Arch Manning on learning from Quinn Ewers to be Texas Longhorns QB
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning spoke about his relationship with Quinn Ewers and all the media craze he’s received since being at Texas.
Few Texas football fans shed a tear when Longhorns athletic director Chris Del Conte unexpectedly fired Tom Herman as head coach and replaced him with Steve Sarkisian in December 2020.
After all, Herman didn’t make many friends in the athletic department and compiled a mediocre 15-8 record in the two seasons following a surprising run to the Sugar Bowl in 2018.
But Herman deserves credit for restocking the football cupboard after three barren seasons during Charlie Strong’s coaching tenure from 2014-16. Don’t believe it? Just take a look at the past two NFL drafts, when Texas has sent more players to the pros than any other collegiate program.
The Longhorns had 23 total players selected in 2024 and 2025, which is the most productive two-draft span by the program since the NFL reduced its draft to seven rounds in 1994. Thirteen of those players were recruited by Tom Herman out of high school, including six from this past weekend’s draft, when Texas set a school record in the seven-round era with 12 selections.
Let’s break down how the Longhorns’ record-setting drafts in 2024 and 2025 happened, from signing days to signing that first NFL contract:
Tom Herman: Former coach filled cupboard
The 2020 and 2021 recruiting classes by Herman didn’t get much praise considering they ranked No. 9 and No. 15, respectively, in 247Sports’ composite national rankings. But these two classes formed the bulk of the Longhorns’ record draft haul over the past two seasons.
The 2020 class compiled by Herman included linebacker Jaylan Ford (fifth round, 2024 draft), defensive back Jahdae Barron (first, 2025), defensive tackle Alfred Collins (second, 2025) and defensive tackle Vernon Broughton (third, 2025).
Herman also signed all but one future NFL player in the 2021 recruiting class before Sarkisian took over the program, including defensive tackle Byron Murphy (first, 2024), running back Jonathon Brooks (second, 2024), tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (fourth, 2024), tight end Gunnar Helm (fourth, 2025), edge Barryn Sorrell (fourth, 2025) and offensive lineman Hayden Conner (sixth, 2025).
Receiver Xavier Worthy (first, 2024) was signed by Sarkisian in spring 2021 after originally committing to Michigan.
Herman also signed three other members of the past two Longhorn draft classes, including offensive lineman Christian Jones (fifth, 2024) in 2018, defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat (second, 2024) and receiver Jordan Whittington (sixth, 2024) in 2019.
Sarkisian and his staff have touted their ability to develop players into NFL talents, especially when the coaches hit the recruiting trail. The numbers provide some proof: Of the 13 future NFL picks that Sarkisian inherited from Herman, six had just three recruiting stars based on 247Sports’ composite rankings. That group includes Sweat (Huntsville), Jones (Cypress Woods), Ford (Frisco Lone Star), Helm (Edgewood, Colo.), Sorrell (New Orleans) and Conner (Katy Taylor).
Steve Sarkisian: First full recruiting cycle already produces three pros
Not counting the late addition of Worthy to the 2021 recruiting class, Sarkisian and his staff have had just three full recruiting cycles. That means any potential pros signed by Sarkisian out of high school could declare for the 2025 NFL draft after three collegiate seasons.
Three Longhorns did just that this offseason, including offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. (first, 2022), running back Jaydon Blue (fifth, 2022) and offensive lineman Cam Williams (sixth, 2022).
Quinn Ewers: Three-year transfer led portal pros
Six transfers have been a part of the past two NFL draft classes for Texas, and all of them came to Austin as part of Sarkisian’s transfer recruiting classes.
Sarkisian signed running back Keilan Robinson (fifth, 2024) from Alabama before his first season at Texas in 2021 as well as cornerback Ryan Watts (sixth, 2024) and quarterback Quinn Ewers (seventh, 2025) from Ohio State before the 2022 season. Receiver Adonai Mitchell (second, 2024) came from Georgia for one season in 2023, and receiver Matthew Golden (first, 2025) and defensive back Andrew Mukuba (second, 2025) arrived before the 2024 season.
Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Access all of our best content with this tremendous offer.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
