Hudson Card on his second QB competition, third year at Texas

After starting the first two games of the 2021 season, third-year quarterback Hudson Card was benched in favor of Casey Thompson. Card stuck with the Longhorn program, considering Texas was always his dream school, as he admitted Thursday.

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But after winning a quarterback battle ahead of the 2021 season, Card is in the thick of yet another race for the starting job with Ohio State transfer Quinn Ewers.

It’s unlikely Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian will name a winner to their battle this spring, let alone a front runner. He’s leaving Card and Ewers to battle for the right to be QB1 come September 3, when Louisiana-Monroe comes to town.

As a third-year quarterback, and as a player in his second year in Sarkisian’s system, Card is leaning on his comfort level in the offense to help him during his third spring as a Longhorn signal-caller.

“Just being in the system for another year obviously helps a lot,” Card said Thursday. “This is my first time in college being in a system for two years. Knowing the system a little bit better and just trying to grow obviously does help a little bit.”

After starting the first two games of the 2021 season, Card lost the starting quarterback job ahead of the Week 3 game versus Texas Tech. From there, Thompson held the role of QB1 for the majority of the remainder of the season, save for when Sarkisian deemed him unable to credibly lead the Longhorn offense or when injury precluded him from being on the field.

Those season-long experiences have Card comfortable in the midst of his second quarterback competition as a Longhorn.

“Obviously with me and Casey’s competition last year, it’s somewhat similar this year,” Card said. “Honestly, I just focus on myself and what I can do, just going in every day and doing the best that I can do. Hopefully, things will take care of itself. I try not to worry too much about the other guy and try to play the best that I can play.”

Card played in eight games last year, completing 61 percent of his passes for 590 yards and five touchdowns. However, many of those eight appearances were as the holder on field goals after Thompson took over as the starting quarterback following a tough outing versus Arkansas.

“It’s just something that I learned from honestly,” Card said about his 2021 experience. “It obviously didn’t go the way we wanted it to go, but it’s just a learning experience for me. Just learn from it and move on.”

One of the main aspects of Card’s game that contributed to him losing the starting job last year was his lack of pocket presence. Against Arkansas, Card often flushed himself out of the pocket, leading to negative plays.

On Thursday, he called that game in Fayetteville a “learning experience,” and something he’ll use to be a better quarterback in 2022.

Card is in his second year under the tutelage of Sarkisian, and is in the midst of a quarterback competition with Ewers, a former Five-Star Plus+ prospect. Card didn’t say Thursday whether he had an assurance from Sarkisian that the quarterback battle would be wide open, but he is still placing trust in the Longhorn head coach he called “the master.”

“I think it will be,” Card said about the quarterback battle. “That’s the plan, and ultimately, Sark’s the master and he knows how to handle these situations. I’m just trusting in him, and ultimately it’ll be his decision on whatever he wants to do.”

A former Elite 11 quarterback, Card is confident in his ability. He believes his experience in the offense is a step up in the race. That said, he only had praise for Ewers in the midst of their current competition.

“We make each other better,” Card said. “We bring the best out of each other. Just having competition is good. We’re good friends and we support each other. It’s a natural competition, but it’s been good so far.”

Last year was not Card’s best foot forward in burnt orange. It’s something he’s aware of, and something he wants to use during spring ball as a lesson.

“It was just a learning experience,” Card said. “Learn from that season, and move on and try to use my past experiences in ways to help me this year. Honestly, just trying to learn from it all.”