@dtownreppin214 Can you post this?
There really is no easy way to say this. The majority of Texas football fans are not ready for this topic. Some of you may need to sit down. This might be the perfect time to grab your favorite beverage. Others may want to read this column when you are in a better mood after church service.
You have been warned.
Many Texas fans are wondering who will win the quarterback battle this offseason. There will be five players competing for the open spot. Each person will have an opportunity to show offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Sterlin Gilbert he deserves to start this season. It appears to be a wide-open quarterback battle, and there is no telling which candidate will start against Notre Dame in the season opener.
However, Tyrone Swoopes is the man to beat in the quarterback competition at Texas.
Before you skip down to the comments to drop a four-letter bomb, or accuse Geoff Ketchum and me of having a weird crush on Swoopes, let me clear up a few things.
I am not saying Swoopes will win the job.
I am not saying I believe Swoopes is better than Jerrod Heard.
This is not an attempt to discredit Shane Buecehle, Kai Locksley, or Matthew Merrick.
Instead, this is just a factual statement before spring practice begins on March 7.
Swoopes is currently the man to beat because many within the building believe he is good enough to run Gilbert’s offense. Many see Swoopes as the quarterback with the least amount of risk heading into Strong’s must-win season. They believe Gilbert’s offense is a good match for Swoopes because it does not require a lot of thinking. Gilbert’s offense is simpler than Shawn Watson system, which should help Swoopes.
After hearing those thoughts from a source, my question was similar to the response you are having right now.
Can’t the same thing be said about Heard?
The immediate response I received was Heard still needs to mature.
Heard is viewed as a very talented player, but people within the building want to see him work harder during the offseason. After a record-breaking performance during the Cal game, Heard did not put in the extra hours of work needed to be maintain that success, according to more than one person inside the building. Opposing teams adjusted to Heard, and he regressed throughout the season. In the end, Swoopes was the quarterback of record when Texas defeated Baylor in the season finale.
Locksley is another person who needs to mature. Last season, Locksley became frustrated by his lack of playing time, especially after Heard struggled, and believed he deserved a shot. When it did not occur, Locksley’s negative reaction landed him in Strong’s doghouse. Locksley did not travel with the team to Iowa State, and his mysterious disappearance toward the end of last season was actually a message by this staff for him to tighten up. Considering Locksley has been working hard since the season ended, it appears he got the message. The redshirt quarterback must prove he is mentally ready if he wants an opportunity this season.
Obviously, quarterback Shane Buechele is in the mix, but it is hard to know how a freshman will react under the lights. Meanwhile, Matthew Merrick needs to earn the trust of this staff.
Which brings us back to Swoopes.
Again.
Swoopes is becoming the ex you always take back because you believe things are going to change. He might just keep a seat warm until another quarterback emerges this offseason. However, do not be surprised if Swoopes receives a long look during spring practice. There is no way to equally divide practice reps among five quarterbacks, which means the five-way battle will probably narrow down to three quarterbacks fairly quickly. Swoopes is the quarterback many people inside the building believe might emerge as the No.1 guy.
The one positive attribute Swoopes finally has is confidence. Former play-caller Jay Norvell ran the 18-wheeler package for Swoopes, which allowed him to have consistent success on the field. Swoopes compiled 12 rushing touchdowns by running over opponents and feeding off fan energy last season. Instead of hanging his head in disappointment, Swoopes pounded his chest with pride. That confidence is expected to carry over during the offseason.
Nobody knows who will emerge as the top quarterback this spring.
If it ends up being Swoopes, just know you were warned.
He may not have sourcees within the coaching staff or support staff like Higdon does, but Anwar defintely has sources in the program or at least in the Athetic Deparmtent based on a lot of the stuff he has reported & broken before.