Hudson Card of the Purdue football team in his second year as starting quarterback
Purdue’s Hudson Card met with the media before the season opener against Indiana State. Hear what the Boilermaker quarterback said.
- Purdue legend Drew Brees and current QB Hudson Card came from rival programs in Austin, Texas.
- Purdue’s true freshman QB Marcos Davilos (Midland) and offensive coordinator/QB coach Graham Harrell (Ennis) also hail from Texas.
WEST LAFAYETTE – Hudson Card continued the connection between Texas quarterback Drew Brees and Purdue football that began more than a quarter century ago.
As Brees recalls, representing the Boilermakers in the Lone Star State – that is, the entire squad – was once considered lonely.
“I remember when I first came to Purdue, it was Joe Tiller’s first year, and there were no guys from Texas on the roster,” Brees told IndyStar last week. “And I think Joe obviously recognized that Texas is a big state. There’s a lot of talent down there and a lot of guys you can get that might be kind of surprise candidates – guys that were passed over by others.”
“I remember there were about four or five Texans in my recruiting class, and the next year it was the same. And before you knew it, we had 20 Texans on the team.”
▶ BoilerUpdate: Sign up for our Purdue Sports Newsletter
Purdue Football Predictions 2024: Our game tips for Boilers are available
Brees did interviews last week to promote his “Go For Dos” advertising campaign with Dos Equis. Such are the perks of building a secure career in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
For Purdue fans, Brees added to the history of the cradle of quarterbacks. For the generation of quarterbacks across the country who followed him, he made the Boilermakers synonymous with quarterback excellence. Several players on the West Coast teams that came into the Big Ten cited Brees as one of the first or only things they knew about Purdue football.
Brees said he is still very proud to be a Texas high school quarterback, and he is even more excited that his Texas heritage extends into the current quarterback league.
Offensive coordinator Graham Harrell set records at Ennis High School before his career at Texas Tech. Card became a nationally known recruit out of Lake Travis in Austin and began his career with the Longhorns. True freshman Marcos Davila transferred from Midland Legacy last winter and could immediately replace Card as the starter.
Purdue football has literally put its offensive success in the minds and hands of Texas quarterbacks in 2024. You couldn’t possibly pick a better state to focus on. The elite level of competition, combined with the resources and attention Texas programs devote to football, can give prospective players a head start in their transition to college.
Purdue offensive coordinator Graham Harrell gives an outlook on Indiana State
What does Purdue’s offense need to show in the season opener? Offensive coordinator Graham Harrell talks about the game against the Sycamores.
Harrell said that foundation remains tangible for Card.
“Hudson is the kind of kid you tell one thing to in a meeting room and he gets it,” Harrell said. “Because he understands football. He understands what we’re trying to do offensively. He understands how we want to attack.”
“A lot of it is probably just because of how good the program was that he went through and how well the high school coaches prepared him for this level.”
A FaceTime call from Brees helped seal Card’s commitment to Purdue before last season. It takes a lot to bridge the rivalry between Westlake High School – Brees’ alma mater – and Card’s Lake Travis. Their football histories have more in common than their region of origin.
Both left Texas and went to Purdue after setbacks to realize their potential.
A torn ACL as a high school junior cut Brees’ career short and helped cause major programs to overlook him. One of his two scholarship offers came from Tiller.
Card’s adversity could be better described as the modern realities of major college football. He came to the Longhorns as a top-100 recruit in the country. The program then drafted even higher-ranked talents like Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning.
Despite some success as a reserve player, Card was clearly feeling the pressure. He left his home state for Purdue’s chance, but tried to put any emotional baggage behind him.
“I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything in the world,” Card said. “I’ve had quite a few ups and downs in my career and ultimately, without those experiences, I wouldn’t be the player or the person I am today.”
“Of course it’s hard when something like this happens. It sucks. But I’ve learned a lot about myself – how to deal with these things.”
In his second season as Purdue’s starter, much of his offensive success is down to his improvement. The Boilermakers used the transfer to bolster both their offensive line and their pass receivers.
The problem with quarterbacks from major Texas schools, however, is that they grow up under more pressure than normal.
“That’s why you choose quarterback as a position,” Card said. “It all starts with you. If you’re not in shape, the play probably won’t work as well – especially because you’re touching the ball on every play. I know I have that responsibility, and I chose it.”
Many believe that the second season of Card could bring big improvements – including a prominent predecessor.
“We’re all excited for him — his second year in the system, his second year with this group of players,” Brees said. “I think he’s definitely more comfortable. From what I’ve seen, read and heard, he seems to be playing really well here during the preseason and training camp.”
Brees will continue to be the focus of those who have followed his journey from Texas to Purdue’s quarterback league, and he will continue to be the benchmark they all continue to aspire to.
Follow IndyStar Purdue Insider Nathan Baird on X at @nwbaird.
