On Texas Football: Ewers' status as No. 1 quarterback; Brooks, Murphy, Gbenda get shout out from Sarkisian
On the latest video episode of On Texas Football’s State of the Program, Inside Texas’ Bobby Burton and Eric Nahlin give us some insight on Longhorns football team as it nears the end of Spring drills and look ahead to the months leading up to Texas’ season opener against Rice in September.
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Burton spoke about the need for roster management and attrition beyond the Spring game and how coach Steve Sarkisian has done a great job of building, and keeping, players involved through the offseason.
“Attrition is such a big thing to get over, especially during Spring drills,” Burton said. “Texas has done a good job of that. Some of it is obviously luck when you’re dealing with injuries. Some of it, though, has to do with how Sark is managing the program.”
Nahlin said that quarterback play and improvement has been solid and that Quinn Ewers, without a doubt, will be the starting signal caller this season because of his stage in the progression of Sarkisian’s offense.
“Sark even mentioned in his press conference that they’re all at different stages of their development and that’s to be expected and development is wildly important,” Nahlin said. “That’s why this really is Quinn Ewers’ job.”
Burton goes as far as asking for a stat line for Ewers in the Spring game.
“Something like 12 of 15 for 150 yards,” he said. “That’s maybe a little aggressive, but that’s kind of what I want to see. But I also want to see him be comfortable with a three-wide set, getting the ball out a little quicker, maybe a little crisper in his reads.”
Burton talked about running back Jonathan Brooks and how he may be the player that emerges as the focal point back this year, at least at the first part of the season. Brooks appears to be back at full go and practice after an offseason sports hernia injury.
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“Sark talks pretty straightforward about having always had a 1,000-yard rusher and he also mentioned in the press conference yesterday just how good he thinks Jonathan Brooks can be,” Burton explained. “He said, ‘look every time we’ve put Jonathan Brooks in the game he’s produced.’ So I you know that he had a lot fewer carries than Bijan and Roschon last year, but he had more yards per carry, averaging 6.6 yards a carry.”
Byron Murphy has been impressive in Spring drills and was lauded by Sarkisian in his Tuesday media availability. Burton and Nahlin talked about Murphy’s improvement and why he’s been such a load to handle.
Nahlin said he was surprised that the offense is not further along after the Spring but was quick to say that the Texas defense has had a lot to do with that.
Nahlin listed linebacker David Gbenda, defensive back Kitan Crawford, and EDGE Ethan Burke as his picks as players who have caught his eye this Spring.
There’s plenty more to glean from the video, so go check it out in its entirety.
