CARD KNOCKS, Pt. 1: Texas' starting QB details his journey through preseason camp

Before Texas began its first preseason camp under Steve Sarkisian, the Longhorns went through a summer strength and conditioning program under Torre Becton. For Hudson Card, this past summer, his second summer at Texas, was his first “normal” June and July in a college program.

“With my first summer, it was so weird and different,” Card told Inside Texas on the evening of August 4 in one of three exclusive interviews. Other interviews took place on the evenings of August 15 and August 22. “Because of COVID, I don’t think I really experienced the normal summer.”

In the summer of 2020, just five months after Card enrolled early as part of the 2020 class, Texas football players attempted to progress through offseason workouts with new restrictions. Often, those restrictions limited some of the interaction that normally takes place during an offseason. 

Offseasons are spent trying to build bodies, but they are also important in building camaraderie. But that camaraderie was tough to come by in the summer of 2020 for a variety of reasons. The most simple reason was there were rules and regulations designed to keep players safe that kept players apart. 

“Just because we got sent home for most of it, then with COVID, there were so many groups just to stay socially distant,” Card said. “It just wasn’t near as team-related I would say because we had to be split up so much last year. This year, as a team, we’re more together. I would say that’s the biggest difference. Then, just not as many crazy rules and breaks and stuff we had to adapt to.”

There’s tremendous value in team workouts over the summer, but winning a high stakes quarterback competition requires more work than is allowed in the limited hours the players and coaches spend together in the offseason. It requires solo work; sessions with trainers designed to hammer home the teachings of the coaching staff.

Card has worked with Brad Stanfield since he was in seventh grade. Over the summer, they worked together to nail down mechanics and other aspects of the position. One area they keyed on was stepping up in the pocket following play action, a directive given by Sarkisian and quarterback coach AJ Milwee. Play action is a major component of the Texas offense. Working on moving up in the pocket to protect the offensive tackles was something Card drilled constantly.

When Card wasn’t on the field, he would study the new playbook to pair schematic understanding with his technical work. Along with Stanfield, he would simulate scenarios that are consistent with certain play calls.

One scenario Sarkisian’s offense offers more often than the previous one? Downfield opportunities.

“I would say one of the biggest things is a lot of shots will come but just to be patient with them,” Card said. “You don’t always have to force the ball downfield. Take the checkdown. When that shot does open up, just be ready for it.”

Card also noticed Sarkisian was skilled at tailoring the offense to the strengths of the quarterback. He saw it in the play action game with Mac Jones and in the RPO game with Tua Tagovailoa at Alabama. 

“For me, I think it will be a little bit of both, some RPO and play action,” Card said. “I’m excited about what’s going to come.”

Learning the offense and preparing to play in it were high priorities during his summer, but the coaches gave him one more task. After playing his true freshman season at 193 pounds, the coaches told Card what he already knew, he needed to get bigger.

“Each meal, I was eating quite a bit and then I would have a second lunch, then I would drink a pretty big protein shake every night,” Card said.

Gaining an understanding of the expectations levied by the new staff was a massive part of Card’s summer. It was massive for everyone else in the program, too.

Leadership might be the biggest adjustment he’s made over the course of the summer. He thinks of himself as someone who leads more by example, dating back to his days at Lake Travis. But the starting quarterback at Texas can’t solely lead by example. Improving his vocal leadership was Card’s main goal heading into the summer.

“I’ve also tried to grow in speaking up more, and that’s something I feel like I’ve been doing a better job, to encourage,” Card said. “One thing I’ve been trying to get better at too is even if it’s not rah-rah with the whole entire team, just go up to individual players whether that’s ‘hey, on this route get your depth’ or ‘good job on that route.’ Just going up to each player individually and talking to them carries a long way as well. I’ve tried to step out of my comfort zone in that way and speak more to the team as well.”

That leads into Card’s answer to the following hypothetical: If Hudson Card is able to _______ during this preseason training camp, he’ll be under center for the first snap against Louisiana. 

“I would say bringing the team along with me,” Card said. “Obviously, the team, the players eventually will – I wouldn’t say pick a side. But try to bring them along with me and get their respect, and have trust with them. The game of football, you have to trust one another. It’s not a one-man job, it’s an 11-man job. Having trust with your teammates and one another, and just trying to bring them along and make them better. I feel like if I can do that and I can make them better, then I think it will go a long way.”

Cover photo by Shane Ware for Inside Texas

Part II of Card Knocks can be found here