Brewer knows his strengths

MALIBU, Calif. - Connor Brewer does not have the strongest arm and he's not the biggest quarterback out here and the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral standout knows it, careful to know his limitations. That's one of the things that make him so good.

Brewer, who committed to Texas in February, had his best moments at the Elite 11 during 7-on-7 action when he could read the play, go through his progressions and make the right throw. Intelligence is not lacking with Brewer, who at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds is by no means tiny but was not one of the bigger quarterbacks at the event.

"I don't have the biggest arm and I'm not 6-4, I'm not the biggest kid out here so I was excited to come out here and make my progressions and study and do everything," Brewer said. "I came out and started a little slow and ended pretty good so it was fine. It's definitely something to build on.

"You can't do anything about your size. You're born how you are and you just have to play within yourself and make the throws you're capable of.

"You have to be careful not to force anything and that's a big mistake that all these undersized kids try to overuse their arm and they get picked off a bunch. You just have to use your head and study a lot and make up for the things you're lacking."

There is no doubt Brewer is one of the more cerebral quarterbacks in the 2012 class and that helped him throw for 2,677 yards with 37 touchdowns and six interceptions in his junior season. As a sophomore, Brewer had 1,896 yards with 20 scores and six picks.

Rivals.com rates Brewer as the fourth-best pro-style quarterback, No. 123 in the 2012 class and third in the Arizona state rankings. Alabama was a top contender and schools from the Pac-12, SEC, Big 12 and other conferences were recruiting him but the Longhorns were always considered a favorite and he ended things in February.

His relationship with new co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bryan Harsin, who came from Boise State, has gone well and Brewer said he cannot wait to learn even more from Harsin once he gets to Austin.

"Ever since he started recruiting me I really liked him," Brewer said.

"I like him more each time I talk to him. He's one of the smartest football minds I've talked to on the phone or when I went on an unofficial visit and we met up there. I'm excited to get up there and learn some offense from him."

Brewer said he considers last season's 5-7 record - including a 2-6 mark in the Big 12 - more of an aberration than anything else for the Longhorns and sees things getting righted this season. He's confident Texas will turn it around quickly and he hopes to be a part of it soon.

"It's a blip," he said. "It was a big blip for Texas. They're headed in the right direction though.

"I'm not sure they're at the No. 1 national championship spot at this point but they're on the track for that. They've hired all the right guys and coach (Mack) Brown is doing a great job with the guys and Texas is right on track to be one of those top contenders."