Texas Longhorns

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bryan Harsin has moved on to Arkansas State, sources told ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM's Ian Fitzsimmons.

Now the time has come for co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Major Applewhite to move up to the role of playcaller.

That’s right, for once a coaching search at Texas should be short-lived and equally as short on drama. That’s because Applewhite is already in the building and has half the title in front of his name. So it goes to reason in this silly season of college sports when there oft times is no rhyme or reason to whom is hired, that Texas will remove the "co" from in front of offensive coordinator and promote the former Texas quarterback.

It would provide the smoothest transition for an offense that returns all of its integral pieces from 2012, including all four quarterbacks, three running backs, two starting wide receivers and the entire offensive line.

In addition, Applewhite has had his finger on the pulse of the quarterback situation for the past two years and understands this position far better than any outsider could. That also means he understands the importance of getting the right player into that position so that Texas' offense, which produced in fits and spurts in 2012, is able to build on whatever gains it made as the Longhorns move toward 2013.

Of course the first question that will be asked of Applewhite is about the aforementioned quarterbacks. That is until he calls a play that doesn’t work. But for the time being the focus will be on how Applewhite judges and ultimately selects a Texas quarterback for the Valero Alamo Bowl and beyond.

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