QB Hudson Card: 'Don't Think I'd Be' At Purdue If Not For Texas Experience

Hudson Card plays for the Purdue Boilermakers now, but that doesn't mean he doesn't value and cherish his time in Austin.

Card would have been stuck behind Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers had he stayed on the Forty Acres, but he took his talents to West Lafayette, IN. where he will have a chance to be a full-time starter for the first time in his career. Card said at Big Ten Media Days July 27 that head coach Steve Sarkisian's offensive system was beneficial to his development and NFL aspirations.

"Understanding the pro-style offense was important and all the details that go into it," Card said. "Coach Sark helped me and taught me a lot of why you're calling certain plays, when you're calling certain plays, situational football and all of that. So, now, you continue to grow with coach (Graham) Harrell."

Sarkisian's pro-style offense has boosted Texas into a top-25 scoring offense that averages at least 420 yards per game in his two years with the Longhorns. Card gave credit to Sarkisian's innovative offensive wisdom.

"His ability to show the defense different things and confuse them," Card said. "He's very smart in how he draws up plays and the motions that are in it as well. Just being able to confuse the defense and understand where the weak points are in the defense and how to attack that in the offense."

Card was thrust into a temporary starting role when Ewers went down with an injury against Alabama last season, almost leading the Longhorns to an upset victory over the Crimson Tide.

In his three-and-a-half-game stretch running Texas' offense, he was 70-for-102 with 899 yards and six touchdowns to one interception. The former top-five quarterback in the class of 2020 finished his Longhorns career with 65.5 completion percentage, 1,523 passing yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Boilermakers became known as a pass-happy offense the past two years under quarterback Aidan O'Connell who threw for 7,202 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2021-22. Harrell, who enters his first season at Purdue, has produced five top-25 passing offenses in his seven years as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Card is in good hands at Purdue, but he said he wouldn't have success if it weren't for his time at Texas.

"It was super valuable," Card said. "I don't think I'd be here today at Purdue if I didn't go through those experiences at Texas. It taught me a whole lot as a person, and to be able to have that game time experience will only lead to better things here at Purdue."