Live Updates: Steve Sarkisian recaps KU, previews regular season finale with Baylor
The No. 24 Texas Longhorns sit at 7-4 after a dominant 55-14 win over the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kan. and have just one game remaining in the 2022 schedule with the Baylor Bears.
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Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian will be available to the media today at noon Central. The press conference will be aired on Longhorn Network and TexasSports.com, and the audio will be available on 104.9 The Horn in Austin.
Steve Sarkisian updates
Steve Sarkisian: “I thought we played a really complementary football game. When you look at all three phases and the style of play capitalizing on opportunities in the environment and the elements, I thought that really showed up.”
Steve Sarkisian: “A lot of our seniors deserve and need that recognition. It’s their last time in DKR playing in DKR, so want to make sure they have a special memory of that.”
Steve Sarkisian: “It feels kind of like a playoff game. We’ve got to take care and do our part. We all understand and know the ramifications of where we’re at in the Big 12. Again, we don’t shy away from those things. We’ve got to do our part Friday at 11 a.m. and see what happens after that.”
Steve Sarkisian: “Short week, the guys came back with a great deal of energy and a lot of focus for what we’re trying to get done Friday. A lot to be proud of for the season, but more work to do. That’s kind of the approach we have.”
Steve Sarkisian: “I think competition is healthy for all of us. I think to anoint anybody for the future, that probably wouldn’t be fair to the other guys in that room. Quinn’s made some really good strides. I know there’s opportunities he probably would like to have back throughout the year. I think Hudson has really improved. I thought he was really valuable for us early in the season when we needed him. I think Maalik Murphy is another guy who’s got a bunch of upside. We’ve seen a lot of development in him. Like in every year, we’ll go into the offseason and wipe the slate clean and let these guys compete and battle and see what it looks like because that’s what makes us better. Ultimately, when other guys are working at their craft, that should motivate us to want to continue to improve our game. That would be no different than any other position. We have to give everybody those opportunities or we’re not living up to the idea that we’re a developmental program and if you don’t give guys the opportunity to develop and then show what they’re capable of then I’m speaking out of both sides of my mouth. That’s not right. I always try to be up front and honest with our guys, so competition is at the forefront of our program to go along with the development. That position is no different.”
Steve Sarkisian on Baylor: “They’ve got great balance. I’m impressed with their ability to run the football with the different runners that go in. I think the quarterback has really emerged in his style of play. Got a very athletic, good offensive line with a good scheme. The run game, the play-pass, they do a nice job getting the quarterback on the perimeter. He’s a very good athlete. All those things add up to it’s a tough scheme defensively.”
Steve Sarkisian on conversations with Bijan Robinson: “I always try to put those kinds of talks on until after (the season). I think that can create clutter among those guys.”
Steve Sarkisian says he says there’s a positive with regards to NIL in that it can help players decide to come back and play for their senior season as opposed to searching for professional opportunities.
Steve Sarkisian: “They’ve got a really good rush defense at Baylor. Quinn’s probably going to have to play and we’re going to ask more of him this Friday than we did last Saturday.”
Steve Sarkisian: “I saw a lot of highlight type things and a lot of ‘we can build off of that.’ I also saw some inconsistency in there, which is understandable for some of those guys first-time real action playing. Those game reps are invaluable when you actually have to be out there on the field, and do it against quality people. I think this is going to be good for them for their future.”
Steve Sarkisian on Roschon Johnson: “I think he’s making good progress. You never know coming out of a ballgame when a guy gets injured. We took some precautions there removing him from the game, but he’s making good progress to get back, so that’s a positive.”
Steve Sarkisian: “I think when you talk about what is a Texas Longhorn football player, in my mind I think of Roschon Johnson because he’s a selfless player.”
Steve Sarkisian on portal discussions: “I won’t have any of those discussions until our regular season is done.” — “The ultimate decision is this: if a young man wants to be at the University of Texas, that’s who we want to be here playing football for us. If they’re wondering should I? Should I not? Maybe the grass is greener somewhere else? This probably isn’t the place for you because ultimately you have to be fully invested into this thing to get the results out of it that you’re looking for.”
Steve Sarkisian: “I thought our defensive line all year and really in the second half of the season has been playing at a really high level.”
Steve Sarkisian: “We write the script as the staff, (the players) got to make the movie, and you know who some of those key roles are going to be in that movie that day.” — “In those elements, you’ve got to be able to find a way to run the ball.”
