How Purdue football landed quarterback Hudson Card from Texas

WEST LAFAYETTE − Graham Harrell was already in Texas on the recruiting trail, but as a member of the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Ryan Walters pegged the former Texas Tech and Green Bay Packers quarterback to be his offensive coordinator at Purdue.

Once Harrell agreed, Walters was ready to deliver Harrell's first order of business.

Personally deliver.

Walters flew into Dallas, gave Harrell a Purdue shirt and said they needed to go find a quarterback.

From Dallas, Walters and Harrell flew into Austin with the intent to land Texas quarterback Hudson Card, who'd recently entered the transfer portal.

"It was immediate," Harrell said. "I think we were both in agreeance as for as portal quarterbacks, he was the best one in there. So he was a priority for us. We wanted to go get him."

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Purdue's new head football coach and its even newer offensive coordinator showed up at Card's house.

One native Texan - Harrell - used his best sales pitch to land another gun slinger from the lone star state.

Card, and most any football fan from Texas, already knew the name Graham Harrell. If you know nothing else, you're deep rooted in "the play" when Harrell's name is mentioned for his touchdown pass down the right sideline to Michael Crabtree on the final play in a 2008 upset of No. 1 Texas.

Long story short, the pitch from Harrell and Walters worked.

"The first time they came to my house, I think it was 24 hours or 36 hours right when coach Walters got hired," Card said. "Recruiting wise, I felt important to them.

"We just clicked right away."

Card was important for the Boilermakers, who lose three-year starter Aidan O'Connell.

They made Card their No. 1 priority and now he's in West Lafayette leading the offense through spring football.

It didn't take long for teammates to see why Card was Walters' top target after getting the Purdue job.

"He always dimes everybody up," receiver TJ Sheffield said. "He can move in the pocket also. He can do it all, really."

With Texas, Card completed 65.5 percent of his passes, throwing 11 touchdowns and two interceptions. Last season, Card stepped in for the injured Quinn Ewers against top-ranked Alabama in a 20-19 loss. Card started the next three games, leading the Longhorns to wins over UTSA and West Virginia, where Harrell was offensive coordinator.

"I think he’s a sharp young man," Walters said Tuesday. "He knows where to go with the football. He’s uber talented."

Card brings a different dynamic to a different offense. Harrell's air raid will allow Card to be a passer first, but with the freedom to use his mobility and pick up yards with his feet.

He comes to West Lafayette with three years of eligibility remaining.

"He’s really athletic and throws it as well as anyone I’ve been around. It’s kind of a rare combination to have a guy that can throw it at a really elite level and be athletic," Harrell said. "A lot of times you're kind of choosing one or the other and there’s a little give and take in there.

"Hudson has the ability to do both. He works hard. He does things right. If he just continues to do this, he has a chance to be really, really special and play football for a long time."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.