Top quarterback prospects from the state of Texas since 2009

The top-rated quarterbacks from the state of Texas face such intense scrutiny at the college level that they often transfer early in their careers if they don’t earn starting jobs.

Players like Garrett Gilbert, Matt Davis, Tyrik Rollison and Kenny Hill (just off this list) all moved on from their original power-conference schools.

Other than J.T. Barrett — who nearly made a Heisman Trophy run out of nowhere in ’14 for Ohio State — Texas hasn’t produced much in the way of standout college quarterback play since ’09.

Granted, part of that is because four of the six highest-rated prep quarterbacks from the Lone Star State are underclassmen currently competing for starting jobs.

At some point, the University of Texas needs to find an in-state quarterback who produces on the field. It played a major role in costing former coach Mack Brown his job. Maybe Jerrod Heard will begin to be that player for the Longhorns.

Especially with the presence of Texas A&M, the SEC is a relevant factor in the recruitment of many of the touted prep quarterbacks.

Here are the Top 10 quarterback recruits from the state of Texas since 2009, according to the 247Sports composite rating system.

Russell Shepard: One of the highest-rated dual-threat quarterbacks ever to come out of Texas, Shepard never came close to matching expectations in Baton Rouge, La. He played mostly running back and receiver, sometimes operating at quarterback out of the Wildcat. Shepard scored 10 total touchdowns for LSU and 1,298 combined career receiving and rushing yards. Now a receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he caught four passes in ’14.

Garrett Gilbert: Most remembered by SEC fans for replacing an injured Colt McCoy as a true freshman in a ’09 season BCS title game loss to Alabama, Gilbert started in ’10 and led Texas to a very disappointing 5-7 record. Demoted after the ’11 season opener, Gilbert subsequently underwent season-ending shoulder surgery before eventually transferring to SMU. He started two seasons in June Jones’ run-and-shoot offense, putting up good numbers.

Kyler Murray: The quintessential Texas athlete, Murray entered the spring as a potential first-round MLB shortstop in addition to choosing Texas A&M ahead of Texas and others on the football field. He won three Texas High School state championships and finished with a 43-0 prep record. Now he’ll try to compete with Kyle Allen this fall. Even if Allen holds off Murray, the newcomer may force him to look over his shoulder for as long as he starts.

Jarrett Stidham: A true freshman in 2015, he’s expected to sit behind junior Seth Russell, who is ticketed to start for Baylor the next two seasons. With sophomore Chris Johnson available to back up Russell, Stidham may redshirt in ’15 before competing for the starting job as a sophomore in ’17.

Jerrod Heard: The redshirt freshman is trying to displace junior Tyrone Swoopes. He may have an advantage as a better fit for Texas’ new up-tempo, spread scheme. The two will continue to compete during fall practice, but if Heard wins the job he’ll make a much-anticipated debut in September.

Cody Thomas: The sophomore played in seven games last season, then gave up baseball to compete for the starting job this spring. Oklahoma’s two other quarterbacks are bigger names: incumbent Trevor Knight and Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield. But the competition seemed difficult to predict out of spring practice.

Matt Davis: Davis never played for Texas A&M, heading to junior college and then SMU after redshirting in 2012. He started the final five games of 2014 for the Mustangs as what was one of the worst FBS offenses in recent history perked up slightly under his watch. Davis ran for 191 yards against Connecticut in the final game of the season, SMU’s only win in ’14.

J.W. Walsh: After a thrilling ’12 season, in which he completed 66.9 percent of his passes and accounted for 20 touchdowns against three interceptions in truncated action, Walsh has fallen steadily at Oklahoma State. Injuries have played a part in that, and helped the Cowboys discover Mason Rudolph at the end of last season. Many expected Walsh to transfer in an attempt to start as a senior, but he stuck with Oklahoma State for ’15.

Tyrik Rollison: After the flu forced him to miss practice in ’09 and led to a redshirt, Auburn suspended Rollison for the 2010 Outback Bowl due to academics. He transferred from Auburn to Sam Houston State to be closer to home. After a medical redshirt there, he migrated to Tyler Junior College and then Texas A&M-Commerce, finishing out his career in ’14. He fathered four daughters, broken his wrist and broken his ankle during that crazy journey.

J.T. Barrett: After projected starter Braxton Miller got hurt right before the season, Barrett, a redshirt freshman, got thrust into the role. His response? He piloted Ohio State into the Big Ten championship game while earning Heisman Trophy talk before breaking his ankle late in the regular-season finale. Barrett accounted for 45 touchdowns and ran for nearly 1,000 yards, but he enters the fall likely behind Cardale Jones.