Texas Longhorns fans don’t know much about backup quarterback KJ Lacey. Last year as a freshman, he was fourth on the depth chart behind Arch Manning, Matthew Caldwell and Trey Owens. Now, Lacey is behind only Manning in the QB pecking order. UT coach Steve Sarkisian said Lacey reminds him of a former Heisman Trophy winner.
Lacey put together a very strong spring camp, asserting himself as the No. 2 for the Longhorns. If history is any indication, he’ll need to be ready to step in for Manning at some point this year. While playing time has been hard to come by, Lacey believes the Longhorns are building a special program.
“Texas wasn’t just another school on the list,” Lacey wrote on TikTok. “It was a place that believed in me before the spotlight got bright. The coaches saw more than talent they saw potential. The culture, the brotherhood, the standard … it all felt real. I wanted to be somewhere that wasn’t just chasing wins but building something.”
Before Lacey committed to Texas, he had offers from some of the top programs in the country. That includes Miami, Alabama, Auburn, Oregon, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Louisville and Colorado. While he was a human highlight reel, he added to his trophy case by winning Alabama Mr. Football for the 2024 season.
Sarkisian said he’s very similar to former Alabama QB Bryce Young, who won the Heisman in 2021. Sark coached Young as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator before heading to Austin.
“I hate comparing guys because it’s never fair but he’s got a lot of qualities that remind me of Bryce Young,” Sarkisian said at SEC Media Days.
Even UT wide receiver Ryan Wingo made a point to call out the young QBs on the Texas roster after spring practice.
“Them boys gonna be good. KJ and Dia,” Wingo said. “I was actually throwing with KJ yesterday. That leadership thing. He hit me up to go throw, so he’s kinda putting that out there off the rip. Dia, as well, he’s gonna be good too. He’s a freshman but they kinda getting all the good reps they can right now in the spring. So, them boys are gonna be good.”
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Sarkisian compared Texas backup QB KJ Lacy to which Heisman winner?
Reporting by Trey Luerssen, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Trey Luerssen, Longhorns Wire | USA TODAY Network
