Jerrod Heard Gives Texas Fans What They Haven't Had Recently: Hope
- 9 years ago
Texas lost the battle but won the war, falling 45-44 to Cal on its home field on Saturday but finding hope in the form of freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard.
Heard completed 20 of 31 passes for 364 yards, rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns and improvised in ways that gave Longhorns fans visions of former quarterback Vince Young.
Even though it came against Cal, a defense that last year ranked No. 108 in the country on Football Outsiders' S&P+ ratings, Heard's performance felt important.
He willed the Longhorns back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and would have forced overtime if not for a missed extra point in the final minute.
"I'm excited by the offense, but it's negated by how the defense is playing," head coach Charlie Strong told the Longhorn Network after the game.
Heard completed 20 of 31 passes for 364 yards, rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns and improvised in ways that gave Longhorns fans visions of former quarterback Vince Young.
Even though it came against Cal, a defense that last year ranked No. 108 in the country on Football Outsiders' S&P+ ratings, Heard's performance felt important.
He willed the Longhorns back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and would have forced overtime if not for a missed extra point in the final minute.
"I'm excited by the offense, but it's negated by how the defense is playing," head coach Charlie Strong told the Longhorn Network after the game.