Being the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns is certainly not an easy job, and unfortunately, David Ash knows this all too well.
Last season, as a true freshman, Ash was thrown into the fire before he was ready. In all fairness, the then-18-year-old was thrust into the starting role after participating in spring and summer practices as the fourth string QB who was supposed to have been give a red-shirt season.
However, after a late transfer by Connor Wood and the struggling of junior Garrett Gilbert, David Ash soon found himself as the team’s number one guy.
After struggling early (and who wouldn’t in that situation) he and Case McCoy shared the responsibilities of leading the team for the remainder of the year, culminating in an MVP-winning Holiday Bowl performance by the true freshman. After another spring and summer, it would be Ash that would emerge as the Longhorns’ leader.
But is the young sophomore ready to take the reigns?
We will find out soon.
Ash has reportedly made great strides this off-season and is earning the trust and respect of his coaches and teammates.
Texas offensive lineman Trey Hopkins had this to say about his young QB:
He has a lot more confidence and a lot better leadership skills than a year ago. He commands the huddle and is doing great in that aspect of knowing, ‘Hey, this is my huddle and I’m running the show.’ That kind of confidence trickles down through the rest of the huddle. The difference now is that he’s confident in himself when he drops back, so it gives everyone else confidence.
Fellow lineman, Mason Walters, shared the same sentiment:
It all goes from the top down and David is the top. We look to him in the huddle. It’s his ball team and he is managing it.
Coach Brown added:
I would say David is much more confident now than at any time last year, including the Holiday Bowl, or at any time during spring practice. I think the way that [Ash and Case McCoy] have competed throughout the summer and spring practice has really helped. Because until we announced it last week, neither young guy knew who would start. It’s pressed both of them to handle pressure. It’s pressed both of them to become leaders for this football team so they can reach out to the guys…He’s running the huddle…And he’s having fun again.
Ash is even carrying himself differently. In Monday’s meeting with the media, he sounded like a guy who has grown up and is ready to lead his teammates.
For me, it’s just doing my job day in and day out. It’s coming out with a competitive attitude, ready to practice hard and show my team the way a championship team prepares every day. Sometimes you have to talk, and I do when the situation calls for it. But mostly it’s just bringing a presence into the huddle, acting like you know what you’re doing and inspiring confidence in your teammates.
No, this isn’t the same, bashful 18-year-old that was thrown into action earlier than he had expected last season. This year’s David Ash is confident. Now, he’s a leader.
So will he be the one that leads Texas back to the upper ranks of college football? Only time will tell.
But now, the job belongs to David Ash, and it seems he has finally fully embraced it.
Buy Texas Longhorns Football Tickets | Buy Texas Longhorns Football Apparel
