Texas Longhorns 2015 Spring Game: Five things we learned

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Nov 8, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Tyrone Swoopes (18) warms up prior to kickoff against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

 Quarterback Play Is Better but Unspectacular

Texas fans concerned about the Horns’ lackluster 2014 quarterback play were looking to Saturday for some sign that one of the quarterbacks on the roster will distinguish themselves in 2015. And while the level of quarterback play appeared to improve, none of the quarterbacks really separated themselves from the pack.

Starter Tyrone Swoopes was 17 for 31 for 159 yards, zero touchdowns and no interceptions. While it’s good that Swoopes did not turn the ball over, the fifty-five percent completion percentage is a cause for concern, as it’s marginally worse than his 2014 fifty-eight percent completion percentage. Swoopes also ran the ball six times for 31 yards. Perhaps most alarming, Swoopes did not throw or rush for any touchdowns.

Backup Jerrod Heard appears to be closing the gap with Swoopes: Heard was 20 for 29 for 177 yards, zero touchdowns, and an interception, notching a nice seventy percent completion percentage. But, he also took five sacks during the game and did not throw for any touchdowns.

So headed into the 2015 fall campaign, Swoopes is still the starter, for now. However, it’s evident that Jerrod Heard is making progress and may push Swoopes in the quarterback competition. Strong said he hopes he doesn’t have to start a redshirt freshman in the opener against Notre Dame, but it’s something he’s not afraid of doing if Heard is the man for the job.

Next: Ranking the Big 12 Running Backs Entering 2015

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