When it comes to Texas football, Quarterback drama has found itself in abundance. Of course, with a loaded team that includes two of the best prospects for the 2024 draft, that’s Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, both starting for the Longhorns. But there’s a new conversation brewing among fans and analysts: what if Jalen Milroe, the Alabama QB and Texas native, was in consideration for Steve Sarkisian’s squad?

On the On Texas Football YouTube Channel, senior insider Gerry Hamilton expressed his views on this matter. He reminded Milroe how the team could benefit from Sarkisian’s offense and correlated it to none other than Hurts. But the debate does not end here. The arrival of Arch Manning, and Ewers nearing a return from his injury keeps the quarterback speculation swirling around the Longhorns.

Hamilton didn’t beat around the bush regarding Milroe’s ability. He said, “Steve Sarkisian would use Jalen Milroe, I do. I mean, is he a quarterback for that offense? He’s very similar… Jalen Milroe is very similar to Jalen Hurts as a player. Not necessarily this natural, pure passer, but he does have some good qualities—has a strong arm, and he’s a great leader.”

Sarkisian, known for developing QBs, can probably unlock that dual-threat aspect in Milroe, and turn him into a genuinely proficient NFL quarterback. Hamilton continued to break it down, “Jalen Milroe as a runner behind this Texas offensive line would be damn scary for an opponent. And then all you do is throw over the top after that. Texas does have about four guys that can get over the top right now, so I think it would be explosive in a different way.”

Jalen Milroe has performed well on the field for Alabama this season. He has passed for 964 yards and 10 TDs with 1 interception and has a QBR of 87.6. He is an effective passer and an effective runner, which has seen him become an important player for the Crimson Tide this season.

Based on that, envisioning Milroe in burnt orange and Sarkisian’s track record of fully utilizing his playmakers is a defense’s nightmare. A backfield of Milroe who brings rushing ability and perimeter weapons that create big plays would let Texas field a strike-force offense. But it’s not just about Milroe’s legs. The arm strength is there too, and Sark’ could find a tuned passing game, like he has done with other high-end quarterbacks.

Could Texas be even more loaded?

Milroe will still be in Tuscaloosa for now as the Longhorns figure out their quarterback troubles. Quinn Ewers who was present at the beginning of the season was felled by an abdominal strain and Arch Manning had to rise to the challenge. The highly-touted true freshman Manning has been fairly good and won two games for Texas in his two starts. Arch Manning who replaced Quinn Ewers due to injury has produced 901 yards, with 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He’s composed and precise with a QBR of 85.9 through what he’s played so far.

But here’s the thing: this is still Quinn Ewers’ team. Even Manning knows that. He said this after Texas’ most recent win over Mississippi State, “This is Quinn’s team, but I’ll stay ready.” While fans surely adore Manning’s name and upside, Ewers is the man with real game experience and the arm needed to win it all in Texas. Sarkisian even hinted at it saying, “We haven’t had any setbacks. It’s been steady progress. I think he’s getting stronger and more comfortable and more confident.”

Well, so where does all this leave the Longhorns? They’re loaded with talent, but if Ewers returns, will Arch Manning sit for the rest of the year? And could Sarkisian’s magic touch eventually get a special team asset like Milroe back to Austin? Of course, Milroe comes from Katy, Texas, and entered Texas after Nick Saban stepped away from Alabama.

If the two talented QBs from Texas remain undefeated, then, they are in a very favorable situation. Ewers will be back soon, even so, Manning has proved that he is capable of being a team’s starter. But the notion of someone as apparently tenacious as Milroe getting involved changes the equation entirely. Texas Longhorns are leaving the competition behind, and going into the latter half of the 2024 season with a perfect score of 5-0. They have scored an average of over 40 points per game, managing Michigan and Mississippi State comfortably. Even with Ewers out of commission for a while, the Longhorns’ offense remains electrifying due to the performances by Cedric Baxter and Xavier Worthy, to set up the team for a run into the College Football Playoff.

Texas fans can only think about it especially when Hamilton has made the statement. “It’d be a lot like what you’re seeing with Kalen DeBoer. You know, look, it’s not the ideal guy in the passing game, but what Kalen DeBoer has done is maximize that without using his entire passing playbook.”

Suddenly the idea of Sarkisian somehow adding a mobile quarterback like Milroe to the fold along with an array of talent at the receiver position makes the Horns nearly impossible to stop. For now, however, Texas will have to settle for those two and pray that is enough to stage a serious run for the title this year.