Bohls: Texas' Ehlinger, Sarkisian hope for big 2021 seasons

While I got ya, here are nine things and one crazy prediction:

1. Right call. Sam Ehlinger made the right decision to turn pro instead of returning to Texas for a fifth season. Perhaps he could have improved his draft stock under quarterback whisperer Steve Sarkisian, but Ehlinger at 22 is not getting any younger. A quarterback doesn’t want to enter the NFL approaching his 24th birthday before his first season, especially one without the strongest of arms. NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein of NFL.com projects Ehlinger to go in the fifth or sixth round. “They don’t come much tougher than Ehlinger at the position, and his intangibles are as good as you could ask for,” Zierlein told me Tuesday. “He’s a very average passer, but can deliver most throws with good enough accuracy and velocity to hit the open target. He doesn’t have a plus arm and could struggle to fit throws into tight windows or make big completions throwing on the move.” Zierlein also calls Ehlinger’s deep-ball accuracy as “a step below average,” but says he his fairly effective at throwing with anticipation on intermediate routes. “He’s not an explosive runner, but he gets tough yards on a consistent basis as a scrambler and on called runs. His 2019 is a better study of his potential, but career backup looks like his ceiling.”

2. Door No. 2. Texas went hard after Urban Meyer and failed to land him, but Sarkisian was hardly the only candidate. Sources say athletic director Chris Del Conte talked to several candidates as potential successors to Herman, including SMU's Sonny Dykes, who was seriously considered. Dykes, the son of former Longhorns assistant and Texas Tech head coach Spike Dykes, has done a remarkable job in rebuilding SMU into a Group of Five power with a 17-6 record the last two years. ... Given Sark’s California roots and USC background, it is only realistic to expect him to heavily cultivate that state as a recruiting pipeline. That said, he has to tread carefully. Sure, he could land a Ricky Williams or a Bryant Westbrook, but he risks ticking off the very proud and protective Texas high school football coaches. Didn’t work so well for Charlie Strong after the Florida Five. … Sarkisian may be great, but I thought Texas should have looked hard at James Franklin, Matt Campbell and Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who has already interviewed with or will with the Texans, Falcons and Chargers.

3. Who’s in charge. When all the dust settles, it seems clear that Del Conte didn't singularly run the firing and hiring process and that Kevin Eltife, chairman of the UT Board of Regents, is also running the show like Frank Erwin Jr. and Allan Shivers before him. The former state senator, who has a history of working behind the scenes, has his hands all over these ultimate decisions. Saturday’s virtual press conference introducing Sarkisian was delayed for 20 minutes so Eltife could join the call in an embarrassing, unprofessional press conference in which reporters had to type in questions for Sark and the school administrators didn't answer a single question. Del Conte’s authority was in question when Herman failed to heed his wishes and have his team stand after games for the playing of “The Eyes of Texas,” insubordinate behavior that alone could have gotten the coach fired. It is obvious the UT power hierarchy had tired of Herman’s schtick and lackluster record and demanded change, very much as it did to cut ties with Mack Brown more than seven years ago. When it’s time, it’s time. But the school should have shown more integrity and made the change as soon as the regular season had ended, so as to allow Herman’s staff more time to find new jobs for them and their family and to alert recruiting commitments that change was afoot. That’s the honorable and proper thing to do, which is why Texas should now release any of the recruits from this class to go elsewhere if they choose. They probably will have that ability anyway if the NCAA approves instant eligibility for any players who transfer.

4. Love Shaka Smart’s swagger. Going into Tuesday night’s home game against struggling Iowa State, the sixth-year Texas coach has the nation’s fourth-ranked basketball team and has the Longhorns playing as well as they have since the first half of Rick Barnes’ regime in Austin. Smart’s rotation has shortened after the departures of Will Baker and Gerald Liddell and the slow return of Jase Febres from injury, but Texas still has terrific depth. The Big 12 looks like it may come down to Baylor or Texas for the championship. Smart understands the blowout of Kansas at Phog Allen Fieldhouse represents the high-water mark of his tenure, but Texas can’t slip backward as it has in the past. ... Sophomore guard Donovan Williams, emerging after knee surgery 10 months ago as the fourth guard, remains on course to become one of Texas’ best players. “The guy's really, really gifted,” Smart said Monday. “He's still kind of working his way back to getting fully comfortable, but he's so talented. I mean, he could be a terrific player here in time.” Williams doesn’t start ahead of more experienced players like Courtney Ramey and Matt Coleman, but Smart said “Donovan’s more gifted than them. And you see it at times out there on the court, he's got to keep getting better with defending in a stance and with energy all the time. I think he's improving there. He's got to keep getting better with shot selection. I think he's a guy that can can become a good shooter here.”

5. Future fun. Did Texas not look like a top 10 team in the Alamo Bowl? What was there not to like? Even without eight starters — plus linebacker Juwan Mitchell, who sat out the first half because of a targeting suspension against Kansas State — and with backup quarterbacks (all three of them) playing the entire second half, the 20th-ranked Longhorns turned in as impressive a performance as they have all year and figure to wind up close to the top 15 in the final Associated Press poll. Sure, Colorado’s very average, having played just five games and beaten one team with a winning record (Texas had beaten two before crushing the Buffaloes) and having a mediocre quarterback. But Texas played inspired football, which suggests a highly motivated team and a much more cohesive locker room than many have thought, not that it helped Herman’s standing any. But once some in the locker room began to negatively recruit against Texas, Herman probably had to go. Texas has 13 Alamo Bowl starters back for 2021.

6. Heisman hype. Tell me I’m wrong. But I think Bijan Robinson is already a strong candidate for next season’s Heisman Trophy, if not a leading candidate. Robinson, North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell and Iowa State running back Breece Hall could be the 2021 frontrunners alongside Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, who will probably be the favorite. Other potential contenders include Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy, Clemson quarterback D.J. Uigaleilei, Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson, OU wideout Marvin Mims, Texas A&M running back Isaiah Spiller and whomever Nick Saban decides to make a top candidate, probably new quarterback Bryce Young. ... It says here that sophomore, safety-turned-linebacker DeMarvion Overshown will be in the running for Big 12 defensive player of the year.

7. Par for course. The World Golf Championship-Dell Technologies Match Play is still on tap for the Austin Country Club on March 24-28, but construction of on-site buildings and suites and clubs has yet to begin, a club official said. ACC members were told they would be eligible for 2,500 tickets to the event, but no general-admission tickets will be sold at this juncture.

8. Scattershooting. While wondering whatever happened to former Longhorn A.J. (Jam) Jones, the talented, fluid running back from Youngstown, Ohio, who had a terrific career in Austin and finished eighth on the school's all-time list with 2,874 yards after turning down Ohio State and telling me outlandish tales about how crazy Ohio State coach Woody Hayes was during his recruitment.

9. On the couch: Zach and I watched “Bloodshot.” We’re big Vin Diesel fans and liked the story about the Marine killed in action who was brought back to life and given super powers. Gave it six ducks.

10. Crazy prediction: Chris Ash will get another head coaching job before the 2022 season.