Steve Sarkisian explains decision to start Quinn Ewers over Hudson Card

The second season for Steve Sarkisian at Texas hasn’t started yet. However, he’s already had to make what will be one of the biggest decisions he has in Austin, who is going to start at quarterback in year two?

That decision that Steve Sarkisian had to make ended up being between Quinn Ewers and Hudson Card. Ewers, who reclassified from the Class of 2022 to the Class of 2021 to take advantage of NIL earlier at Ohio State. He hardly played there and transferred to Texas after the season. He’s young with incredible potential. Meanwhile, Hudson Card doesn’t spark as much excitement about the future but he does have experience.

Steve Sarkisian decided to go with Quinn Ewers, who will start for Texas in 2022. It’s a decision he recently explained during a conversation with Rich Eisen.

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“I think this is Quinn. He’s a very talented young man and, you know, he’s a guy that graduated high school a year early and went to Ohio State last Fall and then came to us this Spring,” Steve Sarkisian explained. “So, we’ve kind of looked at him almost like he’s the number one player in the country in this year’s class if he would’ve stayed but reclassified and went out.”

“But, since he’s shown up he’s been a great teammate. He’s been really coachable. And he’s just a guy that, quite frankly, can make all the throws. You know, he’s very comfortable in our system of pushing the ball down the field. He’s got a really quick release and I like the leadership. I like what he provides. I like the way the guys respond to him when he’s in the game and feel comfortable about the people that we have around him at the skills spots that he doesn’t have to be the guy to make all of the plays.”

Steve Sarkisian’s message to Hudson Card

One thing that a coach like Steve Sarkisian has to manage in a quarterback battle is keeping the losing quarterback happy. Otherwise, you could lose them in the transfer portal. Then, if there is an injury or issue, you may be without a backup that you’re comfortable with.

Steve Sarkisian knows this, explaining his message to Hudson Card.

“It goes without saying, but sometimes when you’re put in that position and you’re in a really contested battle, and the other guy gets named the starter, you can lose sight of potential opportunities and things that are in front of you,” Steve Sarkisian said. “We did make that point to Hudson,” Steve Sarkisian emphasized. “And made that very clear, you know. Hudson’s job is to compete still, every day. And to either make Quinn better or pass him, and I expect nothing less of Hudson than to do that.”