Brian Orakpo and Jamaal Charles brought energy to Texas practice, and Steve Sarkisian says their presence gives Longhorn players extra motivation.
Texas football got a meaningful lift at practice Tuesday when former Longhorn stars Brian Orakpo and Jamaal Charles stopped by to watch Steve Sarkisian’s team work.
For a program with national title expectations in 2026, having Texas legends around the facility is about more than nostalgia.
It’s a reminder of the standard in Austin and a message to current players that the people who built Longhorn football are still paying close attention.
That matters, especially in spring ball, when practices get long, physical and demanding.
Sarkisian made it clear that those visits resonate with the locker room. “I think from our players perspective, they know the connection Orakpo has with Muschamp,” Sarkisian said in Tuesday’s post-spring practice press conference.
“So when he can speak on Muschamp’s behalf, that just instills more confidence in our players. ... Like, ‘Hey, this guy’s gonna get you right. Just keep trusting what he’s doing. Whether it’s Jamaal Charles talking to the running backs. Or whether it’s just Mack (Brown) being out there and his presence. All our guys know who Mack Brown is. They walk by his picture every day.’”
Orakpo’s presence stands out given his decorated Texas career, while Charles remains one of the most explosive backs the program has ever produced. Their words carry weight because they’ve lived it.
Sarkisian also emphasized that former players still feel deeply connected to the program.
“There’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears from those guys on that grass up there,” Sark continued.
“I think they enjoy it. I think they’ve got a lot of pride Longhorn football, Longhorn Nation and to see this team and watch them compete, I think they enjoy that.”
And when practice gets tough, that support isn’t lost on the current roster. “The fact that they know people are invested in them and this team,” Sark said.
“That they’re behind them I think just serves as motivation to keep pushing through some of these tough days. Practice was hard today. But when you look over there and Brian Orakpo is standing there with his arms folded, he wants to see you keep pushing through.”
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