BEVO BEAT Football Charlie Strong faces first of many QB questions at Texas media day Kent Perkins will begin fall practice at guard; No final word yet on Erick Fowler's academic eligibilty Posted August 5th, 2016


Texas coach Charlie Strong looked relaxed and ready for the 2016 season during the team’s local media day on Friday.

And he appears ready for the onslaught of questions about the quarterback.

“Starting quarterback,” Strong said with a laugh. “Why is that always the question?”


Freshman Shane Buechele is perceived as the odds-on favorite to win the starting job, based on Strong’s comments earlier this summer. Senior Tyrone Swoopes and sophomore Jerrod Heard both figure to see playing time, though.

“The good thing about it,” Strong said, “each one of them, they’re different and they all bring something different to the game.”

Strong said he was not entertaining the idea of moving Heard to receiver should the Denton Guyer product fail to win the starting quarterback job. “You’re going to need three quarterbacks,” Strong said.

Offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert said if the Longhorns can make a decision “sooner than later, that’d be big.”

“But again, we’ve got to make the right decision,” Gilbert said. “We’re going to et a good evaluation under our belt. Feel real good about it, collaborate with coach about it, and we’ll ride from there.”

Offensive line coach Matt Mattox said Kent Perkins will start August practice at guard instead of tackle. Freshman Zach Shackelford will likely be the starting center and backed by Elijah Rodriguez and Jake McMillon.

Strong said no final decision has been made on suspended receiver DeAndre McNeal, who is still “going through the process.”

Also, projected incoming freshman Erick Fowler of Manor still has some academic work to finish up and has not been cleared to begin practice.

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