We often talk about coaches making big-time plays. The Xs, the Os, and the formation. But the real ones? They shape more than just a game plan; they shape culture. And in Texas Longhorns, Steve Sarkisian isn’t just calling plays. He’s building something deeper. Four years in Texas, and Sarkisian is pulling back the curtain on what changed him. How one man’s ‘discipline’ is now fueling an entire program in burnt orange. “I need them to know who I am and what I have been through,” Sarkisian said. Sarkisian recently shared that in college football, it’s not just about teaching players how to win; it’s about teaching them who to become.
Back in 2015, Sarkisian’s coaching future was hanging by a thread. He got dismissed from USC and succumbed to personal struggles. Many thought his career was flatlined. But Nick Saban offered him a lifeline. The college football titan didn’t just give Sark a job; he gave him a shot at redemption. Starting as an analyst and then OC, Sark soaked up every minute under the most detail-obsessed coach in the game.
“I would not be standing here today without you and what you’ve meant to my career,” he said, addressing Saban. The mentorship went beyond football. In his darkest moment, Sarkisian found structure, discipline, and clarity under Saban’s watchful eye; traits that would later form the cornerstone of his coaching identity.
That identity now defines the Texas Program. Sarkisian has long believed that a football team reflects its head coach. In an appearance in the Josh pate college football show, he said, “I do believe this, I believe the really good teams to your point do take on somewhat the personality of the head coach.”
And Saban was the blueprint. “Coach Saban’s the most disciplined human being I’ve ever been around in my life. I could tell you what the guy’s going to eat for breakfast every day; I can almost predict what he’s going to wear to work on a Wednesday. Um, what is he going to have for lunch that day? What time is he watching third downs? Like he lives a regimented, disciplined life. Well, what is one of the first things that comes out of your mouth when you reference those Alabama football teams that played for Nick Saban? Discipline.” The discipline in Alabama teams seems almost militaristic. It’s the same mentality, grit, and resilience that Sark now instills in Texas.
Since taking over in 2021, Sarkisian has turned Texas into a national contender. A 38-17 record, a College Football Playoff berth, and an SEC Championship appearance have put the Longhorns back in the spotlight. The influence of Saban is unavoidable, but the Texas flavor is all Sark. As the Longhorns head into the heart of SEC competition, eyes are on the NFL draft prospects that have emerged under his watch. Sarkisian has passed on the core lesson he learned in Tuscaloosa: disciplined teams don’t just play hard, they play with purpose.
Nick Saban’s Protégé turns Texas into an NFL Draft Powerhouse
When NFL teams came calling this spring, Texas answered loud and clear. With twelve Longhorns selected in the 2025 NFL draft, a new seven-round program record was set. Sark made a statement. Texas isn’t just competing for championships; it is producing NFL-ready talent at a pace the rest of the country can’t ignore.
From Kevin Banks Jr. going ninth overall to the Saints to Jahdae Barron and Matthew Golden joining him in the first round, the Horns had elite talent flying off the board. Jaydon Blue landed with the Cowboys. Quinn Ewers, once the face of the program, rounded things out in the seventh round. Across the board, linemen, defense, offense: Texas was everywhere. The result? 23 draft picks over the last two seasons. That’s not just impressive; it’s unbelievable.
But beyond the numbers, this draft haul validates everything Sarkisian set out to build when he joined in 2021. He promised development and sustainability. Now with the SEC gauntlet looming and another top-tier recruiting class incoming, the mission is clear: at Texas, the draft is just the beginning. The real prize still lies ahead.
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