Texas Longhorns junior QB Tyrone Swoopes is the team's #1 options heading into tonight's huge season-opening clash with Notre Dame, and while freshman Jerrod Heard will get time under center as well, the onus lies on Swoopes to get the job done tonight in South Bend. Here's 4 Things To Watch For From Texas QB Tyrone Swoopes Against Notre Dame.
1. Daje Johnson Connection
Talented senior WR Daje Johnson has been a dud so far during his time in Austin. He's finally starting to clean up his off-the-field act, however, and he's a prime candidate for a late-bloomer breakout in 2015. If Johnson gets it going tonight, Swoopes and his starting job will be the benefactor.
2. Getting His Legs Moving
The only way Swoopes is going to keep his job for the season is by getting into rhythm on the run, opening up the seams and the perimeter with the threat of busting loose both on designed plays and otherwise. He's an athletic marvel at his best, so tonight he'll need to make magic in space against a Notre Dame defense that is susceptible to edge speed.
3. Stepping Up Against The Heat
Swoopes can get rattled when he's boxed in the pocket and can't use his legs to stretch out plays. Notre Dame knows this and they're going to employ a host of creative edge rushes to seal him in. Swoopes is going to have to mix-and-match straight handoffs to Johnathan Gray and clutch three-step and five-step darts to keep Texas around in this one.
4. Which Swoopes Will Show Up?
During long stretches of Texas' 6-7 season last year, Swoopes alternated between looking like a legit dual-threat starter for the Longhorns and a former high school standout who looks overmatched against top-level defenses. With Heard breathing down his neck, it's time for Swoopes to put together the start of his life. If he looks flat or out of sync in Game 1, his leash may be short.
Follow our Texas Longhorns team page for the latest Texas football news!
Back to the Texas Longhorns Newsfeed