4 takeaways from Steve Sarkisian's SEC media days presser

Texas HC Steve Sarkisian was the final coach to speak at Day 3 of SEC Media Days in Dallas on July 17.
Steve Sarkisian, Texas football
Steve Sarkisian, Texas football / Mikala Compton/American-Statesman / USA
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Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas football
Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas football / Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman

Leadership on both sides of the ball critical to Texas instilling great locker room culture

Sarkisian paid no shortage of compliments to the way that Texas's three representatives carry themselves and how they've grown over their time on campus with the program at media days. Texas has three tremendous players on the field and important leaders in the locker room and the practice field spearheading the jump into the SEC in Banks, Barron, and Ewers, setting the tone this year.

It's clear that Texas could have its best team Sarkisian's ever assembled in his four years in Austin entering the 2024 season. But talent and depth aren't the only components of instilling a good program culture and finding success on the field during the fall.

"There’s an idea of obsession going on in our locker room. They got a taste of what it can taste like, of being a Big 12 champion, playing in a College Football Playoff, and we fell short. This idea of obsession, the obsession that our players have is one that really came from them. They couldn’t wait to get back to work."

Steve Sarkisian

Sarkisian knows that having leaders who can set the tone and carry the message of what this program means and is striving for on and off the field is critical to the longevity and success for the Longhorns in the SEC.

Banks is a great example of a player who's developed into a great player on the field and a potential top 10 NFL Draft pick for next year. But he's also a leader by example off the field who Sarkisian can rely upon to also set an example for the younger guys in the locker room.

"If there’s anyone in our program that I would say go emulate that guy, the way he handles his business on the field or off the field, the way he works, first guy there and last guy off the field, that’s Kelvin Banks."

Steve Sarkisian on Kelvin Banks

In previous years, Texas had guys like running back Roschon Johnson, wide receiver Jordan Whittington, and linebacker Jaylan Ford to set the tone for the younger players to learn and develop for a bright future for this program. Getting that message across this year is up to emerging leaders like Barron on defense and Ewers and Banks on offense.