Steve Sarkisian Has Positive Outlook For Texas Longhorns QB Maalik Murphy In Second Start

Maalik Murphy should only continue to improve with another start under his belt against No. 25 Kansas State.

It feels impossible to judge Maalik Murphy off one start, but there will be those ready to crown him the next great Texas Longhorns' quarterback and another bust on the Forty Acres.

Murphy, who didn't expect to see much action this season with Quinn Ewers headling the roster, is now tasked with helping the No. 7 Longhorns (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) secure a spot in the Big 12 title game. Texas still remains in the hunt for the College Football Playoff, and the redshirt freshman is the key to keeping morale high in Austin.

A second start comes with added pressure to improve. It also comes with a more challenging opponent in No. 25 Kansas State over an up-and-comer in the Big 12 such as BYU. 

Murphy is still working through the kinks of commanding the huddle. To an extent, that's fine, and Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian isn't adding extra pressure on his starter to light up the stat sheet, either. 

"I don't want to say he's 100 percent comfortable yet," said Sarkisian during his weekly Zoom presser Thursday. "If anything going into start No. 2 there's a reduced anxiety in that he knows what to expect day in and day out. I think he has an understanding of how gameday goes as the starter, and that feeling of taking the field, some of those things that may cloud your focus day to day." 

Murphy, who threw for 170 yards and two touchdowns against one interception in his debut, will likely need better production to secure the win. The Wildcats (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) are far from the same team that lost to Oklahoma State four weeks ago to kickoff October. 

Texas Longhorns quarterback Maalik Murphy throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver Adonai Mitchell in the second quarter against the BYU Cougars at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Saturday October 28, 2023 :: Jay Janner/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK

There should be a sense of trust among quarterback and receiver heading into Game 2, as well as a better understanding of the playbook. Sarkisian also now has a better sense of how Murphy works through pregame get his mind right before the first snap. 

“There’s a level of comfort for us and for the players around him of, ‘Okay, this is Maalik on gameday. This is his personality. This is Maalik in-game prep when he’s running a play for the first time and his understanding of it all,'” Sarkisian said. “I think all the way around, it feels a little bit more comfortable for me and for the people all around.”

Players have seen Murphy's character and patience first-hand while watching him work in practice. No one has denied the talent is there, but limited reps have hindered his production. 

It didn't have to be that way. After top recruit Arch Manning arrived as an early enrollee, Murphy could have transferred elsewhere. No one would have blamed him if he left after Sarkisian named Ewers the starter following the spring game in April. 

That's not Murphy, though. He committed to Sarkisian as much as he committed to Texas, and intends to fight for playing time. For now, the job belongs to Ewers when fully healthy. 

And maybe that is a positive. Why add the extra pressure of being "the guy" when none is needed? 

Said Sarkisian: "He understands what that is and that allows him to live in the moment.”

Kickoff against the Wildcats is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Royal-Memorial Stadium.