Tyrone Swoopes Named Texas Starting QB: Latest Comments and Reaction

The Texas Longhorns quarterback battle is over, as head coach Charlie Strong announced Monday that junior Tyrone Swoopes will be the team's starter at the position, per the team's official Twitter account.

"I'm convinced he's won over the locker room," Strong told reporters, per Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman. "Even the players will tell you that. ... He's won over the team."

Indeed, one player did just that.

"We all have the utmost confidence in Swoopes," offensive lineman Taylor Doyle said, per the team's official Twitter account. "I think that's because of his work ethic."

Swoopes had been battling redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard for the starting gig. While Swoopes was always the front-runner, he was coming off a mediocre 2014 that saw him throw for 2,409 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing just 58.3 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 262 yards and four scores. 

But Swoopes took to the challenge this summer, knowing his starting job was anything but guaranteed. The biggest change appears to be to his demeanor, as he's shown a more determined and competitive drive in his play throughout camp, something that was noticeably missing at times last year. 

“He’s really brought the offense and edge,” cornerback Duke Thomas told Chris Hummer of 247Sports. “I’m talking trash, and he’s getting into it with me. He’s really bringing that approach to the game we need on offense.”

The question will be whether his new demeanor carries over to the games. Texas, as always, has the talent to be a major player in the Big 12, but the team will go only as far as its junior quarterback takes it.