Something’s cooking deep in the heart of Texas—and it smells like dominance. FOX’s Joel Klatt isn’t mincing words: he has the Texas Longhorns ranked No. 2 in his post-spring top 25. Sitting ahead of every other SEC program as they prepare to enter most brutal gauntlet. That kind of love from Klatt isn’t handed out lightly, especially when you’re the new kid on the SEC block. But Klatt believes this is the dawn of the “Arch Manning era” in Austin. And when you add Steve Sarkisian’s developmental blueprint and a strength program led by Torre Becton, (un)locks become self-explanatory.
The confidence flowing out of Austin isn’t blind optimism. It’s calculated. On a recent sit-down with Josh Pate on the JP CFB Show, Steve Sarkisian peeled back the curtain on how he manages a roster full of high-caliber talent in an era when players are quicker than ever to hit the portal. Pate posed a pointed question: How do you deal with players unhappy over lack of playing time? Sark didn’t flinch. “I sit down with each player and say, hey, here’s where you’re at, okay. Here’s where you can improve, and when you can be honest with them and you can show it to them, now there’s not, well, but this, but that. No, no, no. This is exactly where you sit, and this is exactly where you stand. That’s the first part.”
But Sark didn’t stop there—he flexed the receipts. “In the last three drafts alone, we’ve had 28 players drafted. Well, now those things are a reality in our building, and the fact that they can look to their peers who watch develop and watch grow and now having that opportunity to say, hey, you know what, this is kind of the blueprint, and I may not be where I’m supposed to be right now, but if I keep working, if I keep doing things the right way, that can become a reality for me down the road.” That’s the culture Sarkisian has hammered into this program.
I asked Sark about how he communicates with young players disgruntled over lack of playing time pic.twitter.com/dFteU50JlW
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) May 7, 2025
When you pair that system with a generational prospect like Arch Manning, things start to click. Not everything about Manning has been perfect, but his ceiling is skyscraper-high. In college football jargon, he’s what you call an (un)lock. These guys aren’t sure things—yet. But they’re mold-breakers. They’ve got tools you can’t teach and upside that doesn’t have a cap. That’s how Sarks gave the blueprint of his management: “We have a really simple form that gets filled out by our academic department on every player.” Considering Pate as a player again for example, “He’s got a form. Here’s Josh Pate. Boom. Here’s how he’s doing academically. Here’s our strength and conditioning coach.”
Then, “Tory Becton is going to fill out how he’s doing in the weight room. Boom. Here’s his position coach. Here’s his strengths, weaknesses, things to work on. Boom. Here’s the training room. Here’s how he’s taking care of his body. Here’s where you’re at. Boom. Here’s coach Sark’s comments about any issues that he may have had off the field.”
It helps that Sark has already proven his ability to turn so-called “damaged goods” into NFL-ready studs. Look at how many of Tom Herman’s players looked like they had plateaued—until Becton got a hold of them. The strength and conditioning wizard, alongside Sark’s position coaches, has transformed that roster.
And now, with Texas loaded in the trenches, stacked at receiver, and quarterbacked by Manning, it’s no wonder rival SEC coaches are starting to feel the heat. Sark’s boast wasn’t just for show.
From drought to Draft Day domination, Steve Sarkisian stays flexing
If you needed any more proof that Steve Sarkisian has completely flipped the script at Texas, look no further than the 2025 NFL Draft. The Longhorns saw 12 players hear their names called. A new school record for the seven-round draft era. Only Georgia topped them in the SEC with 13, and nationwide, Texas came in with the third-most drafted players of any program. That’s not just progress—that’s a full-blown glow-up.
For a little perspective, rewind to just three years ago. Texas didn’t have anyone drafted. Fast forward to now? They’re setting records, earning national respect, and getting nods from rival coaches. “Texas had a huge number, set the record,” one SEC coach told ESPN. “Three years ago, they didn’t have anyone. Now he sets the record. That’s pretty impressive by Sark.”
Another SEC OC chimed in with high praise for the Horns’ defense, saying, “Especially on defense, they’re ridiculous.” No kidding. That elite talent has shown up on the field, too, with Texas making the College Football Playoff in back-to-back seasons.
The post Steve Sarkisian’s Boastful NFL Revelation Sounds Alarm for 134 FBS Teams After Rival SEC Coach’s Verdict Turns Head appeared first on EssentiallySports.