Steve Sarkisian isn’t buying the panic around Arch Manning.
After Texas turned in another uneven preseason scrimmage weekend - including four giveaways in 120 plays on Saturday - Sarkisian was asked Monday whether he had any concerns about his quarterback. The answer came quickly.
"He's had a great camp, man. I'm really pumped about it," Sarkisian said.
That confidence came with some specific praise, too. Sarkisian pointed to the chemistry Manning has built with Texas’ expected starting receivers - Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V - and also noted the work he’s done with the Longhorns’ new backs.
The scrutiny on Manning has been predictable after a 2025 season that started quietly and finished with a lot more life. In his first seven games, he averaged 207 passing yards per game, completed 60.3% of his throws and totaled 12 touchdown passes against five interceptions. Over his final six games, though, the numbers moved sharply in the right direction: 285.7 passing yards per game, 14 touchdowns, two interceptions and a completion rate of 62.3%.
"I'm excited for him," Sarkisian said. "I think he's going to play really well. We've got two more weeks to continue to sharpen up, but I'm excited for where he's at and what type of camp he's had."
Asked what Manning still needed to show over those final two weeks, Sarkisian didn’t dress it up.
"Feel like that's a loaded question," Sarkisian said. "But I'm going to go with: Get better."
Sarkisian also addressed a key personnel issue along the offensive line, and for now Andre Cojoe is staying put. The Texas coach said over the weekend that Cojoe had become the Longhorns’ third tackle, a role that would matter if Trevor Goosby has to miss time while recovering from a bone bruise in his knee.
On Monday, Sarkisian was asked whether Cojoe might slide into a permanent guard role once Goosby returns. Right now, Texas’ starting guards appear to be Laurence Seymore - who Sarkisian said was back at practice Monday after a minor injury - and Brandon Baker.
"We need (Cojoe) to be a really good tackle right now," Sarkisian said. "We'll be fine at guard. I think, obviously, the situation that we're in right now, these are valuable reps.
"Like Trevor was (in 2024) for us, the value of having a third tackle is so important. I think back to that '24 season. If we don't have Trevor Goosby, I don't know that we're in the semifinals against Ohio State."
Sarkisian also gave a notable update on Jonah Williams, even if he stopped short of revealing anything close to a full depth chart. Texas still hasn’t locked in a replacement for Michael Taaffe next to Jelani McDonald at safety, but Williams has been making a push in camp and could factor heavily in 2026.
"I would say we are counting on Jonah, and we're pushing him," Sarkisian said. "He's come a long way from where he was those first three or four practices to where he is today; extremely encouraging.
And I'm not just talking about on defense. I'm talking about special teams as well."
Williams drew public praise from Sarkisian Monday morning after a play on Texas’ punt coverage team. The sophomore and former five-star is finally healthy after injuries limited him through most of the 2025 season, when he logged 71 defensive snaps and 84 on special teams.
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Texas Still Has A Shot At A Huge Five Star Line Win
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Texas Transfer Newcomers Are Already Shaping Key Camp Battles
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Sarkisian has also pointed to the way the newcomers and returning players are blending as the Longhorns get closer to the real work of the season. For Texas, the appeal of this part of camp is not just identifying who plays, but how quickly the transfers can settle into the system and make the roster stronger where it needed it most. [Read more 🡒]