- Purdue legend Drew Brees and current QB Hudson Card came from rival programs in Austin, Texas.
- Purdue true freshman QB Marcos Davilos (Midland) and offensive coordinator/QB coach Graham Harrell (Ennis) also come from Texas.
WEST LAFAYETTE – Hudson Card continued the Purdue football Texas quarterback connection Drew Brees kicked off more than a quarter century ago.
As Brees recalls, the Boilermakers’ Lone Star State representation — as in the across the entire roster — once qualified as lonely indeed.
“I remember when I first got to Purdue, and it was Joe Tiller's first year, and there were no Texas guys on the roster,” Brees told IndyStar last week. “And I think Joe recognized, obviously, Texas is a big state. There's a lot of talent down there, and a lot of guys that you can go get that are maybe kind of sleeper picks — guys that have been passed up by others.
“So I remember my recruiting class was about four or five Texas guys, and then the next year was the same. And so before you know it, we'd have 20 Texas guys on the team.”
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Brees conducted interviews last week to publicize his “Go For Dos” ad campaign with Dos Equis. Such are the perks when one builds a sure Pro Football Hall of Fame career.
To Purdue fans, Brees extended the history of the Cradle of Quarterbacks. To the generation of quarterbacks around the country who followed him, though, he made the Boilermakers synonymous with quarterback excellence. Multiple players from the West Coast teams coming into the Big Ten cited Brees as one of the first or only things they know about Purdue football.
Brees said he still carries a lot of pride in being a Texas high school quarterback. Even more, he loves his Texas legacy has carried through to the current quarterback room.
Offensive coordinator Graham Harrell set records at Ennis High School prior to his Texas Tech career. Card became a nationally prominent recruit at Austin’s Lake Travis and began his career with the Longhorns. True freshman Marcos Davila arrived last winter from Midland Legacy and could immediately succeed Card as starter.
Purdue football has quite literally put its offensive success in 2024 in the minds and hands of Texas quarterbacks. You could arguably pick no better state for that focus. The elite competition level, combined with the resources and attention Texas programs devote to football can give prospects a leg up in their college transition.
Harrell said that foundation continues to show up for Card.
“Hudson's the type of kid that you can tell him one time 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're trying to attack.
“A lot of it is probably just how good of a program he came out of, and how good the high school coaches he had prepared him for that level.”
A FaceTime call from Brees helped seal Card’s transfer commitment to Purdue prior to last season. It takes a lot to bridge the rivalry between Westlake High School — Brees' alma mater — and Card’s Lake Travis. Their football stories contain more common ground than their region of origin.
Both left Texas for Purdue to reach their potential after setbacks.
A torn ACL as a high school junior famously disrupted Brees’ career. It contributed to why major programs overlooked him. One of his two scholarship offers came from Tiller.
Card’s adversity might more accurately be described as merely the modern realities of big time college football. He went to the Longhorns as a top-100 national recruit. The program then added even higher-ranked talents in Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning.
Despite some success as a backup, Card clearly could feel the squeeze. He left his home state for Purdue’s opportunity, but tried to leave any emotional baggage behind.
"I wouldn't change my experience for anything,” Card said. “I've had quite a bit of ups and downs in my career, and ultimately I wouldn't be the player, the person that I am today without those experiences.
“Obviously when it's happening at the moment, it's tough. It sucks. But what I've gotten out of it is a whole lot that I've learned about myself — how to deal with those things.”
Entering his second season as Purdue’s starter, a significant portion of the offensive success rides on his improvement. The Boilermakers used the transfer portal to bolster both his offensive line and receiving weapons.
The thing about big-school Texas quarterbacks, though, is they come of age under greater-than-normal pressure.
“That's why you choose quarterback as a position ,” Card said. "Everything starts with you. If you're not on your game, odds are the play’s probably not gonna work out too much — especially because you touch the ball every play. So that's a responsibility I know I have, and I chose it.”
Many believe Card’s second season could yield big improvements — including one prominent predecessor.
“We’re all excited for him — second year in the system, second year with this group of players,” Brees said. “I think there's definitely a greater level of comfort. Sounds like he's playing really well during the preseason and training camp here from what I've seen, read and heard.”
Brees will continue keeping tabs on those who followed his path from Texas to the Purdue quarterback room. He’ll also remain the standard they all continue to chase.
Follow IndyStar Purdue Insider Nathan Baird on X at @nwbaird.
