Tom Herman gives blunt answer when asked about recruiting QB Brandon Harris

Last month, quarterback Brandon Harris announced his transfer from LSU after three seasons, and that Coach Ed Orgeron has granted him a full release, meaning he can pick any school he wishes. Last week, The Advocate reported that Harris is considering North Carolina, as well as Texas and Arizona.

On Tuesday, Texas head coach Tom Herman confirmed that the Longhorns are actively recruiting Harris, and when he was asked, he gave a pretty honest answer.

“We gotta win,” Herman said. “We lost seven games three straight years around here, so if a grad transfer is better than those two and can beat ’em out, then worry about their growth next spring.”

The two quarterbacks currently in place for the starting quarterback job in Austin include sophomore Shane Buechele, who threw for 2,958 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions as the starter last year, and early-enrollee Sam Ehlinger, the No. 4 dual-threat prospect in this year’s recruiting class. Burnt Orange Nation has more on why Harris to the Longhorns makes sense.

Depth chart considerations are playing a major role in that positioning for Texas, but Harris likes what he finds when he reads between the lines with the Longhorns.

“I am not saying how coach Herman is thinking, because I don’t know how he thinks, or how coach (Tim) Beck (offensive coordinator) thinks, but I don’t see any situation where a guy brings a senior in for one year to sit on the bench,” Harris told OB. “I’m not saying they are promising me anything. I haven’t been promised anything. I’m just saying, rationally speaking, in most scenarios if you think you’re solid at quarterback, and I don’t know what they think. You probably know more than I do, but if they think they’re solid at quarterback, they probably don’t do that.”

The new system Herman is installing at Texas gives Harris a better shot at joining the program during the summer and making an impact on the depth chart — sophomore Shane Buechele, the incumbent starter, and early enrollee Sam Ehlinger are both learning it themselves this spring.

In addition to the pre-existing relationship between Herman and Harris dating back to the former LSU starter’s recruitment out of Shreveport, Harris is friends with former Houston quarterback Greg Ward and believes that he could learn the offense quickly after commanding a complicated pro-style attack employed by the Tigers that included “300 to 400 plays.”

Although the system would be new for Harris if he does end up at Texas, running the quarterback is a major part of Herman’s offense, and there aren’t too many complicated passing elements involved in the system itself. This could be an easy transition for Harris from a scheme standpoint.

Harris threw for 2,610 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 2014 and 2015. Last season, he was replaced by Danny Etling by Week 3 at LSU. With his graduation coming up this summer, that will make him a graduate transfer, which means he’ll be eligible next season wherever he ends up.

Harris’ visit to North Carolina is scheduled for this upcoming weekend.