The Texas Longhorns have been a program that commands attention, both in college football and beyond. With their rich history and tradition, the team always draws a spotlight, but as of late, under the leadership of head coach Steve Sarkisian and the arrival of quarterback Arch Manning, the spotlight has only grown brighter. As they enter the 2025 season following a successful 2024 campaign, the Longhorns are taking their game to the next level.
One key aspect of their preparations? The weight room. Strength and conditioning play a pivotal role in football, and for the Longhorns, this offseason is about more than just building muscle. It’s about developing the mental toughness and physical resilience that will be required to compete at the highest level.
The Longhorns’ Resurgence Under Steve Sarkisian
Steve Sarkisian took over as Texas’ head coach in 2021, inheriting a program in need of revitalization. The Longhorns had experienced mixed success in the years prior, and it was clear that Sarkisian would need to bring in new energy and establish a new identity for the team. Over the past few years, Sarkisian has done exactly that. By recruiting top-tier talent, developing players, and changing the culture of the program, he has put Texas on the map as one of the top teams in the nation.
In 2024, Sarkisian’s Texas team showed their potential, finishing the season with a solid record and securing an impressive bowl victory. The Longhorns had proven they could compete with the best of them, but they knew there was still work to be done. The 2024 season was a great step, but it was not enough. The goal is to reach the College Football Playoff and contend for a national championship—and that requires continual improvement in all areas, including strength and conditioning.
Entering the Weight Room: Building for the Future
The weight room, often considered one of the most critical areas of development for a football team, is a focal point in Texas’ offseason program. As the team prepares for 2025, the Longhorns are not just lifting weights; they are working on building both physical and mental toughness that will allow them to maintain their level of excellence and, ideally, raise it to new heights.
Coach Sarkisian knows that to be competitive in the modern college football landscape, players need to be faster, stronger, and more durable than ever. The game has evolved in many ways, and players must be prepared to handle not just the speed and skill of the game, but the physical toll it can take. The weight room becomes the cornerstone for developing this resilience.
The Role of Strength and Conditioning Coaches
The strength and conditioning coaches at Texas play a pivotal role in shaping the team’s success. Under the leadership of Jerry Schmidt, the Longhorns’ director of sports performance, the team has embraced a cutting-edge, holistic approach to strength training. Schmidt has been known for his ability to mold players physically and mentally, helping them push through barriers and unlock their potential.
Schmidt has worked with elite athletes in various sports and has developed programs that are tailored to the unique needs of each position on the football field. Whether it’s building explosive power for offensive linemen or enhancing speed and agility for wide receivers, the Longhorns’ strength program is customized to ensure players are well-rounded athletes capable of excelling in every facet of the game.
The key to success in the weight room is understanding that strength is not just about raw power—it’s about functional strength, endurance, and agility. The program incorporates everything from traditional weightlifting to agility drills and position-specific exercises to ensure players are ready for the demands of their individual roles.
Arch Manning’s Impact
The arrival of Arch Manning, one of the most highly-touted quarterback recruits in recent history, has added another layer of excitement to Texas’ offseason preparations. The Manning family name carries immense weight, with Arch’s uncles Peyton and Eli having set the standard for quarterbacking excellence in the NFL. The pressure on Arch is considerable, but the Longhorns’ weight room is designed to help him meet those expectations.
At quarterback, strength and conditioning are just as important as they are for any other position. While quarterbacks may not need to be as physically imposing as defensive linemen or linebackers, they still need the endurance, flexibility, and agility to withstand the punishment that comes with playing the position. Manning, with his natural talent and athleticism, is already well-equipped, but the weight room will allow him to refine his body and maintain the physical resilience necessary for a long, successful career.
Sarkisian has already begun integrating Arch into the team’s offseason regimen, allowing the young quarterback to learn the ropes from experienced players and coaches. Sarkisian’s offensive system is complex, but it’s tailored to work with the strengths of his players. For Arch, the weight room will provide the physical foundation to support the mental game he’s already working on. With the right training, Arch can develop the strength and mobility necessary to make all the throws required in a modern spread offense, as well as the endurance to handle a grueling college football season.
Position-Specific Training: Tailoring the Weight Room Experience
While the weight room is a place for overall development, it’s also a place where each player’s individual needs are addressed. Every position on the football field requires different physical attributes, and the Longhorns’ strength and conditioning staff works to tailor training to those specific needs.
For the offensive and defensive lines, the focus is on building raw power and explosive strength. These players engage in heavy lifting, with an emphasis on squats, deadlifts, and bench presses, designed to develop the kind of strength that will allow them to dominate in the trenches. For the running backs and wide receivers, agility and flexibility are just as important as raw power. These players need to be able to change directions quickly, accelerate on a dime, and stay healthy through a long season.
Quarterbacks, as previously mentioned, are a different breed. While they still need to build functional strength, their focus is on mobility, stamina, and flexibility. Quarterbacks in Steve Sarkisian’s system must not only be able to throw the football with precision, but they must also be able to extend plays with their legs. The weight room training for quarterbacks includes a mix of upper-body strength, core stability, and lower-body agility to ensure they can avoid pressure in the pocket, extend plays, and throw on the run.
Defensive backs, meanwhile, are tasked with covering some of the fastest and most skilled athletes on the field. To keep up with the speed of the game, defensive backs need to develop a blend of speed, strength, and quickness. Their training includes a heavy focus on explosiveness and speed, with drills designed to enhance their ability to react quickly to the ball and change direction on a dime.
The linebackers, tasked with covering a range of duties from run defense to pass coverage, need to be versatile athletes. Their strength training is a blend of power and speed, with an emphasis on building lower-body strength for explosive tackles and upper-body strength for holding their own against offensive linemen.
The Mental Side of the Weight Room
While physical strength is the primary focus of the weight room, the mental aspect is equally important. The discipline required to consistently show up, put in the work, and push through adversity is just as important as the ability to lift heavy weights. The weight room serves as a training ground for mental toughness.
Steve Sarkisian understands the importance of developing the mental fortitude of his players, and he has made it a point to instill a winning mentality in every aspect of the team’s offseason program. Players are encouraged to push beyond their limits, challenge themselves, and support one another. Whether it’s pushing through a tough set of squats or helping a teammate through a difficult drill, the Longhorns are building a sense of unity and accountability in the weight room.
This mental toughness is crucial for success on the field. College football is a grind, and players need the ability to stay focused, stay strong, and stay determined, even when things aren’t going their way. The weight room is a place where that mindset is cultivated, helping players develop the resilience necessary to handle adversity on and off the field.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Texas Football
With the 2024 season behind them and the 2025 season on the horizon, the Texas Longhorns are setting their sights on a national championship. The work done in the weight room is just one piece of the puzzle. Coach Sarkisian’s coaching staff is working tirelessly to refine the offense, enhance the defense, and make sure the team is prepared for the tough road ahead.
The addition of Arch Manning to the roster only heightens expectations, but the Longhorns are preparing not just for a single season but for sustained success. The team’s strength and conditioning efforts are a big part of that. With the right physical foundation, the Longhorns will be able to take on any challenge that comes their way in 2025 and beyond.
The weight room is where the foundation for this success is laid, and it will be a key factor in the Longhorns’ quest for greatness. As Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns continue to build on their success, they are proving that strength is not just about lifting weights—it’s about building a championship mentality that can withstand the challenges of college football. With a program that’s firing on all cylinders, there’s no telling how high the Longhorns can go. The 2025 season could be the one where everything clicks, and the Texas Longhorns rise to the top of the college football world once again.
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