What About the Longhorns?

Round one of the NFL’s 2022 draft is in the books. As usual, the big-time athletic programs from big universities from big conferences have stamped their logos on the first round. In fact, in round one alone, Georgia had five players chosen, including the number one overall pick in Travon Walker. Alabama, Michigan and Ohio State each had two players selected.

But does big money always produce big results on draft day? The two wealthiest athletic programs, literally locked in a financial tie according to Sports Illustrated, are right here in the Lone Star State – Texas and Texas A&M. That shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to anyone that lives here, as Texans pride themselves on their football, and football is of course the big money generator when it comes to athletic departments. But is all that money producing dividends when we’re talking about advancing players to the next level? After all, isn’t a university’s main job/objective to prepare its student body for their chosen careers, whether it be in finance, medicine, education, law or even football?

Of course everything that lies ahead in the draft is still speculative, but let’s make an educated comparison of the Aggies and Longhorns and see how we believe each university will fare the remaining two days. With their collective football histories and unlimited funds to spend on facilities and staff, you’d expect both to be a major players on draft weekend. But will that actually be the case?

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A&M saw offensive lineman Kenyon Green go to the Houston Texans with pick number fifteen last night. We also see the Aggies sending defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal, running back Isaiah Spiller and defensive end Michael Clemons to the NFL in them next few rounds. Not too shabby we’d have to say.

But what about UT?

Other Texas schools in addition to the “Big Two” are projected to get some NFL love in the next couple of days as well. Baylor could potentially have six or seven players selected before the NFL rolls up its red carpets and exits Vegas, and UT San Antonio and Houston could both send a couple of players on to the next level. TCU, SMU, Texas Tech and even Sam Houston State all are projected too have a player picked as well.

But what about UT?

Well that’s a good question. We actually see the Longhorn’s best chance to send one of their own into the NFL this year being kicker/punter Cameron Dicker. Yep, a kicker. And some experts have him projected as the last player to be picked in the entire draft – aka Mr. Irrelevant. So how is this incredibly wealthy program, with arguably the country’s most fertile recruiting ground in their backyard, not producing professional prospects on the same level as A&M? Or Baylor? Or even UTSA and Houston??

Part of the problem is their revolving door on head coaches. Since they ran Mack Brown out of Austin in 2013, they’ve had Charlie Strong as the head man for only three years, then Tom Herman for four years, and now Steve Sarkisian is starting only his second season. Top high school prospects want to be assured of two things when they are being recruited: 1) that the coach they commit too will be there for their entire collegiate career, and 2) they will have a shot at playing in the NFL. Neither one of those is good thing for the Longhorns when they hit the recruiting trail.

The SEC is looming large as UT counts down the time until they jump ship from the Big 12. But if things don’t improve drastically (and quickly) in Austin when it comes to the gridiron, how can they hope to compete with the likes of A&M, Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Florida and Ole Miss in the recruiting process? One thing for sure is that successful opposing coaches will be quick to point out the number of players drafted from their squads each year in comparison to UT, and that doesn’t bode well for the Longhorns.