See which Longhorns will be joining Steve Sarkisian at SEC Media Days in Tampa.
Just like their preseason expectations, the Texas Longhorns will be flooding SEC Media Days with superstardom in full force.
The program announced that junior defensive end Colin Simmons, redshirt junior quarterback Arch Manning, and senior offensive lineman Trevor Goosby will be the players represented in Tampa at the conference-wide gathering, along with head coach Steve Sarkisian.
Sarkisian was already a topic of conversation in other media days this offseason when Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire spoke about his recent interactions with the Longhorns' leader.
The two had a brief spat exchanging quotes through the media over the Red Raiders' weak Big 12 schedule, and McGuire challenging a Week 1 meeting between the in-state rivals this fall.
"I have a lot of respect for [Sarkisian]," McGuire said at Big 12 Media Days in Frisco last week. "What he's been able to do to be successful and sustain success, it's hard to do."
In 2026, the Longhorns' success will be centered on the trio of attendees in Tampa. Each player has a legit chance to be a first-round NFL draft pick next spring.
In addition to Sarkisian being named to the Dodd Trophy preseason watch-list, Simmons, Manning and Goosby were each recognized on several preseason All-American teams.
Simmons returns for Year 3 as one of the best edge rusher prospects in the country. He was an All-SEC selection a year ago after leading the conference in sacks with 12.0.
Manning enters his second season as the full-time starting quarterback with just as much Heisman Trophy hype as last season. While he got off to a less-than-ideal start in 2025, he ended the year in a tear.
If Manning can continue that play into the start of 2026 and lead the Longhorns to wins, he'll be considered a potential finalist to attend the ceremony in New York by year's end.
Goosby, Manning's blindside protector at left tackle, was another All-SEC honoree from 2025 and looks to provide an anchor of familiarity for Manning and this offense that features a remade running back core.
Sarkisian is under heaps of pressure to make use of his stellar recruiting and seemingly endless NIL resources at Texas to lead the Longhorns back to the CFP and hoist a national title trophy, which would be the program's first in over two decades.
That possibility is stronger than ever with the Longhorns being led by this trio of future NFL stars.
SEC Media Days take place in Tampa, Florida on July 23.
