Steve Sakisian is heading into the 2022 season in a familiar situation, looking for Texas’ QB1. In 2021, Sarkisian had the choice between a highly rated and talented quarterback and a more veteran, more mature quarterback. The former was Hudson Card. The latter was Casey Thompson. Steve Sarkisian ultimately chose the younger quarterback with more raw talent. However, after three games it was obvious that Card was not yet ready to be a starting quarterback at the University of Texas and Sarkisian made the change in favor of Casey Thompson.

Now, Sark is faced with a very similar problem. Hudson Card has now been with Texas for two and a half years and has some starting experience. Quinn Ewers, however, is still very young. After re-classifying to join the 2021 recruiting cycle, Ewers is in his second year as a college athlete but should be a true freshman.

Ewers was rated as a 1.000 quarterback recruit coming out of high school, according to 247sports. That rating was only given to one other quarterback since 2000, Vince Young. He is clearly the most physically gifted quarterback in the Longhorns quarterback room.

As mentioned earlier, Hudson Card is also very talented. A high four-star recruit in his own right. Card was a top-sixty overall recruit in the 2020 recruiting class, according to 247sports. Although he still isn’t the pure talent of Ewers, Card is absolutely capable of running an offense without any physical limitations.

Last week, Texas Talks very own Michael Farber gave you his prediction of Quinn Ewers being named Texas’ QB1. Now it is time to give you the reasons why Hudson Card may win the job and why that is a good sign for Texas and Steve Sarkisian.

Why Hudson Card Can Be Texas’ QB1

Hudson Card is extremely talented. In the beginning of this article we talked about the paralells of last season’s quarterback decision and this season. The biggest difference between last year and this year, however, is the overall talent Texas has now. Hudson Card was by far the most talented quarterback on the roster last year. Now, you could argue he’s the third most physically gifted behind Quinn Ewers and Maalik Murphy.

Now that Card’s biggest plus in the quarterback battle isn’t that he’s more talented, what exactly does he bring? Card brings an impressive knowledge of the offense. Being with Sarkisian in the quarterback room for over a full year, starting and playing in multiple games throughout the season last year.

Experience isn’t something you can learn from a playbook, in the film room, or be coached up for. There is only one way to gain experience and overall wisdom and that is by taking live reps against opposing defenses. Scrimmages help, but scrimmages keep a leash on the pass rush and stops the quarterback from getting touched.

The Case Against Hudson Card as Texas’ QB1

Most readers are probably yelling at their computer screens or phones, “But Hudson Card STUNK when he played last year!” “Do you remember the ARKANSAS GAME?!” Yes, I agree. Hudson Card struggled a lot last year. The Arkansas game was one of the worst games for a Texas quarterback in a long time. Card was not ready for that defense, under the lights, in Fayetteville.

Steve Sarkisian made a bad call last year. Sark basically admitted that when he started Thompson immediately after the Arkansas game. He looked purely at Hudson Card’s upside as a thrower of the football and when the competition was close, he went with Card. Sark didn’t realize, or didn’t fully appreciate, Casey Thompson’s superior playmaking ability when there was pressure or when a play broke down.

I believe Sarkisian is a good head coach, and more importantly, an elite offensive mind. Sark will not make that mistake again this year. Texas’ quarterbacks coach, AJ Milwee and Steve Sarkisian will have Hudson Card ready to face defensive pressure and blitzes. They will work with Card on what to do when a play doesn’t go exactly like it should. Hudson Card will be coached up to learn, not just the playbook, but every solution that isn’t in the playbook.

Closing

Overall, Hudson Card is certain to develop into a better quarterback than he was last year. Steve Sarkisian is known as an elite quarterback developer and Hudson Card has enough physical talent where he will not hinder this offense in any way, unlike Casey Thompson last year.

Quinn Ewers is insanely talented and could be a quarterback taken in the first round in a few years, but we still haven’t seen him on a college football field. Ewers has not taken a snap against a live defense since 2020, in high school. Maybe he is the better option, over Hudson Card. However, Card seems to be the option with the highest floor.

If Steve Sarkisian truly believes Card has improved drastically under pressure and as an improviser, Card should be the quarterback starting week one. Learning from previous mistakes is a very important quality from a leader.

Whether Card or Ewers is named as the starting quarterback, Sarkisian has an opportunity to show Longhorns fans that he is still an elite quarterback evaluator and developer. It will all rest on his upcoming decision on Texas’ QB1 and the games to follow said decision. No matter who wins the starting job, Sarkisian has earned the right to respect his evaluation and decision up-to this point.

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