Brian Kelly isn’t the only coach playing coy about his quarterbacks. Texas head coach Charlie Strong hasn’t committed to a starting quarterback either, waiting until game time to reveal whether or not he’ll start senior Tyrone Swoopes or freshman Shane Buechele.
“I know who we’re going to start, but Sunday we’ll see who runs out there,” Strong said Monday.
Both expect to see time on Sunday, with Strong only willing to confirm that “both will play.” But even as Buechele’s stock continues to soar as a fast-riser during fall camp, Strong isn’t willing to step away from Swoopes, a veteran who has seen a charged atmosphere like the one expected Sunday night and has also had success running the offense, though mostly as a running option.
Likely adding to the decision is the health of the Texas offensive line. While Strong was confident that he’d have his projected starting lineup prepared to play by Sunday, as many as three starters—center Zach Shackelford, guard Patrick Vahe and tackle Tristan Nickelson—have battled considerable injuries this camp.
“We have some bumps and bruises on our offensive line,” Strong acknowledged. “We’re hoping that by the time we get to game time that we will have some guys and get some guys back. We’re kind of banged up a bit there.”
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Strong acknowledged the one-sided nature of last year’s 38-3 Notre Dame victory in South Bend. And while it was Malik Zaire that started for the Irish last year in the season opener, he knows that whoever he faces at quarterback will present a challenge.
“You look at the two-quarterback tandem, when you look at Zaire and you look at (DeShone) Kizer, two of the best in the country, when you look at what they can do,” Strong said. “Everybody talks about Zaire and they look at him as runner, but he can also throw the football. You look at how well he threw the ball against us.
“And then Kizer, one thing, he’s a thrower and then you look at some of the quarterback runs and some of the big plays he made last year with his feet.”
On the flip side of the ball, Strong praised Notre Dame’s front four, calling a group led by Isaac Rochell and Jarron Jones “probably the most physical front four that we will face all season.”
Compounding issues for Strong and new offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert is Brian VanGorder‘s scheme. With Gilbert brought in to install a spread attack that comes from the Art Briles coaching tree, Strong acknowledged that VanGorder will test both quarterbacks with his trademark attacking style.
“VanGorder, he’s not going to change. He loves to bring pressure, and he’s going to bring the pressure, and he feels like with his front, with the front that he has that he can get pressure on the quarterback and also bring an extra guy,” Strong explained. “So it hasn’t changed. If you look at them from game by game, they’ve been solid, and once you feel like that you have a good defense and you’ve had some success, there’s no reason to change it all.”
