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It’s safe to say elite Lake Travis wide receiver Garrett Wilson knows a quality quarterback when he sees one.
Prior to catching passes from future Ohio State teammate Matthew Baldwin in 2017, the five-star Buckeyes pledge hauled in his fair share of completions from Baylor’s Charlie Brewer, whom many expect to emerge as one of the top field generals in the Big 12 next season.
In 2018, Wilson’s curtain call will come with Hudson Card behind center.
Stepping fully into the limelight at a tradition-rich program, which also previously produced former Longhorn Garrett Gilbert and reigning Heisman winner and No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield, Card has some significant shoes to fill in hopes of becoming the Cavaliers next great signal-caller and emerge from the shadows of Baldwin and Brewer combining for 8,442 yards and 108 touchdowns the past two seasons.
Wilson has been on the receiving end of passes from all three, and he recently raved to Burnt Orange Nation about the 2020 Texas commit’s upside as the 1,100-yard receiver continues to find his footing as a full-time quarterback.
“He’s a freak athlete. He showed that last year and he’s got a really good arm, too. He’s the type of dude that’s got Heisman potential,” Wilson said of Card. “He can extend plays, put it anywhere, hit passes on the run, or run for a 50-yard touchdown. He’s really that dude and we’re going to have a great year with him.”
Wilson witnessed spurts of the four-star prospect’s upside at quarterback as Baldwin’s back up ahead of the Class 6A Division I state title game against Allen. During that game, the team’s second-leading receiver was handed the reins just moments into the game when Baldwin re-aggravated a knee injury. Of course, in Card’s first major action behind center, three of his 32 attempts were intercepted, but his 306 total yards and two touchdowns provided proof of his potential at the position.
How well Card performs now that he’s a full-time field general remains to be seen, but Wilson said he sees several similarities between Card and his predecessor.
“As far as extending plays, [Card] takes the crown on that. He’s on a different level with that. The rest of it, they’re pretty similar,” Wilson said of how Card compares to Baldwin. “They’re both really good quarterbacks, they put the ball where it needs to be, and they’re both good decision-makers.”
Texas commit Hudson Card (@Hcard7) goes deep to Ohio State commit Garrett Wilson (@GarrettWilson_V) for another TD. #HookEm #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/yBbeMhWUqr
— "EJ Holland" (@EJHolland247) May 26, 2018
The industry, on the other hand, exudes even higher praise for the lone Longhorns 2020 pledge. Largely based on versatility, athleticism, and upside alone after totaling 604 yards through the air, another 459 yards on the ground, 1,137 receiving yards as one of Baldwin’s top options, and 25 total touchdowns in 2017, Card is set to enter his junior campaign as a top 150 prospect nationally, and as the nation’s No. 2 dual-threat quarterback. MaxPreps echoed those expectations, projecting Card as one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the country in 2018, regardless of class.
In short, Card is next in line for his place as the next great Lake Travis passer, but to whom much praise is given, much productivity is expected.
The eyes of Texas are now upon him.