Steve Sarkisian gave a number of interesting nuggets during his media availability on Monday. The one that stood out to me centered around Emmett Mosley V and Graceson Littleton. He dubbed both the “hardest-playing” players on the team, a sentiment Arch Manning echoed for Emmett Mosley. To me, those two specific players being given that specific compliment is important.
First, these two Longhorns going against each other consistently in practice must be fun to watch. Beyond that, there’s something about the slot WR and the nickelback being dubbed “hardest-playing” that could be key for Texas this season.
Coach Sarkisian usually shies away from singling out guys but today he pin pointed two names to praise - Graceson Littleton - Emmett Mosley "They're
playing at an extremely high level...They go against each other everyday and so when you talk about iron sharpening iron, and two… pic.twitter.com/MWSHpbjprb
— Cory Mose (@Cory_Mose) August 24, 2026
Let’s start with Emmett Mosley V. He’s often been the forgotten WR among the star-studded trio for Texas. He’s earned consistent praise throughout this season and him earning this distinction is unsurprising. The importance, in my eyes, comes in because of what that position requires in a Steve Sarkisian offense.
A successful Sarkisian offense starts with his screen game. Much of that game relies on the slot WR being a willing and able blocker(see: Jordan Whittington). Every elite Sarkisian offense has a slot WR that not only can be a threat as a WR, but be “nasty” as a blocker. It’s rare you hear a player dubbed the “hardest-playing” if blocking is not a strength of theirs. Mosley being one of the “hardest-playing” Longhorns makes him as important to the offense as any other playmaker, and not only as a pass-catcher.
My pick for the “Most Under the Radar” or “Most Underrated” player in general on the Texas roster:
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) August 6, 2026
Emmett Mosley V@ontexasfootball pic.twitter.com/4HkxKnBQr2
Let’s flip sides of the ball to his defensive counterpart, Graceson Littleton. After a stellar freshman campaign, Littleton had a quiet offseason until fall camp. He’s been one of, if not the best defensive player for Texas in the past month, including two straight scrimmages with an INT.
Littleton earning the “hardest-playing” distinction is key because of his position's importance. The nickelback position is a unique one. They are asked to do as many different things as any defender on the field. Man coverage, zone coverage, run defense and pass rush are all things Littleton will have to perform at a high level this season. It’s a position that can connect the front seven to the secondary, creating a cohesive defense.
This Texas secondary has a real chance to be elite. Jelani McDonald is leading the way at safety and depth has begun to develop. The starting CB trio is set in stone, with Mascoe, Littleton and Phillips leading the way. To me, Littleton is the player that can elevate this group to its peak. A player that will be asked to do that much and holds that much importance being dubbed the “hardest-playing” defender is a major positive.
What happens when you combine a QB who can’t throw with a WR who can’t catch? If you guessed a Littleton INT, you’d be right! At #16 in our top plays of 2025, that exact scenario plays out as the defense gets their third pick of the day!#HookEm #Texas #Longhorns #CFB #highlight pic.twitter.com/yxbdNCTMmi
— /r/LonghornNation (@rLonghornNation) August 20, 2026
None of this is to say these two will stuff the stat sheet this season. However, the stat sheet will not entirely define how successful these two are in 2026. Mosley’s blocking on screen passes, Littleton’s communication from the front seven to the secondary and so much more will define these two seasons. Playing hard is no guarantee of greatness, but it shows two very important players understand that burden and are ready to handle it.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Why Sarkisian’s comment about Longhorns Mosley, Littleton is important
