Texas Football: Phil Steele thinks QB is the biggest question mark in 2021

Considering all of the change that the Texas football program has gone through with a complete change in coaching regime this offseason, there’s a lot of question marks to bring up this summer. Texas is still breaking in new head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff this offseason during summer workouts, and just ahead of the start of fall camp.

In his college football preview magazine ahead of the start of the 2021 season, Phil Steele talked about his expectations for Sark and the Longhorns out of the gates (per 247Sports). He mentioned that he believes Texas was just “three plays” away from being a team that made the College Football Playoff last season.

And he also tabbed the offense as very impressive under senior star quarterback Sam Ehlinger, former head coach Tom Herman, and first-year offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, last season. But that’s why Texas has such a big question mark in Steele’s mind at the quarterback position in 2021.

Phil Steele tabs the loss of Sam Ehlinger a big challenge for Texas football and Steve Sarkisian to overcome in 2021

Texas is likely to give the starting reigns to redshirt junior quarterback Casey Thompson out of the gates this fall, but sophomore Hudson Card could still challenge for that role. Thompson and Card are going to be the top two options in all likelihood for the Texas quarterback room early in the fall.

If Texas can find the solution to this question mark at the quarterback position, then College Football Playoff and Big 12 Championship contention could be on the horizon for Sark in 2021.

Moreover, Steele brings up a good point that Texas is bringing back a lot of talent and experience in 2021 to give Sark the tools to succeed right away. It will be interesting to see how he converts on some early tests for the Longhorns against non-conference foes such as Louisiana and Arkansas.

Last season, Texas got a solid senior campaign out of Ehlinger. He registered 2,566 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, just five interceptions, 377 rushing yards, and eight rushing touchdowns. His senior campaign was one of the more impressive of his four years on the Forty Acres.

Texas finished up last season with a record of 7-3 (5-3 Big 12) under the direction of the former head coach Herman. Sark and the Longhorns are set to open up the 2021 regular season at home on Sep. 4 against Louisiana.