Garrett Gilbert had a lifelong dream to play Division I football, specifically at the University of Texas. As a Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2009, many believed he would be the next great quarterback on the Forty Acres, following in the footsteps of Colt McCoy, Vince Young, James Brown and James Street before him.
Unfortunately for Gilbert, his high school prowess simply has not translated to the collegiate game. There are a multitude of opinions about why this may be. Some believe he is too easily rattled. Some think he’s just trying too hard. Some think the game is just too fast for him.
Whatever the reason, he is no longer the quarterback du jour at the University of Texas, and has officially been moved down the depth chart to No.3 for this week’s tilt against the UCLA Bruins in Los Angeles. Could he re-gain the backup spot, or even one day start again? Sure, it’s possible, but possibilities and likelihoods are two very different things.
Given this, Garrett Gilbert is faced with one of the biggest decisions of his young life. Does he finish his time out at Texas as a backup, essentially forgoing any opportunity to play again, and earn his degree in Austin? Or, does he seek a transfer to a Division II school to finish out his playing career in 2012 without losing eligibility?
It will come down to how important football is to the young man. If he still has the urge, and the love for the game, I believe he will transfer and find a place where he may be a better fit, a place where he can take a few more snaps on Saturday afternoons next fall.
If he’s content that he had a chance to live out a dream which thousands of young Texans never see come to fruition, he may bide his time on the Longhorn sideline, content that sometimes things just aren’t meant to be.
Sometimes life isn’t fair.
Things don’t always work out as they should.
One thing’s for sure though, Garrett Gilbert is a quality young guy who will succeed in life.
Football isn’t all there is.
Kris Hughes is a contributor to Turfburner on Texas Longhorns football, and runs a Texas focused site called Bevo’s Corner.
