AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - No. 23 Texas appears set to start sophomore Shane Buechele at quarterback in the season opener against Maryland.
Buechele was listed as the No. 1 on Monday’s depth chart ahead of freshman Sam Ehlinger. Buechele started 12 games last season and set a Texas freshman passing record of nearly 3,000 yards.
Coach Tom Herman has tried to keep the pressure on Buechele in training camp and said he could lose the job if he doesn’t practice well this week.
“Shane is the starter today,” Herman said, emphasizing the last word.
“It would take Shane not playing well, not practicing well” for Buechele not to start, Herman said. “’’You’re only as good as your last practice. If we’re going to hold the team to that standard, we have to hold quarterback to that as well.”
Buechele passed for 2,958 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 interceptions last season. Buechele wasn’t made available to comment Monday.
Herman is in first season with Longhorns. He was hired from Houston to replace Charlie Strong after three consecutive losing seasons. The current roster includes 18 sophomores and freshmen in the two-deep lineup - and depth is a concern, he said.
“I think our starting 22 can play with anybody in the country,” Herman said. He said younger players will have to be ready to get on the field quickly.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are and how much experience you have. If you’ve been in our program the last night months, you’re going to be ready for a college football game,” Herman said.
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