Sark still not sure on beginning QB for SEC debut

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  Dave Wilson is a college football reporter. He formerly worked at The Dallas Early Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and Las Vegas Sun.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said on Thursday that the No. 1 Longhorns still haven’t chosen a beginning quarterback for Saturday’s inaugural SEC game against Mississippi State.

Quinn Ewers was listed as doubtful on Texas’ very first SEC injury report, still recuperating from an oblique strain. Arch Manning made his first profession start last week in a 51-3 win over UL Monroe.

“We’re going to choose the quarterback thing tomorrow,” Sarkisian stated. “It won’t be a trick. We’re not trying to pull the wool over anybody’s eyes. Just wish to offer Quinn every chance to see if he’s prepared to play and what he looks like.”

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Sarkisian said on Monday that Ewers practiced and looked excellent, but he wanted to see how he was feeling after a week of work. He said he has been motivated by what he has actually seen all week, even from third-string quarterback Trey Owens, a true freshman.

“I ‘d say he’s improved every day,” Sarkisian said on Thursday. “I believe Arch has actually had a great week, and I would say this: Trey Owens most likely had his best practice as a Longhorn today, so that was truly motivating as well.”

Mississippi State has had injury concerns of its own at quarterback and will be beginning a true freshman, Michael Van Buren Jr., after starter Blake Shapen was lost for the season recently with a shoulder injury that will need surgical treatment. Van Buren, the No. 57 possibility in the 2024 ESPN 300, went 7-for-13 for 100 yards off the bench in a 45-28 loss to Florida on Saturday.

Sarkisian stated that provides a challenge to Texas, without having much movie on a brand-new quarterback. And he knows his challenger in first-year Bulldogs coach Jeff Lebby, who was Oklahoma’s offensive planner last year when Dillon Gabriel led the Sooners on a 75-yard drive in 62 seconds to beat Texas, 34-30.

“It’s a small sample size,” Sarkisian said. “They have actually had a week now to prepare a tactical plan for the things that he does well, which’s what we’re going to need to arrange through and find out. But knowing Jeff Lebby, a really great offending mind, he’s going to put him in an excellent position to have some success. … Our task is to attempt to get him uneasy and we’ll see how efficient we are.”