QB race to simmer over the summer
AUSTIN — When asked Tuesday about Texas’ quarterback situation, coach Steve Sarkisian delivered an answer drenched in ambivalence.
“I think both guys showed a lot of growth, a lot of development within the system,” Sarkisian said during a Zoom availability. “I think for us, one, having a little bit of patience for their growth. But two, appreciate the growth that they make along the way. And I think both those guys have made tremendous strides.
“They’re not exactly where we want them to be yet. And I think that’s what’s so intriguing about this competition.”
Last Saturday’s Orange White game lacked any monumental quarterback related revelations, and Sarkisian’s post-spring chat with reporters only served to further muddy the situation. The Texas quarterback reveal won’t occur until sometime in mid-to-late August, so in the meantime junior Casey Thompson and redshirt freshman Hudson Card get to be QB1-A and QB1-B.
But Sarkisian did provide some insight into his first spring offseason on the Forty Acres, which wrapped up with that public intrasquad scrimmage at Royal-Memorial Stadium.
He went on to praise the growth of linebackers David Gbenda, Jaylen Ford and Luke Brockermeyer. Gbenda had a game-high seven tackles in the Orange-White game, while Ford and Sawyer finished with three apiece.
That remains a position of need for Texas, and though three transfers will help fill out the room, there was already some exciting, albeit unproven, linebacking talent on this roster.
“We’ve got three guys there that I think performed well throughout spring practice,” Sarkisian said.
Sarkisian also highlighted the importance of tight ends in his offensive scheme. It’s a position that hasn’t been emphasized or tweaked much in Austin over the past few years, though tight end Andrew Beck did earn a first-team All-Big 12 nod in 2018 — as a “fullback.”
“I think we made a lot of strides there,” Sarkisian said. “I think we’re finding out about the guys that we can count on.”
Texas certainly won’t lack for depth in that department this season, even after the transfer of junior tight end Malcolm Epps.
Super senior Cade Brewer, junior Jared Wiley, sophomore Brayden Liebrock, freshman Juan Davis and freshman Gunnar Helm all carry unique traits that could help separate them from the rest of the pack in an offense that will utilize sets featuring multiple tight ends. And incoming fivestar athlete Ja’Tavion Sanders looms as an intriguing wild card at the position.
“You can argue the most important position after quarterback in our system is the tight end, because we ask him to do a lot,” Sarkisian said. “We ask him to be a run-game blocker, whether it’s in line or blocking linebackers. We ask for him to have a heavy influence in our pass protection. Then we ask them to have a big influence in our passing game as a receiver.
“You’ve seen my offenses in the past. We move our tight ends around quite a bit as well. And so there’s a lot on these guys from a learning-curve standpoint to really dive into this offense, because they really are what make us go and we’re in plenty of two-tight-end sets.”
Sarkisian was less enthused about the play of both offensive lines after they allowed a combined 11 tackles for loss and nine sacks in the Orange-White game. Texas was without starter Derek Kerstetter (ankle) and potential starter Rafiti Ghirmai (hamstring) for the game, but the ease some rushers had in getting to the quarterback put Sarkisian on alert.
“It is too many for me,” Sarkisian said of the sacks allowed. “It is a big point of emphasis of mine. On any offense that we’re in, we believe in protecting the quarterback first. And that is an area that will get a great amount of emphasis from us throughout the summer into fall camp and then ultimately the season.”
Sarkisian and his staff have about four months remaining to iron out all the wrinkles and decide who should play where. And they’ve got five months left to turn this team into a Big 12 contender before Texas Tech rolls into Austin on Sept. 25.
“And that’s why I say this summer is big for really developing that right mentality that we need for fall camp,” Sarkisian said, “so that we have the right mentality throughout camp to get ourselves ready for the grind of the season.”