that will be tasked with plenty during a season where Texas’ main personnel grouping may have three receivers on the field at once. But behind that group is a trio of players in their first semester at Texas.
Georgia transfer AD Mitchell and early-enrollees Johntay Cook and DeAndre Moore Jr. have all taken second-team reps during the media viewing portions of Texas’ spring practices. All three are also repping at punt return behind Worthy.
“All of a sudden, AD, who showed up, has played a lot of football at a high level at Georgia,” Sarkisian said. “Johntay, I think, has been exposed to a lot of good football there obviously at DeSoto, and has worked at his craft to get there. DeAndre, very good player.”
Of course, injury does play a role in that group’s presence near the top of the depth chart. Isaiah Neyor, a Wyoming transfer who missed all of 2022 with an ACL tear, continues to rehab the injury during spring practice. That gives Mitchell, Cook, and Moore Jr. the chance to make names for themselves during the 15 times the Longhorns take to the Denius Fields.
The group ahead of them has helped the new arrivals adjust to lives as Longhorns. Sarkisian referenced a segment during Friday’s practice where Worthy and Whittington told Cook about a specific defender he needed to block on a certain play. The next chance Worthy had on the field, he made the very same block he was offering instruction about. That got Sarkisian fired up, he explained Friday morning.
“Our veteran guys know what, how, and why, now they can be sometimes that voice for the younger players,” Sarkisian said. “It doesn’t always have to come from us as coaches.”
Sarkisian wants to see development under new receivers coach Chris Jackson at the top, middle, and bottom of the depth chart during the course of spring practice. The three newcomers, so far, have done everything asked of them.
“The competition in that room, I think, is going to be very good,” Sarkisian said. “But in the end, as we’ve touched on, it was a real point of emphasis for ours that the passing game needs to improve for us to be the team we want to be.
“Rolling those guys in and getting them exposed to playing right now, I’m really comfortable with where they’re at.”
Jaray Bledsoe and the EDGEs
One of the areas of intrigue for the Longhorns this spring is at EDGE.
Barryn Sorrell is likely the only player who is well-aware of his role at Jack, or the strongside defensive end role in Pete Kwiatkowski‘s defense.
“Barryn, he’s really developed,” Sarkisian said. “You see what his body looks like today from when he got here, he’s more explosive. He’s faster. He’s created some value for himself with his versatility.”
For every other player under PK’s purview, it’s a spring of opportunity. The departure of Ovie Oghoufo leaves a major hole at Buck, or the weakside defensive end. Plus, after Sorrell, there aren’t a ton of known commodities for the Jack position.
So far, Sarkisian and Kwiatkowski have given a number of players opportunities at both spots. According to Sarkisian, several have already taken advantage.
“I think Justice Finkley has taken a step forward,” Sarkisian said. “I think J’Mond Tapp has taken a step forward. I think Ethan Burke looks like a different guy. We’ve got high expectations for Colton Vasek. I’m probably leaving some people out.”
One player who could factor at Jack and on the interior of the defensive line is redshirt freshman Jaray Bledsoe. A second-year player from Marlin, Bledsoe played in one game last year and has been seen taking reps with Bo Davis‘ interior defensive line group during media viewing portions of practice. However, Sarkisian noted Bledsoe has worked with Kwiatkowski and the EDGEs during spring as well. He said the 6-foot-4, 266-pounder has “position flex” and is also one of the most gifted athletes on the team.
Bledsoe is just one of the options available on the EDGE. At this stage in spring, Sarkisian is content to let players make the most of their opportunities at multiple spots.
“Right now, we’re not trying to pigeonhole anybody anywhere,” Sarkisian said. “We’re letting them roll and seeing how the dust settles at those two spots.”
Spring break
Texas will return to practice on Wednesday, March 22 as the players have the next week off for UT’s spring break. Sarkisian was asked what his emphasis is ahead of the vacation.
“Life is about choices and decisions, and the emphasis is making good choices and decisions,” Sarkisian said. “Like I talked to the team, we’re all watching SportsCenter at night and seeing things with what’s going on in sports right now off the field and off the court with some high-level players. Sometimes, it’s not always the choices and decisions you make, but the choices and decisions of the company you keep and that they’re making.”
Sarkisian challenged his players to make good choices and decisions over the coming days, and also to maintain their physical shape.
“Don’t take two steps back,” he said.
