With only six days left until the Texas Longhorns open the season against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, head coach Charlie Strong continued to play coy on Monday when asked about which of the two quarterbacks competing for the starting job will receive the nod.
Charlie Strong says he won’t be naming a QB starter until Sunday night when the team runs onto the field.
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) August 29, 2016
During his weekly media availability, Strong did once again reiterate that freshman Shane Buechele and senior Tyrone Swoopes will both play against the Fighting Irish and continued to discuss the importance of other positions stepping up to help whichever quarterback is on the field, most especially the offensive line.
However, the Longhorns head coach did say that the starter will receive most of the work and will remain in that role until the other player beats them out.
Asked what is different about Swoopes this season, Strong mentioned the influx of weapons around him that will make his job easier, as well as the new offensive scheme that will allow him to play faster.
Both quarterbacks will have a much more simple game plan against Notre Dame in an effort to limit the number of reads that each needs to make.
Based on reports coming out of practice, there’s some momentum for Swoopes, who has reportedly improved over the season after a typically inconsistent Orange-White game, so it’s increasingly possible that the senior could get the start over the freshman.
Ever since Buechele starred in the rain-shortened spring game, he appeared to be the starter in all but name, but now it seems that his competitor has narrowed the gap and perhaps even taken the lead in a surprising development.