Texas Football: David Ash Fractures Foot, What Injury Means for QB Battle

Texas took a major hit Friday at the one position at which the Longhorns cannot afford to lose depth.

Quarterback David Ash sustained a Jones fracture—a fracture of the diaphysis of the fifth metatarsal of the foot—in his left foot during spring practice and will have surgery next week, according to a media release. He will be sidelined for the remainder of the spring, but head athletic trainer for football Anthony Pass expects Ash to return to the field during fall camp.

This is not the first injury Ash has suffered during his three seasons at Texas. In 2012, Ash was sidelined with broken ribs during the Longhorns' game against TCU and suffered a concussion against BYU in 2013, which kept him out for the majority of last season.

Texas has one healthy scholarship quarterback on campus in Tyrone Swoopes. Aside from him, the Longhorns have walk-on Trey Holtz and wide receiver-turned tight end-turned quarterback Miles Onyegbule backing up Swoopes for the annual Orange-White spring game April 19.

To say the Longhorns are desperate for another quarterback is an understatement. The best option available for spring—Swoopes—saw action in six games last season and completed five passes for 26 yards and also ran the ball 20 times for 79 yards and a touchdown.

Swoopes clearly did not have much opportunity to show his talents in 2013, so it's too early to determine how good he could be. But the time has come to make a name for himself as the starting QB for the Texas Longhorns, before incoming freshman Jerrod Heard arrives in Austin for summer workouts. 

One scenario to keep an eye on is with former USC quarterback Max Wittek, who took a visit to Texas in February and is weighing his transfer options. According to Jeremy Fowler of CBSSports.com, Texas appears to be the leading candidate for Wittek.

With news of Ash's injury surfacing, it will be very interesting if Wittek makes a decision over the next couple of weeks and if Texas will be the place he chooses to finish out his college career.

Stay tuned.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and information was obtained firsthand.

Taylor Gaspar is Bleacher Report's featured columnist covering the Texas Longhorns. You can follow her on Twitter: @Taylor_Gaspar.