Texas Football: 5 Toughest QBs the Longhorns Will Face in 2015

Quarterback has been a tough obstacle for the Longhorns in recent seasons. They haven't had one in a while, and the Big 12 is typically loaded with them.

The conference is a little top-heavy at the position this season, but the Horns will still be facing five dangerous passers this season. That's a major problem for a team replacing two NFL draft picks from both the secondary and defensive line.

To have a chance at beating any of them, Charlie Strong's squad will need big play from both its own quarterbacks, where there's still an open battle. It also might help to finally figure out how to defend dual-threats.

5. Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech

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A solid all-around quarterback, Mahomes to be the starter for the Red Raiders after his scintillating finish to the 2014 season.

Following Mahomes' great finish to the 2015 season, expect him to keep Texas Tech's starting quarterback job. He should have a much better game than he did last season against the Horns.

Mahomes' last subpar game of 2014 came in the Red Raiders' 34-13 shellacking at the hands of the Longhorns. The true freshman threw for 109 yards and no touchdowns into the second quarter, then was wrecked by Quandre Diggs, ending his day.

From then on, Mahomes was absolutely brilliant as one of the biggest surprises of the Big 12 season, throwing for at least 300 yards and four touchdowns in each of his last three games. In a 48-46 loss to Baylor, he proved to be the real deal with 598 yards and six touchdowns in the near comeback.

Smart and mobile at 6'3", 221 pounds, Mahomes has all of the talent to be an elite producer under Kliff Kingsbury. Because of quarterback's ability to extend plays, the Longhorns are going to have trouble hanging with their assignments as the Red Raiders air it out.

Unless they can get physical with the rising star, Mahomes will have an enormous day picking the Longhorns apart.

4. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Once Rudolph gets his turnovers under control, he's going to be right up there with the best of the Big 12.

Can Mason Rudolph avoid the sophomore slump to cement himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12? If so, he's going to give Texas trouble in its Big 12 debut.

Like Mahomes, Rudolph came out of nowhere to take control of his team as a true freshman. With him at the helm, the Pokes won two of their last three, with wins over Oklahoma and Washington. 

Interceptions were a problem during that streak, but Rudolph proved no moment was too big for him. Winning that game at Oklahoma in overtime to secure bowl eligibility was as clutch as it gets, and let's also remember that Washington's defense just had three defenders go in the first round. Those were not easy wins.

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With 4 players chosen on defense in the first 44 picks of the #NFL Draft, it makes me wonder how the University of Washington lost 6 games.

@hatfieldsports, 1 May 2015

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Now Rudolph has a full offseason to really take command as a sophomore. Sound familiar? That's because J.W. Walsh had the same opportunity during his second year and has never since been able to rediscover his mojo.

Rudolph should be fine as a more polished passer. He will be much higher on this list next year so long as he gets those interceptions under control.

3. Malik Zaire, Notre Dame

Mobile quarterbacks have been trouble for the Longhorns since Nicholas Cage had a respectable career, which is why Malik Zaire's debut as the face of Notre Dame could get ugly.

Notre Dame's commitment became official when Everett Golson announced his decision to transfer last month. The decision came as a result of Zaire's awesome performance in Music City Bowl and a strong spring. 

Also possessing a rocket of an arm, Zaire's extremely slippery and can rarely be brought down by one guy. If last season's 99-yard, three-touchdown effort by BYU's Taysom Hill is any indication, the Irish's field general has a chance to run absolutely wild on the Longhorns.

What should help the Longhorns this time around is the fact that most of this team will be used to chasing Jerrod Heard around in practice. With this much time to prepare, Strong can ideally figure out how to corral Zaire in the season debut.

2. Seth Russell, Baylor

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Russell's wheels make him extremely dangerous in Art Briles' offense.

College football experts, such as ESPN's Jake Trotter, are sleeping on Baylor quarterback Seth Russell. By the time Texas gets a crack at him in the final game of the regular season, he's going to be one of the most prolific players in the game.

First off, Russell is an Art Briles quarterback. Per cfbstats.com, the Bears have been a top-5 passing offense each of the past four years, which includes a year of Nick Florence. Russell may have struggled against Texas Tech, but a full offseason of learning this offense will do wonders for his confidence and command of the field.

Then there's the fact that Russell is a vastly underrated athlete, as chronicled by Sporting News' Matt Hayes:

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Russell then raced to the basket, leaped and turned his back to the rim, brought the ball down between his legs and swiftly back up — and threw down a thunderous reverse tomahawk.

. . . 

If that doesn’t do it for you about Baylor’s new quarterback, get a load of this: Russell is faster than the receivers he’s throwing to. That’s right, on a team full of physically-gifted players, the guy no one knows — and no one would believe — is the best athlete of all.

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Those statements might be a little disrespectful to Shawn Oakman, but you get the point—Russell is going to shock people when he gets some room to run.

So take whatever should scare Texas about Notre Dame's Zaire, mix in the nation's most merciless offensive mind and then consider the fact that the Bears return 17 starters (per PhilSteele.com). Your end result is a guy who's going to be borderline unstoppable by the end of the year.

1. Trevone Boykin, TCU

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

A switch to the spread has turned Boykin into a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate.

Playcalling was the only thing that stopped Trevone Boykin and TCU from burning through the Big 12 en route to the College Football Playoff and a Heisman Trophy. He should be plenty motivated to take advantage of a second chance.

Boykin just has a habit of kicking Texas in the ribs. His Thanksgiving performance in 2012 broke a four-game winning streak for the Horns. And, well, you all saw what happened last year.

With another year to grasp the offense that turned him into a national force, there's no reason to believe last season's top-10 campaign (per cfbstats.com) will prove to be an anomaly. The Longhorns will have to play their most complete game of the year to contain him.