Another McCoy shines for Texas

Published Apr. 3, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

There's a new McCoy at Texas and it was his turn to have a big day for the Longhorns.

The question now is whether Case McCoy, younger brother of former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, can make a push to be the Longhorns' No. 1 QB next fall.

McCoy was the standout offensive player Sunday in Texas' annual spring scrimmage, passing for 124 yards and a touchdown. Most of the yards and the score came with the second-team offense against the first-team defense.

Garrett Gilbert, the starter in Texas' disastrous 5-7 season in 2010, was 8 of 15 for 76 yards and an interception. The turnover set up McCoy's TD pass. Backups Connor Wood and David Ash also got several snaps with the first-team offense.

McCoy was thrust into the No. 2 role last season as a freshman, but played in just two games and threw only one pass.

''We obviously have a decision to make at quarterback,'' coach Mack Brown said. ''We don't think anybody is ready to take over at this point. There's so much to this offense. It's a bear.''

The Longhorns have a new offensive scheme under first-year co-coordinator Bryan Harsin, who came from Boise State. Texas missed a bowl game last season for the first time in 1997, the season before Brown took over the program, and Brown hired five new assistants.

Gilbert threw 17 interceptions last season and drew a groan from the announced crowd of 45,000 when he badly underthrew a ball into double coverage that was easily picked off by Bryant Jackson.

Working behind a patchwork second-team offensive line, McCoy went 5 of 5 on the ensuing drive and hit walk-on Patrick McNamara for an 11-yard touchdown.

''To be able to drive it down there on the first-team defense and put it in the zone, that tells you something about his determination,'' senior safety Blake Gideon said.

Even Colt McCoy got a chance to see it. The Cleveland Browns quarterback stopped by to watch the early moments of the game and was greeted with rousing applause when he was shown on the screen on the giant scoreboard.

''The bottom line is going from point A to B. Case did a nice job getting us in the end zone,'' Harsin said.

Texas did not make any of the quarterbacks available for interviews after the game.

Brown said the Longhorns will not create a depth chart, giving each of them a chance to work out over the summer and come back to fall camp to compete for the starting job. All four did some good things but also made mistakes calling the plays and the formations, Brown said.

Gilbert, who did not take snaps with the second-team offense, led a couple of scoring drives that ended with touchdown runs. His first drive led to a field goal, but it nearly ended with an interception in the end zone when the defensive back dropped the ball.

Defensively, Alex Okafor was credited with four sacks in a game where the officials had a quick whistle and merely touching the quarterback would stop the play. But he also showed an explosive burst off the end for a player who spent last season playing at defensive tackle.