Texas football tabbed as one of CFB’s most improved teams post-spring

Among the most hotly-discussed teams around the college football landscape during spring camp in the last couple of months was Texas football. Texas is in the midst of an offseason where the roster is being rebuilt to contend at a higher level in the Big 12 and on the national scene.

And it looks like some in the media are taking notice of the strides that second-year head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns are making this spring. Texas has multiple big-time additions by way of the NCAA Transfer Portal so far this offseason, and Sark and his staff signed a very highly touted 2022 recruiting class.

Those two factors are helping to contribute to more hype for the Longhorns ahead of the 2022 season. Sark and the Longhorns also getting another year to get settled in with this program is an additional factor that could help this team progress this fall compared to last season.

A piece from Brad Crawford of 247Sports this week included the Longhorns on a list among the most improved college football teams since spring ball. There were five teams included on this list, and the Longhorns were the only program from the Big 12 in the mix.

The other four teams that were included on this list were the USC Trojans, Ole Miss Rebels, Miami Hurricanes, and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Texas football and HC Steve Sarkisian included among the most improved teams of the spring

A few of the reasons noted as to why the Longhorns are one of the most improved college football teams of the spring include the additions of immediate impact players out of the portal such as quarterback Quinn Ewers, improved locker room culture, and another year for these players in the system under Sark and his staff. Crawford seems to be high on what Sark brings to the table for this developing Texas squad in 2022.

Here’s more on what this 247Sports piece had to say about the placement of Texas on this list.

"Perhaps the most positive development coming out of Austin at the conclusion of the spring season with Sarkisian admitting a noticeable attitude shift across the program. The lack of accountability was a major issue during last fall’s disastrous campaign and now, Sarkisian said there’s a sense of urgency and more buy-in when he was asked to touch on the growth of his program. Players have taken ownership of the product and that is half the battle when developing cohesion and synergy throughout the team, Sarkisian said."

There are multiple reasons for the heightened optimism regarding the Longhorns’ outlook for the upcoming season. But cautious optimism should be held by the Longhorns faithful as it relates to realistic expectations for this fall.

Texas still needs a lot of pieces to fall in their favor if they are to contend in the Big 12 in 2022. Ewers has to at least come close to living up to the hype as the starting quarterback this fall, and the defense has to make some pretty big strides in Big 12 play. Those are just two factors that need to come together in order for Texas to reach new heights this fall.

Texas finished up last season with a record of 5-7 (3-6 Big 12), missing out on bowl season for the first time since 2016. Sark and the Longhorns are set to open up the 2022 regular season on Sep. 3 at home against Louisiana-Monroe.