Prior to the beginning of the 2011 football season, it appeared that the quarterback position would be solid for several years to come around the Forty Acres. Along with junior starter Garrett Gilbert, David Ash, Case McCoy and Connor Wood were all competing for starting and backup roles.
My how quickly things can change.
With Gilbert’s early-season struggles and decision to transfer from Texas, along with Wood’s decision to transfer to Colorado, Mack Brown and the Texas coaching staff suddenly had 50% attrition in the quarterback ranks.
With the arrival next fall of highly-touted Scottsdale, Arizona product Connor Brewer, the ranks will again be solidified, but this is true only assuming that Case McCoy doesn’t look to greener pastures if David Ash remains the starter.
To hedge their bets, do the Longhorns pursue, and sign, a second quarterback in the 2012 class, even though this wasn’t originally in the plans?
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There are a few prospects whom the Longhorns have been considering for some time now–with different degrees of interest–that could fit the mold to join the 2012 quarterbacking corps but one appears to be the front runner, LaBradford “Del” Barnes.
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LaBradford “Del” Barnes
While not on the radar of most large programs, Henderson’s LaBradford “Del” Barnes has the Longhorns’ attention and could potentially become the 2012 class’ second QB.
Barnes is a classic dual-threat quarterback who would be a nice fit in Bryan Harsin’s system, able to make plays on the run and with his feet. At 6’0″, 175 Barnes has nice strength that makes up for somewhat lacking straight line speed.
Almost as importantly, Barnes is well-recognized in the Henderson community as a good kid and is on track to be his senior class’ valedictorian.
If Texas doesn’t decide to use a scholarship on Barnes, it’s possible they could go on and convert one of the two former high school quarterbacks on the roster, Mykelle Thompson or Miles Onyegbule into the fourth-string quarterback and bide their time prior to 2013.
With the apparent pick between Wichita Falls Rider’s J.T. Barrett and Whitewright’s Tyrone Swoopes, the 2013 quarterback could see time faster than expected in the Burnt Orange.
Either way, a fourth-stringer will need to emerge between now and the start of the 2012 season– if for nothing else, for depth.
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October 19, 2011
