Texas has officially broke the seal on the 2020 recruiting class and they did it by staying local and tapping into the talented Lake Travis pipeline. Texas took a bad beat earlier this spring when Garrett Wilson announced he was picking the Buckeyes over the Longhorns, but that didn’t temper the staff’s enthusiasm in recruiting QB/WR Hudson Card.
Card did a little bit of everything for Lake Travis offensively in 2017, but spent most of the season at wide receiver where he put together an impressive sophomore year that lead to 20 plus offers from some the best programs in the nation.
Despite being in the middle of recruiting for the 2019 class, Texas identified the local 2020 product early and made it clear they wanted him to stay in Austin. Texas landing Card is great way for the staff to kick off what is sure to be another very talented recruiting class.
Player Information
Name: Hudson CardPosition: ATH (QB, WR)
High School: Lake Travis
City & State: Austin, Texas
Measurables
Height: 6’2 (Unverified)
Weight: 167 (Unverified)
40-yard: 4.79 (Unverified)
Shuttle: N/A
Vertical: N/A
Statistics
2017: 604 Passing Yards, 6 TDs (3 INTs), 459 Rushing Yards, 6 TDs, 69 Receptions, 1137 yards, 13 TDs
Film
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/6877959/5a46c1e4f55fe701a4ec8c66
Pros:
- He’s a Swiss army knife on the offensive side of the ball. Will be a guy you can get creative with due to his versatility.
- Very decisive with his steps and movements. Doesn’t have a lot of wasted movements.
- Already runs very clean routes at this stage in his development and consistently gets separation. Very tough guy to stay with in coverage.
- Very elusive open field runner with the ball in his hands. Possesses good wiggle, lateral agility, and vision.
- Very reliable hands as a receiver. Catches balls consistently all over the field and shows a willingness to make catches in traffic.
- As a Quarterback, he shows good touch on his passes and the ability to place the ball where only his receiver can get it.
- Familiarity with the Texas offense. Former Texas QC Coach Will Stein is the new Lake Travis offensive coordinator, so Card will get to take advantage of having a coach who knows the Longhorn offense.
Cons:
- Currently weighs in south of 170. Will need to spend some time in the weight room and add some good mass to his frame.
- The 2018 season will be his first at QB full time. Depending on where he projects long term, the lost reps at the receiver position could be unfortunate.
- Has a tendency to tuck and run a tad early when at quarterback. Will also need to learn how to slide more often and conserve hits on his body.
- Curious to see how he reacts when he faces bigger, strong corners that will be willing to get more physical with him when pressed up.
Summary
If there was one word to describe Card, it would be playmaker. He was utilized all over the field during his sophomore year at Lake Travis, and the results speak for themselves. His agility and ability as a route runner make it easy to see wide receiver as his future home, but his potential as dual-threat quarterback is hard to ignore. Card will take over as the starting quarterback for the Cavaliers in 2018, where he hopes to build off of a good performance in the 2017 State Championship game when he filled in for an injured Matthew Baldwin and nearly led Lake Travis to a state title over powerhouse Allen.
As a receiver, Card is a polished route runner with reliable hands. He shows good elusiveness in the open field and isn’t afraid to go over the middle or make catches in traffic. His experience at quarterback benefit him as a route runner, where he shows the ability to read defenses and adjust his routes accordingly.
At quarterback, Card’s game shows similarities to former Lake Travis QB Baker Mayfield. The shiftiness and elusiveness he shows at receiver carries over to QB, where he shows the ability to extends plays with his legs and keep his eyes downfield. The threat of him as a runner forces defenses to be honest, creating the opportunity for receivers. Card shows the potential for good arm strength, with the ability to make strong throws over the middle and outside the hashes. The biggest adjustment if he stays at QB at the next level will be progressing through reads and becoming more comfortable in the pocket.
Final Verdict
Card is the type of player who you will always take a commitment from and figure out his position later. While his highest potential may be at quarterback, there is little doubt Card would also succeed as a receiver. His skills and athleticism will translate well to the college game. The coaching staff should have the luxury of giving Card a redshirt year to help develop him at whatever position they choose.
Texas has not been shy about offering 2020 players who they feel can be elite, and Card fits that category. It doesn’t hurt when the talent is in your own backyard, and Tom Herman was able to take advantage of the proximity and reel in another quality player.
