Steve Sarkisian Does the Unthinkable for Arch Manning After Texas HC Forced Into Tough QB Admission

Now that’s how you rise from the ashes! The Natty must still be haunting Texas Longhorns’ head coach Steve Sarkisian in his dreams. And he came with the perfect answer for the haters. What better way to make a comeback than to be leading the recruiting race? For the 2025 class, the Longhorns hold the top rank. However, Sarkisian does not want to waste any further time, as he has started to lay the foundation of his 2026 recruiting class. Texas is just one step behind landing a triple jackpot. All because of someone special. That’s none other than Arch Manning. Meanwhile, the quarterback position is giving Sarkisian cold sweat as he comes with a bitter admission to swallow down.

Let’s take a dive into exploring the recruiting superpower that Sarkisian is blessed with. In 2025, the Texas HC landed five 5-stars, thirteen 4-stars, and seven 3-stars players. Thus, the Longhorns hold the No.1 rank as per On3’s 2025 Industry Ranking football Team Recruiting Rankings. However, when it comes to the 2026 recruiting class, Sarkisian has a long way to go to catch up to the No.1 rank. They have landed only one 5-star, two 4-stars, and one 3-star as of now. But that does not mean that the head coach is sitting back and chilling. He has placed his seeds in the recruiting field. Now they are waiting for it to germinate. If luck is in Texas’ favor, Sarkisian can very well not bag just one weapon, not two, but THREE gems. After all, Texas will have to address the challenges it faces on its O-line.  

Sep 7, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian reacts in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The University of Texas has lost two edge rushers, Tausili Akana and J’Mond Tapp, to the NCAA Transfer Portal. Sarkisian is now running to hunt down Hun School EDGE Luke Wafle, the No.5 edge rusher in the country, and the No.1 prospect in New Jersey. On the April 19 episode of the On3 podcast, analyst Steve Wiltfong tagged him as “the most readymade prospect in the 2026 class to have an instant impact at whichever college he chooses.” The 6’6,” 251-pounder is blessed with great length, massive hands, and he is a high motor player. Even though Wafle has made a trip to Austin four times, Sarkisian will have to fight the race with Ohio State and Penn State. But where does Longhorns stand? “He loves where Texas is at as a program,” assured Wiltfong.

Next in line in Sarkisian’s radar is cornerback Samari Matthews. After his Austin visit, the analyst shared the cornerback’s take. “He told me that Texas made a big step forward in his recruitment after visiting this weekend. It exceeded his expectations.” In this case, Texas will be running the race with Clemson, Florida State, and South Carolina. Matthews has racked up 58 solo tackles, 4 interceptions, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 pass deflection. This makes him a playmaker. 

The third one in Sarkisian’s incoming jackpot is defensive lineman James Johnson. Sarkisian lost plenty of defensive line depth this offseason. Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton have moved on to the NFL, while former high school recruits Jaray Bledsoe, Sydir Mitchell, and Aaron Bryant all transferred to other schools. So, the Longhorns need to land the No. 87 recruit in the country and the No. 10 defensive lineman at any cost. While Sarkisian chases the recruits, he is yet to find peace of mind as a major concern looms. 

Steve Sarkisian’s quarterback faces spring struggles 

Well, he 19-year-old Arch Manning already has the 2026 NFL spotlight shining over him. While he is said to be on the 2x Super Bowl champ, Las Vegas Raiders’ wish list, he might also land with the New Orleans Saints. However, as of now, the quarterback needs to focus on what he has on his plate right now. It’s a new chapter for Sarkisian, now that Quinn Ewers is gone and Manning is leading the way. That’s why the head coach recognizes being the No. 1 on the depth chart is a little different, and it might take his quarterback a bit to adjust when it’s time to put up or shut up.

On that note, Coach Sark hit the elephant in the room without being blind to Manning’s love. “I think one, the exposure he got last season was helpful. He got two career starts. He started as our quarterback in the first SEC game in the history of the school. And those were not all perfect.” Well, Manning’s 2024 feat was a mixed bag. As Sarkisian noted, “Granted, there were some great moments. He threw nine touchdowns and almost a thousand yards. There was a couple of bad picks in there too.” But he believes that, in a way, the bad times helped shape the quarterback in some way or the other. 

“But we are fortunate that he got exposed to some of that, and he threw a couple bad picks, and it was OK.” Turns out that the woes for Steve Sarkisian’s quarterback are not going to end anytime soon. Spring comes with troubles overloaded. As J.D. PicKell sounded an alarm, “Around Arch Manning, the receiver position is a little bit limited.” The trio- wide receiver Emmett Mosley V, Ryan Wingo, and DeAndre Moore were limited during the spring practice. So, that’s how tough times are ahead for Manning.

The post Steve Sarkisian Does the Unthinkable for Arch Manning After Texas HC Forced Into Tough QB Admission appeared first on EssentiallySports.