Texas opens training camp with backup QB battle, recovering running back shines
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AUSTIN (KXAN) — Training camp opened Wednesday for the Texas Longhorns, and while everyone knew that Arch Manning came into the first day as the starting quarterback, no one knew the pecking order after him.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian certainly doesn't have an answer yet, but he got a chance to look at Troy senior transfer Matthew Caldwell alongside Manning, and the elder statesman of the QBs looked the part.
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"He's really coachable," Sarkisian said. "You can coach him hard, and he's got really good rapport with his teammates."
Texas is Caldwell's fourth school, something that's becoming more common in the transfer portal era. He started at Jacksonville State, went to FCS Gardner-Webb, and then found his way to Troy where he started the last five games for the Sun Belt Conference program last season. He threw for 1,608 yards, completing 141 of 223 passes, with an average of 235.6 yards per game over his five starts.
Some fans scratched their heads when Caldwell's commitment was announced, wondering why Sarkisian would add a transfer quarterback when two young and talented players in Trey Owens and KJ Lacey are waiting in the wings.
"That's a guy who started games in Division I football," Sarkisian said about Caldwell, "He's played a good enough amount of football to where, as we progress, the last thing I want to do is put a young player on the field if he's not ready to play. That's something at any position, and quarterback is the most important one."
Caldwell and Manning worked with Sarkisian during Wednesday's practice. Owens and Lacey were with quarterbacks coach AJ Milwee on the other field, so Sarkisian said he'd have to consult Milwee and watch tape to see how the other QBs did. He was impressed with Caldwell's accuracy and that he made "throws that were encouraging to fit the style of offense" he wants to play.
"There are a lot of things to like about him," Sarkisian said. "We've got a lot of time here to figure out what's going to happen with the backup spot, but from where he was when he first got here to where he was today, I'm impressed with the progress."
Baxter is back, and looks good
Running back CJ Baxter was back on the field after recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in last year's training camp, and besides being happy about that, Sarkisian said Baxter is an inspiration to the team. Baxter spoke to the offense Tuesday night to get them focused and primed for the opening of camp.
"Here's a guy who was set to start again as a sophomore, poised for a great season, and then gets injured. The attitude he embraced to come back from that injury all season long ... he was on the sidelines for every game, he was in huddles, picking up teammates, and his teammates were watching his rehab all along," Sarkisian said. "To watch him address the offense about the energy and focus that was needed in practice, and then for him to go out and have the practice he had, was huge."
Baxter's injury allowed Quintrevion Wisner to shine, so that was somewhat of a silver lining. Baxter rushed for 659 yards and five touchdowns as a true freshman. Sarkisian said Baxter was "better than I was anticipating, especially during team periods."
"He hit a couple of runs that were very encouraging," Sarkisian said. "When you're coming off a significant knee injury, physically, you're ready, but it's the mental side. It's a psyche thing, and I thought his psyche looked really good today."
It was a hot one out there
It was July 30 in Central Texas, so no one was expecting 75 degrees with cloud cover, but it's still not easy to go hard at practice when it's 100 degrees. Sarkisian said that's where mental toughness comes in.
"Naturally, as practice goes on, fatigue sets in, and that's when we have to tap into the mental intensity that's needed, and that's what training camp is for," Sarkisian said. "It was obviously a warm day, and they fought through."
Mental fortitude can take players a long way, especially in such a physically demanding game like football. Technically, it'll still be summer when the Longhorns take on the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes on Aug. 30, and it's a safe bet that the hosts won't provide any air conditioning on the sidelines.