3 biggest storylines for Steve Sarkisian at SEC Media Days
The first-ever SEC Media Days appearance for Texas football head coach Steve Sarkisian is just a few days as of the writing of this article on July 14. Sarkisian will take the stand at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, TX, on July 17 for his day at the press conferences for SEC Media Days.
Texas football's Steve Sarkisian to take the stage at SEC Media Days on Wednesday
The fourth-year Texas head coach will surely have a bright spot on him, along with Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables, as the Red River rivals embark on their first media days as SEC members and not in the Big 12.
It's also noteworthy that the players representing the Longhorns at media days, and joining Sarkisian will be redshirt junior quarterback Quinn Ewers, junior offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., and super senior defensive back Jahdae Barron.
Media days often serve as a marker of the offseason almost being over and teams being very close to putting on the pads and helmets for the start of fall/training camp. In Texas's case, it will only be a couple of weeks after SEC Media Days when summer workouts conclude and the players report for the start of training camp.
1. Status of key position groups entering preseason camp
Texas did a lot of work in the portal this offseason to replenish the talent and depth at key position groups on both sides of the ball during the winter and spring transfer windows. Defensive tackle and wide receiver are two areas where the Longhorns staff specifically addressed key needs with immediate-impact transfers and to bolster the depth for the grind week in and week out in the SEC.
Grad transfer defensive tackles Jermayne Lole, Tia Savea, and Bill Norton were brought in from the portal to man the interior defensive line rotation alongside returning seniors Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton.
Texas also got three immediate-impact receivers from the portal this winter and spring, including Silas Bolden, Matthew Golden, and Isaiah Bond. All three transfer receivers will compete for starting spots in their own rights in the receving corps before this upcoming season in training camp.
If Sarkisian is confident in the states of both the defensive tackle and wide receiver rooms, that is a great sign that Texas's staff made the right moves to fill key positional needs this offseason amid roster turnover.
It would also be good to hear Sarkisian address the progress of groups that experienced heavier turnover on the roster this offseason, such as defensive back, tight end, and linebacker.