No. 3 Texas Football head coach Steve Sarkisian has been selected as one of five semifinalists for the George Munger College Coach of the Year Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Wednesday.
Sarkisian led the Longhorns to a 12-2 record, the first Big 12 Championship since 2009 and selection to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. The 12 wins are the most for the Longhorns since the 2009 season and mark the fourth season with 12-plus wins in program history (2005, 2008, 2009). Texas recorded included a seven-game winning streak, the longest since 2008-09 (17 games).
Texas featured a balanced attack that averaged 35.8 points per game (15th NCAA) and allowed just 18.9 points per game (15th NCAA), outscoring opponents 501 to 265 on the year, while ranking ninth in total offense (477.5) and one leading the Big 12 in total defense (336.7).
Defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat was a unanimous All-American, while wide receiver/punt returner Xavier Worthy, defensive lineman Byron Murphy II and offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. also earned All-America accolades. The four Longhorn All-Americans were the most for the program since 2009.
The offense was led by quarterback Quinn Ewers, the Big 12 Championship Game Most Outstanding Player and a Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist. Doak Walker Award semifinalist Jonathon Brooks rushed for 1,139 yards in 10 games before going sustaining a season-ending injury, while true freshman CJ Baxter rushed for 659 yards and five touchdowns and Jaydon Blue had 398 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The group of wide receivers with Worthy (75 receptions, 1,014 yards, 5 TDs), Adonai Mitchell (55 receptions, 845 yards, 11 TDs), and Jordan Whittington (42 receptions, 505 yards, 1 TD), along with John Mackey Award semifinalist Ja'Tavion Sanders (45 receptions, 682 yards, 2 TDs) proved to be one of the most exciting receiving corps in the nation, while the offensive line unit of Bank., Hayden Conner, Jake Majors, DJ Campbell and Christian Jones garnered Joe Moore Award semifinalist distinction as one of the top offensive lines in the nation.
On the defensive side of the ball, Outland Trophy winner Sweat and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Murphy combined for the most formidable defensive front in the nation, helping the Texas defense hold opponents to 82.4 rushing yards per game (3rd NCAA). The defense also touts Butkus Award semifinalist Jaylan Ford and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist Jahdae Barron, who have helped the Horns ranked second in the nation in third-down defense (26.6 percent) and seventh in red zone defense (73.8 percent).
The special team unit saw Bert Auburn set the Texas records for consecutive field goals made (19) and field goals made in a season (29) and earn first-team All-Big 12 honors, as did Worthy, who did so as both a punt returner and wide receiver. In all, 26 players earned 2023 All-Big 12 recognition from the conference's coaches, including seven on the first team and three on the second team.
Sarkisian was also a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award and Paul "Bear" Bryant Award on the coach of the year watch list for the Dodd Trophy.
The winner of the 2023 George Munger Award will be announced on Wednesday January 10, 2024. The George Munger Award will be formally presented at the 87th Maxwell Awards Gala which will be held on Friday March 8, 2024, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
