With two quarterbacks dinged up, what's Steve Sarkisian's next move?
Rod Babers, a former Texas defensive back and co-host of Inside Texas’ postgame show, has a saying he uses in his myriad roles. The All-American often notes that among the many hats coaches must wear, the most important one may be that of a problem-solver. Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian will have to wear that hat this week, as he has quite the problem to solve at the quarterback position.
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Quinn Ewers, the Longhorns’ starting quarterback, is expected to miss several games with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Hudson Card, who took over for Ewers in Texas’ 20-19 loss to Alabama, was hobbled by an ankle injury suffered during the game and is no sure bet to play on Saturday versus UTSA.
Losing one quarterback is tough. Potentially losing two? That’s a major problem with a game UTSA squad and Big 12 play on the horizon.
So how does Sarkisian go about solving the problem? He has a couple of options.
If Card can’t go, the first option is passing the baton to redshirt freshman Charles Wright. A member of the Longhorns’ 2021 class from nearby Austin High, Wright warmed up his arm and readied himself for action in Saturday’s game but Sarkisian elected to keep Card under center.
Wright flipped from Iowa State to Texas in 2020, jumping at the chance to commit to his childhood favorite. While at Austin High, a team not known for its football prowess, Wright led the Maroons to the playoffs his senior season and completed 222-of-345 passes for 2,759 yards and 35 touchdowns with nine interceptions in nine games.
He has appeared in two games in his career and still has not attempted a pass. Wright isn’t just a relative unknown, he’s a total unknown in games. Though that may be the case, going under center against a good, not great, Conference USA team like UTSA is as good of a test for Wright’s first meaningful snaps that Sarkisian could ask for.
Behind Wright on the depth chart are true freshman Maalik Murphy and walk-ons Ben Ballard and Cole Lourd. Combined appearance total of that group? Two, with both by Ballard.
Wright serves as one solution for Sarkisian, an unfamiliar one at that. The other is something he isn’t well-versed in but has utilized successfully in recent outings.
Roschon Johnson, a former high school quarterback who switched to running back during his freshman year, played extensively as a Wildcat quarterback in Texas’ 2021 win over Kansas State. He rushed 31 times for 179 yards and a score and even completed a pass in a callback to his days at Port Neches-Groves High School.
Sarkisian brought the package to his 2022 offense, even showcasing it against Alabama. It may neuter most of what Texas wants to do through the air, and it may not be something they use down after down after down. But it’s an option the Longhorns know is effective and could help take a lot of pressure off of whoever appears under center. Plus, if there was ever a time for the team to rally around Johnson, this is it.
Of course, Card could perform well in practice this week and feel good enough to play quarterback in Texas’ Saturday night matchup with the Roadrunners. If Card is not able to go, at least Sarkisian has a handful options.
From those options, he’ll have to decide which is best to solve his current problem.
