Texas is back (in the draft room), what the Horns’ NFL pipeline means for the program

The Longhorns are back in the draft room

"Texas. Is. Back!" For years, this phrase has been thrown around in a desperate cry by Longhorns fans to convince themselves—and everyone else—that glory has been restored. Their play on the field the last two years suggests they are as close to "back" as they have been in a while, but that isn't what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the draft room. I'm talking about pros.

Last year, Texas had 11 players taken in the NFL draft, the most under the current seven-round format. This year's class looks just as deep, with Todd McShay of The Ringer having 13 Longhorns in his Top 300 Big Board. If this becomes the new norm—and there's no reason why it shouldn't—College Football Playoff berths should be the floor of what fans can expect from this program.

From five-star hype to five-year vet: Texas is closing the gap

Texas has always been able to hang its hat on recruiting wins. They've never lacked for four and five-star prospects, and year-over-year, they've fielded classes that rivaled the best programs in the country. The problem? That talent never materialized into green room invites and draft day selections. It almost began to feel like a running joke: Texas was where blue-chip prospects underwhelmed.

Under coach Steve Sarkisian, the program looks to be flipping that narrative. Over the last two seasons, we've seen the changes. Players are developing. They're improving and maximizing their potential. They're getting drafted—16 players over the last two years. From the trenches to the skill positions, Texas is back to filling NFL roster spots at every level of the depth chart. That changes how the country sees the program—and how recruits do, too.

And it's not just the premier prospects. Guys like Gunnar Helm and Barryn Sorrell—three-star high school prospects—might not be the sexiest names in football circles, but they're exactly the kind of mid-to-late round grinders that every NFL team needs and loves. Texas isn't just developing its stars. They're developing future pros at every level.

Draft results are the new recruiting pitch

In today's college football landscape, it's not enough to win signing day. You have to win the draft, too. The best high school prospects are attending programs with an eye on becoming professionals. These aren't pipe dreams–they're expectations. Recruits want to know they're walking into a program that can get them drafted into The League. A program that can't deliver that? Well, those players are going to look elsewhere.

Right now, Texas has proof of concept. Double-digit selections last year, with this year's draft class likely to produce the same. Recruits and their families notice that. NIL has changed the college landscape, but player development is still the trump card.

Speaking with ESPN's Hannah Storm, Coach Sarkisian emphasized the importance of aligning play development with NFL expectations. "I think it's development, right?" Sarkisian said. "You look at the measurables that are coming out of high school...But then, when we get them, how are we developing them within schemes that resonate with the NFL?" I believe the answer to that question is, "incredibly well." Now the challenge isn't proving it can be done—it's proving it can endure.

Elevated standards, elevated stakes

Draft success is great. It means you're taking players and helping them realize their dreams. But it also raises expectations. You send guys to The League, win double-digit games, and make back-to-back semifinals in the College Football Playoff? We don't call that a "nice season" anymore. That's your new normal.

For Sark and this Texas program going forward, nothing short of a berth in the College Football Playoff will be accepted, especially with the new 12-team format. You miss out on that, and your season is a catastrophe. The best programs don't just make a run or two, and they certainly don't rebuild. They reload. Not just players, but coaches too.

Ask Kirby Smart, Nick Saban, or anyone else who's built a winner in college football. When you win, other schools want your coaches. This is what Texas wants, and they should. But the margin for error shrinks, the spotlight gets brighter, and the noise only intensifies when you fall short. And that's exactly where Texas wants to be.

The draft room says you're back. Now prove it.

Texas is finally doing what elite programs are supposed to do: win big, develop talent, churn out pros. But with that comes pressure. The whole "we're getting close" era is done. The time is now. This program doesn't just want any seat at the table–they want to sit at the head of it. The Longhorns are producing pros again, and that means the results have to follow.

The draft room says Texas is back. Now it's time to prove it on the field.