Anthony Farris
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Lost in the ‘will they, won’t they’ talk surrounding Texas’ potential jump to the SEC, the Longhorns have themselves a good old fashioned quarterback competition. Casey Thompson, a junior, and redshirt freshman Hudson Card are competing to be the opening game starter for head coach Steve Sarkisian’s Texas debut.
Speaking at Big 12 Media Day, Sarkisian expressed confidence in both signal callers: “They both have huge upside. I love coaching them. And I think we’re in good hands at that position.”
From Big 12 Media Days: @CoachSark shares what sets Casey Thompson and Hudson Card apart, as well as his connection with McConaughey. pic.twitter.com/67zRpGGb5f
— Longhorn Network (@LonghornNetwork) July 19, 2021
“Casey Thompson is a guy who has been in the program a little bit longer,” Sarkisian said. Everybody remembers what he did in the Alamo Bowl with four touchdown passes in the second half. Very athletic guy. Very driven, very focused. High football IQ. Great leader.”
“Hudson Card, tremendous passing ability, great instincts of passing the football.”
Regarded as the quieter of the two, Card’s demeanor won’t factor into Sark’s decision: “I don’t think you have to be the most vocal guy, especially in this day and age — the idea of being in the huddle and the quarterback looking you in the eye and those things, the no-huddle thing has kind of changed that some. But if you’re doing things the right way, you’re carrying yourself the right way, and you’re doing things in such a way that you represent the university and our football program the right way, then that’s as powerful and impactful as anything.”
The Longhorns kick off the season September 4th, hosting Louisiana-Lafayette, and Sarkisian plans to have a starter named well before the opener: “We’re in a good position, but at some point in training camp, I’m going to have to trust my gut and I’ve got to name a starter.”
Regardless of who gets the nod, both Thompson and Card should be ready for action: “In this day and age of college football to think you’ll go 13, 14 games throughout a season with one quarterback probably isn’t realistic. We have to develop both of them.”
Whichever signal caller takes the first snap will do so as a 9.5 point favorite, per FanDuel Sportsbook.
Southeast has lost its way. Missouri is middle no-man’s-land and Oklahoma is Eastern New Mexico. I wanna see Dawgs- Gators, not battle o’ the prairie at 330 on Saturday.