Texas coach Steve Sarkisian: 'Warts, bad apples' slowed team in 2021

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian thinks the team will benefit in 2022 from a little addition by subtraction.

"The kids knew not everybody in that locker room was all-in last year," Sarkisian told ESPN on Wednesday. "I think they could feel it, and they wanted to weed out some of the warts, some of the bad apples. I think they got a sense of reality about some of the things we were talking about and trying to instill last offseason. I don't know how much they gave credence to it, and then those same things reared their ugly head in-season."

Texas began its 2021 season with a 4-1 record before losing six straight, its longest losing streak in more than six decades. The Longhorns finally snapped their slide with a win over Kansas State in the team's season finale, but finished 5-7 on the year.

Sarkisian didn't mention names who dragged down the locker room morale in his first season, but the team has undergone several changes since the 2021 season ended. Over 20 players entered the transfer portal, including starting quarterback Casey Thompson.

Among the newcomers are quarterback Quinn Ewers, who transferred from Ohio State. The Longhorns will also soon add top Class of 2023 quarterback recruit Arch Manning.