Texas Longhorns head coach Tom Herman has said he is open to adding a graduate transfer at quarterback this season with Sam Ehlinger and Matthew Merrick as the only two scholarship backups to Shane Buechele, and there's a chance he gets his wish.
Former LSU quarterback Brandon Harris announced today that he intends to transfer from LSU and has been granted a full release from the school:
Statement regarding my future. pic.twitter.com/xNa3MkPXcw
— Brandon Harris (@B6Harris) February 13, 2017
Jeff Howe of 247sports explains why Texas is interested in Harris and are pursuing him:
Harris could definitely be a viable insurance policy in the event something were to happen to Buechele, which is what Herman tried to do with Greg Ward Jr. during his first season as the head coach at Houston.
Herman recruited Adam Schulz from Utah as a graduate transfer to be the backup to Ward. That lasted until the third game of the season when Schulz suffered a season-ending knee injury in a win over Texas State.
Jerrod Heard is expected to work some at quarterback this spring. However, Horns247 has been told by a source close to Heard that the move isn’t expected to be permanent and that the fourth-year junior will remain primarily at wide receiver.
If Heard’s move isn’t permanent and no other players are added, Ehlinger would likely be the backup to Buechele as a true freshman. Ehlinger is already on campus and will be going through spring practice when the Longhorns begin on-field sessions on March 6.
Harris lost his starting job just a few games into the 2016 season. In 22 games in his career, Harris passed for 2,756 yards and 20 touchdowns with 10 interceptions while rushing for 370 yards and seven touchdowns.
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