PREGAME: Texas Longhorns vs BYU Cougars

Maalik Murphy, Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning
Maalik Murphy, Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning (photos Don Bender / Horns Illustrated / Arch Manning by Texas Athletics)

It’s GAME DAY here in Austin, Texas, the weather will be in the 80’s and balmy and it looks like Texas will escape the rain, though the thunderstorms will be rolling in around six.

Today is a big day for redshirt freshman No. 6 Maalik Murphy from Inglewood, California, which is only a couple miles from where head coach Steve Sarkisian grew up.

Texas players love and respect Murphy. On Monday, Michael Taaffe commented that Murphy was the first one in the building and last one to leave.

Maalik Murphy
photo Texas Athletics

Christian Jones shared that Murphy is all business and a leader on the field.

Murphy has a unique throwing style. We call it Laser Beam. In fact, we might ask Murphy if that could be his new nickname. Maalik “Laser Beam” Murphy.

Though it will be critical that his passes connect. The Texas wide receivers hopefully had enough time to practice catching his passes this week.

We will be looking for Murphy to find Jordan Whittington as often as possible. Whittington needs receptions and yardage to beef up his resume as he preps for the NFL.

For Sarkisian, BYU is his alma mater so this game means a little more, plus BYU head coach Kalani Sitke and Aaron Roderick was a wide receiver who was on the receiving end of many Sarkisian passes.

BYU will test Jonathon Brooks (actually anyone carrying the ball) because BYU is ranked No. 3 for turnover margins. 

This is another game where Texas’ opponent has nothing to lose and everything to gain. BYU is the most recent addition to the Big 12 and with a record of 2-2, a win over Texas who is 3-1 would tie the teams.

Look for Sarkisian to run a play that he and his former teammates at BYU (Sitake and Roderick) ran when they played together.

See you in the press box. Our sports photographer Don Bender will be on the field to bring fans up close to action.

| #HookEm

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