Texas is set to have a big weekend in Detroit, with nearly double-digit players hoping to have their names called at the 2024 NFL Draft. On-field success under Steve Sarkisian has turned into professional development the program has lacked for years. Sarkisian is “proud” of the players making the jump to the professional ranks, discussing the progress they made.
“I like this whole group,” Sarkisian said. “I’m proud of all of them because I’ve seen the strides of all these guys. Byron Murphy, a three-star kid that nobody was really talking about that is now projected to go in the first round. I love the perseverance that Xavier (Worthy) showed coming out of Year 2 and what he was able to do in Year 3. The development of AD Mitchell when he came on board. I think JT Sanders is still just scratching the surface.
“You guys know I love Jordan Whittington… And I’m leaving out T’Vondre Sweat, Jaylan Ford, Ryan Watts, Keilan Robinson…. Christian Jones, a guy I’ve watched developed over three years. I think he’s got a pretty good chance to be a second-day pick.
Over a decade ago, Texas was producing NFL players as well as anybody out there. Mack Brown recruited at a high level, saw those guys have success at the college level, and then sent them into the league.
But toward the end of Brown’s career and through the next two coaches, the NFL did not come calling to Austin as often. In fact, following Sarkisian’s first year with the program, there were zero Texas players selected in the draft.
Things changed last year, though. Bijan Robinson was the first first-round pick produced by Texas since 2015. A total of five guys were taken and began to speak to the job Sarkisian and his coaches have done on the 40 Acres.
“So, I love the development of our players and I’m proud of those guys,” Sarkisian said. “You got to think back to after Year 1 here, we didn’t have one guy drafted from the University of Texas, which is incredible to me.
“Year 2, we had five with Bijan going in the first round and Roschon (Johnson) and that group. Now, coming out of Year 3, to have 11 players at the NFL Combine and chance to get all those guys drafted — I’m proud of our staff.”
Depending on how things shake out, some NFL Draft droughts can still be snapped for Texas.
If/when Jones gets selected, he will be the first Longhorn offensive lineman to do so since 2018. The position was severely underrecruited and developed under Tom Herman‘s staff but Sarkisian and Kyle Flood have gotten the ball rolling.
Having multiple first-round picks would be historic for Texas too, with the last occurrence coming in 2006 with Vince Young and Michael Huff following the national championship.
Murphy, Mitchell, and Worthy are all hoping to hear their names called on Thursday night.
More must-reads: