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Steve Sarkisian hints at recruiting pitch offered to 2023 recruits, portal prospects

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook07/06/22josephcook89
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Steve Sarkisian (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian would love to talk about Five-Star Plus+ quarterback and Longhorn commit Arch Manning, as well as the host of prospects who followed the New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman signal-caller recently in joining UT’s 2022 recruiting class. NCAA rules restrict coaches from doing so, but both coaches and media alike have figured out how to speak in generalities in order to touch on a subject without naming specific prospects.

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Both Sarkisian and Greg McElroy, a former Alabama quarterback and host of Always College Football, fall into that category. During the show’s debut episode, McElroy asked Sarkisian what the message to all the recruits who joined the fold after the 5-7 2021 season has been.

“I think there’s a lot that goes into it from a recruiting standpoint, but at the end of the day great players want to play with other great players in a program where they feel like they’re going to be developed not only on the football field but off the football field,” Sarkisian said. “We’ve got an amazing product at the University of Texas. When you start talking about a world class education in the city of Austin, which is the fastest growing city in the United states and unbelievable economy, to go along with a blueblood program, right? The history and tradition here at the University of Texas is tremendous, and now getting to really know the recruits on a personal level, the fact that they’re going to come in and compete at their own position group with quality players, that every day in practice the guy lined up across from him is a quality player that’s going to push him to get better.”

McElroy’s question also gave mention to the transfer portal, where Sarkisian found seven players who are vying for playing time in the 2022 season. The highest profile of these transfers was Quinn Ewers, a former Five-Star Plus+ himself. He joins a room with multi-game starter Hudson Card and true freshman Maalik Murphy, where a competition will determine who is under center come week one versus Louisiana-Monroe.

Manning will join that quarterback room in 2023, only creating more competition with other highly-touted prospects. According to Sarkisian, players who truly want to be the best welcome the type of challenge provided by a loaded position room, whether that be at quarterback room or any other spot.

“Getting yourself surrounded by like-minded individuals like yourself when you’re driven, when you’re focused, when you want to be the best, that inspires us to be even better,” Sarkisian said. “I think that the guys we’ve recruited, whether it’s been in the portal or out of the high school ranks, recognize that and they’re not afraid of the competition because that ultimately is what drives those types of individuals to be the best.”

Texas currently has the No. 4 class in the nation according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings.

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