Many an observer - OK, at least one -- of the Texas football program view Jerrod Heard as the best possible option at the quarterback position for the Longhorns. Wednesday, that standing was tossed into a state of flux.
UT announced via a one-sentence, emailed release this afternoon, that Heard sustained a shoulder injury during practice Tuesday. The severity of the injury is unknown, and Heard “is being evaluated at this time.”
Tyrone Swoopes began the 2015 season as the Longhorns’ starter, but was replaced after one game by Heard. The then-redshirt freshman proceeded to start the next 10 games, throwing five touchdowns and five interceptions as UT went 4-6 during his time as the starter. Swoopes then started the season finale against Baylor.
This offseason, head coach Charlie Strong has described a quarterback competition that includes redshirt freshmen Kai Locksley and Matthew Merrick and true freshman Shane Buechele as wide open.