Nine of the 12 FBS programs in the state of Texas entered spring with a quarterback battle in the forefront of the mind. Arguably, only Houston (Clayton Tune), UTSA (Frank Harris), UTEP (Gavin Hardison) are secure at the quarterback spot. Even SMU’s Tanner Mordecai, who threw for more yards than any other FBS player in the state during the 2021 season, is facing pressure from a backup with former four-star Preston Stone nipping at his heels. 

Quarterback is the sexy position in modern football. The NFL Draft proves its importance as teams reach each season in the first round. Teams without quality quarterback play are doomed to mediocrity. Teams that find superior quarterback play are significantly more hopeful about the present and the future. That is true for college, as well. Maybe defense still wins championships, but the passing game gets you there. 

With spring practice in full swing across the state, let’s examine position battles that will dominate headlines at the seven G5 schools in the state of Texas. We took a look at the five quarterback battles taking place at the five Power Five programs earlier in the week. 

SMU MUSTANGS 

Tanner Mordecai vs. Preston Stone 

The arrival of first-year head coach Rhett Lashlee means every position is up for grabs heading into the 2022 season, even quarterback. Mordecai, a Waco native who transferred to SMU from Oklahoma, set a school record for touchdown passes in 2021 with 39. He led the AAC with 3,628 yards and completed 67.8 percent of his passes. Mordecai threw for more than 300 yards in eight of the 12 games SMU played in 2021. He threw for four or more touchdown passes five times. Entering his senior season, a guy with that type of production a year earlier should be a lock to retain his starting job. 

But college football in the modern landscape isn’t always that simple. Stone, a four-star prospect out of high school, was heavily recruited by Lashlee. Stone is also a guy SMU wants to turn the keys over to once Mordecai is done with college football after the 2022 season. Keeping Stone on campus was one of the top priorities for the new coaching staff and allowing for a legitimately open quarterback battle in the spring was likely one of the factors. Stone and Mordecai will split some reps, but Mordecai should be the man unless he struggles or gets injured. Stone can take over the program in 2023. 

HOUSTON COUGARS 

Center 

The Cougars return most of their starters from a 2021 squad that finished 12-2 and reached the AAC championship game against Cincinnati. Houston, at least on paper, is the best G5 team in the country in 2022 and the Cougars want to make a run at a conference title and a trip to the College Football Playoffs. One of the only real position battles taking place at Houston this spring is at center. Transfer Kody Russey was tremendous in 2021, but he was only a one-year rental. 

The Cougars must find a suitable replacement to manage the offensive line or quarterback Clayton Tune won’t look as sharp in 2022. Two options on campus are true freshman Demetrius Hunter, a one-time Oklahoma commit who enrolled early, or Jack Freeman. If neither of those options provde the coaching staff with confidence, Houston could always dip back into the transfer market in the summer for another one-year band-aid. 

UTSA ROADRUNNERS 

No. 1 running back 

Finding a star running back to build the offense around was never a concern for Jeff Traylor in his first two seasons at UTSA. Sincere McCormick, a local product of Converse Judson, was already on campus. He left UTSA after his junior season as the program’s best offensive player. He tallied 3,929 yards and 34 touchdowns during his three seasons as a Roadrunner, averaging 5.4 yards an attempt and 109.1 yards per game. McCormick also caught at least 20 passes in each of his three collegiate seasons. 

That safety blanket is no longer on campus. A new crop of players must emerge to fill the void because it is unfair to ask one person to replace that type of production. UTSA hopes JUCO signee Tye Edwards can provide immediate results on his first year on campus. The 6-2, 232-pound Edwards arrived at UTSA from Hutchinson C.C. as the third-ranked JUCO running back in the 2022 cycle. Deanthony Lewis is another name that UTSA likes, but Lewis is out of commission for spring practices. 

NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN 

Austin Aune vs. Jace Rudder vs. Stone Earle vs. JD Head 

North Texas required a five-game winning streak to end the regular season to reach the six wins needed to play in a bowl game despite boasting an improving defense and one of the best rushing attacks in program history. The real culprit to the struggles was an inconsistent passing game. Austin Aune and Jace Rudder split time early in the season. Aune eventually emerged as the No. 1 quarterback, but his play in 2021 doesn’t suggest that his position is secure in 2022. Aune and Rudder combined for a 51.78 completion percentage. The duo threw more interceptions (14) than touchdowns (12), and North Texas only averaged 197 yards per game through the air. 

North Texas head coach Seth Littrell added Earle and Head from the transfer portal. Earle, a sophomore who spent the previous two seasons at Abilene Christian, might be the favorite to win the starting job. He started the first seven games at ACU in 2021 before an injury ended his season. Earle passed for 1,216 yards and 13 touchdowns to only four interceptions during those seven starts, adding 120 yards and two scores on the ground. Head, a Pearland product, played the previous two seasons at Louisiana Tech. He started twice in 2021. 

RICE OWLS

Offensive line 

Rice might be situated at quarterback for the first time in multiple years if Wiley Green takes another step forward during spring ball. Rice played four quarterbacks in 2021 due to injury and inconsistency. Green was the best of the bunch when healthy. Multiple quarterbacks played in six of Rice’s 12 games. That revolving door hurt the Owls. Rice finished 4-8 with two losses in overtime. Assuming Green locks up the position in the spring, offensive line becomes the focal point. 

The Owls lost two starters in the trenches in Cole Garcia and Jovaun Woodford. Young guys need to step up. Rice must find a new tackle and a new guard. The tackle options include Ethan Onianwa and Mike Leone. The guard options include Braedon Nutter, Faee Pepe, and John Long. 

TEXAS STATE BOBCATS 

Brady McBride vs. Layne Hatcher 

An important season looms for the Bobcats in Jake Spavital’s fourth year in charge of Texas State’s football program. His team won three games in 2019, two games in 2020, and four in 2021. A 3-5 record in the Sun Belt conference during the 2021 season was good enough for second place in the division. Texas State’s roster is as talented heading into 2022 as it’s been since Spavital arrived in San Marcos. The Bobcats feel great about the offensive line, and the staff feels like there are enough weapons at wide receiver and running back to take a step forward offensively. 

Inconsistency at quarterback doomed Texas State in multiple games in 2021. Brady McBride struggled with nagging injuries and eventually missed the backend of the season. McBride completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,507 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in the seven games he played. Many observers felt like the offense ran better with Tyler Vitt in charge. McBride remains on campus, but Spavital added to the competition by securing the transfer of Hatcher from Arkansas State. Hatcher threw for more than 7,000 yards at Arkansas State in 32 career games and has two years of eligibility remaining. 

UTEP MINERS 

No. 1 wide receiver 

The Miners reached a bowl game and obtained seven wins in 2021 due, at least in part, to a big-play passing attack led by quarterback Gavin Hardison. Hardison is back for 2022, but his two top targets from last season are no longer in El Paso. Jacob Cowing, who caught 69 passes for 1,354 yards and seven touchdowns, transferred to Arizona. Justin Garrett, who caught 50 passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns, is out of eligibility. No other player on last year’s roster caught more than 33 passes. 

UTEP was in danger of losing its top three wide receivers from last season, but sophomore Tyrin Smith removed his name from the transfer portal and is practicing with the Miners during spring ball. Smith, a Cibolo Steele product, caught 33 passes for 570 yards and four scores. He’s the safest bet to become Hardison’s top target in 2022. Other options include Jeremiah Ballard, Kelly Akhoraiya, and Reynaldo Flores.