Quinn Ewers injury: Outlook for Texas with Maalik Murphy likely to start at QB as ‘Horns remain in title hunt

Texas will roll with Maalik Murphy as its beginning quarterback whilst Quinn Ewers is sidelined with an harm to his throwing shoulder, at least for the foreseeable long term. With trainer Steve Sarkisian strongly indicating that Murphy will start over Arch Manning vs. BYU, the Longhorns will it appears transfer ahead with an über-talented however in large part untested participant as a substitute of an über-talented however utterly untested one. 

Sometimes the overpassed identify in the Longhorns’ star-studded quarterback room, Murphy has superb dimension and arm energy that, alongside with an extra yr in Sarkisian’s offense, made him a transparent No. 2 in the pecking order as the 2023 season approached. 

Murphy’s sport enjoy is understandably narrow, alternatively. He redshirted in 2022, buried in the back of Ewers and Hudson Card, and has seemed in 4 video games this season. His longest occupation of entirety of 17 yards got here in season-opening mop-up accountability in opposition to Rice, which additionally marked the one different sport in which he is thrown a couple of cross (he used to be 1 of two for 7 yards in emergency accountability in opposition to Houston). 

Of path, a crew’s whole sport plan adjustments when a quarterback is going down. Texas put a renewed center of attention at the run sport vs. the Cougars with 53 yards and the deciding landing in the fourth quarter of the 31-24 win. 

Murphy’s high quality in a complete, aggressive sport atmosphere is a whole thriller. There are a few things we will be able to glance again on, despite the fact that, to get a really feel for how Murphy will have to carry out for the Longhorns. 

Standout spring sport

Murphy generated substantial offseason hype with a stellar appearing in Texas’ spring sport. He completed 2nd amongst all passers, and simply in the back of Ewers, with 165 yards and a landing. On show used to be the arm energy that made him a famend highschool product. With an unusual 6-foot-5 and 238-pound body, Murphy generated some severe pace on his throws. 

A large number of younger quarterbacks can zip the ball however combat with contact, main to overthrows on deep bombs. That will not be the case with Murphy. In the longest of entirety of Texas’ spring sport, he hit freshman large receiver Johntay Cook for a 79-yard landing. 

Murphy did not even truly step into the throw, which coated 42 air yards, however nonetheless are compatible it right into a quite tight window with the defensive again trailing through only a couple yards. If that ball used to be underthrown, it might have given the defender time to catch up and make a play. 

He additionally confirmed accuracy and contact on intermediate throws. A throw to DeAndre Moore Jr. on a crossing course floated between two defenders and — most significantly — hit the receiver in stride, permitting him to flip the nook and get a couple of additional yards. 

Murphy will have to have had his 2nd landing cross a couple of performs later, however it used to be dropped in the tip zone. He did not make any notable errors, both, which is any other promising signal for a tender quarterback with restricted reps. 

Outlook with Murphy

Texas is true in the thick of the Big 12 championship race, and to some extent the College Football Playoff image, so Ewers’ harm is premature. Still, the Longhorns remain favorites to make it again to the Big 12 Championship Game, the place a rematch with Oklahoma feels inevitable. If Texas wins out in the common season and will get revenge at the Sooners, it’ll definitely be a few of the groups in dialogue for a playoff spot. 

That’s a large number of power to placed on Murphy in Ewers’ absence. Look for Sarkisian and this body of workers to check out to take some weight off his shoulders. The Longhorns have a robust run sport, paced through the Big 12’s third-leading rusher in Jonathon Brooks. BYU is the precise opponent for Texas to concoct a successful sport plan with Murphy in his first occupation start. 

The Cougars rank 9th in the Big 12 in run protection, permitting 150.3 yards consistent with sport. Opponents are averaging 4.1 yards consistent with raise in opposition to BYU. Brooks gets a large number of alternatives, and freshman CJ Baxter will have to have recent legs after logging simply 13 carries during the last two video games. 

Keeping the point of interest at the run sport will have to give Murphy some simple passing seems to be in opposition to stacked bins and open the prospective for large performs as he positive factors extra self belief. Murphy is able to guiding Texas thru a quite winnable Big 12 slate till Ewers returns. He simply wishes the Longhorns to play some complementary soccer in go back.