After historic NFL draft, can Texas' Steve Sarkisian reload and not rebuild? | Golden

Longhorn Nation had a good reason to puff out its collective chest over the weekend.

The local football team had its most bountiful NFL draft harvest in 40 seasons, and we spent three days listening to analysts on the NFL Network and ESPN giving coach Steve Sarkisian props for what he has done to build this program and develop quality pro prospects over the last three years.

Texas had at least five players picked in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2008 and that speaks to what Sarkisian is creating in Austin. Consistent representation in the draft is the biggest indicator of a program on the ascent.

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Now the real work starts.

Eleven Longhorns will likely be cashing NFL paychecks this fall, which means 11 quality players will not be on the Texas roster. Sarkisian’s mission is to replicate what we’ve been seeing from coaches like Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Alabama’s Nick Saban.

With the SEC debut coming in a mere few months, the Longhorns have to show the ability to reload and not rebuild. Just five years ago, that was a much more daunting prospect, but now that we’re living in the transfer portal/NIL era, the ability to plug holes in the ship is much easier. Sark has already shown that he’s up to the challenge when it comes to bringing in some good talent. The biggest challenge is making sure the new veteran acquisitions meld well with the team concept he has built.

Texas has lost several players to the portal, and it had to happen because there are only so many spots on a roster. Sarkisian is far from finished with this portal, by the way. The Horns could still use another defensive back, with Terrance Brooks and Austin Jordan leaving the program, so expect him to continue to mine for more depth.

The biggest mistake a fan base can make after two good seasons is to assume “This is who we are” and assume success will be easy because of recent history. It’s what makes Sarkisian one of the rising stars in the profession. He understands that sticking with the process that led to some winning is the only proven method of winning. Assumptions could prove fatal.

Sarkisian has an established blueprint. Now let’s see if he can string together some consistent great seasons like the aforementioned great coaches.

Give the Texas hitters their flowers

Hitting keeps Horns alive: This Texas baseball team won’t invoke memories of Greg Swindell, Roger Clemens, Kirk Dressendorfer or J.P. Howell, but give the Horns credit for figuring out how to keep the season afloat.

This crew isn’t awash with dependable starting pitching, but it’s time to accept that the Horns are built for offense and little else. They showed as much over the weekend in winning two of three at first-place Oklahoma, punctuating their offensive point with six homers in the 12-10 win to complete a Sunday doubleheader sweep. It was the second time in six days that Texas went deep six times in one game.

The series clincher wasn’t so much complete since the Horns got a nice break from Mother Nature as the finale was called after a one-hour rain delay in the top of the eighth. Texas will take it. All day long and in this case, twice on Sunday.

David Pierce’s decision to make himself the pitching coach has been a disaster as the 4.94 staff ERA is well on its way to being the worst of his Texas tenure, but to this credit, the coach is figuring out ways to get wins. The Horns have won six of their seven conference series. At 27-18 overall and 13-8 in the league, the Horns — who have a 64 RPI in Division I baseball with potential to move up — are in fourth place in the standings, one game in the loss column behind Oklahoma State and West Virginia and just two behind the team they just beat.

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It's been a real rollercoaster this season and it’s been the offense that’s been the season savior. Texas has 90 homers, 13 more than the nearest Big 12 team (Texas Tech). Add to that, the league’s best slugging team has 198 extra-base hits of their 461 hits. So give some love to Jalin Flores, Jared Thomas, Max Belyeu, Peyton Powell and Co. They have earned it because of the load they have carried all season.

Aging Zeke Elliott won’t solve Cowboys running woes

More than Zeke needed: As the Dallas Cowboys fans hail the return of running back Ezekiel Elliott to the fold, it’s still inexcusable that the Joneses didn’t drop a dime on some name backs that could have been had at reasonable prices.

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Sure, I know they have to deal with quarterback Dak’s Prescott’s contract extension — he has one year remaining on his deal — and potential extensions for wideout CeeDee Lamb, linebacker Micah Parsons and cornerback Trevon Diggs, but the blatant disregard for a proven runner was damning on the surface.

Getting offensive tackle Tyler Guyton of Manor and Kansas State offensive lineman Cooper Beebe filled some needs, but someone with more upside than Zeke has to be brought in to tote the rock. I guess they’re waiting for a name back to be cut in August so they can get him for a bargain-basement price.

Either way, they dropped the ball by not getting a dog who can carry it well.

Tyson vs. Paul: fight or fiasco?

Main event or circus?: So the July 20 event between boxing legend Mike Tyson and fighter/influencer Jake Paul at AT&T Stadium has received an official sanction from Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations. The fighters will wear 14-ounce gloves over eight two-minute rounds.

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Here’s the question. Is this thing legitimate or the latest in a sport that has been a mixed bag of quality and fiasco? Feels a bit ‘fiasc-y’ if you ask me. Paul, 26, is a -500 favorite over the 57-year-old Tyson, who announced he has abstained from sex while training over these next two-plus months. The better question is what else should Iron Mike abstain from? Boxing, perhaps?

The YouTube clips of him working out like a madman only adds to the suspense. Thankfully, it’s not a pay-per-view. Netflix is broadcasting it live, the only way I would have watched it otherwise.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Golden: Can Sarkisian, Texas still thrive after epic NFL draft?