Texas Football: 3 reasons why Quinn Ewers should be definitive starter

Hudson Card still has too much to prove

The strides we’ve heard about Card making since spring ball are notable, but it still doesn’t feel like enough for him to make a convincing enough case to the coaching staff to beat out Ewers for the starting job.

One of the most notable developments we keep hearing about from Card in fall practice thus far is his improved footwork and pocket presence. And while that’s great to hear about him working on this facet of his game, we just don’t know how well that will hold up against real pressure from opposing defenses in live-game action.

It’s one thing for Card to be able to show he can effectively go through his reads and display good footwork in the pocket without pressure coming at him in drills. But it’s completely different when there are big-time pass-rushers such as those the Alabama Crimson Tide bring to the table coming after you.

We already saw Card struggle mightily at times last season dealing with pressure from opposing defenses. That makes many Longhorns fans skeptical about his actual progress in terms of his pocket presence and awareness heading into the 2022 season.

Card will definitely have his time to prove the strides he’s made during the offseason, especially if Texas can get early leads on the likes of ULM and the UTSA Roadrunners during the non-conference slate. But it seems like the only realistic path that Card has to win the starting job for good this fall would come if Ewers either completely breaks down early this season or if injury strikes.

With some of the strides that Ewers has made during the summer and in fall practice thus far, it doesn’t look like there is enough reason to believe that Card will have a realistic shot at winning the starting job coming out of camp. And if Ewers can have a good showing during Texas’ first fall scrimmage this coming weekend, it will become that much more difficult for Card to become the starter for Week 1.