I'd like to better understand this narrative that Zane somehow has a better arm than Hejny when all I've heard is Hejny is fast but has a big arm as well. I read a piece the other day about his TCU teammates going on and on about his deep ball. That sounds like arm strength to me.
Only data point we can draw from is HS tape and the fact that they both participated in a "throwing only" competition in the elite 11 finals which picks from the top 20 QBs in America to decide who the top 11 are. Hauss finished in the top 11 and Zane did not.
https://www.elite11.com/2023elite11Still a huge accomplishment to make the top 20 (the finals). Don't think we've signed many elite 11 finals QBs throughout the years so to have 2 on our roster is good and should say a ton about both of their respective arms. Doesn't guarantee college success but does mean they have elite arms. Splitting hairs here but bottom line is that this is one of the only data points I can come up with to decide arm strength/talent. I think stating that Zane is bigger - that's definitive/that's a fair point and you can prove that - same with track times as it pertains to measuring speed but unless someone on here can post videos of those two throwing a football side by side and Zane making throws that Hauss can't, etc….im just not sure I buy into Zane = arm and Hauss = speed. Together we have Rudolph/Walsh.
Bottom line is they can both run (enough), Zane is bigger, Hauss is faster and they can both clearly make all the throws (you don't make the elite 11 finals if you can't). If anything Hauss was top 11 so the nod perhaps goes to Hauss on arm talent.
All of that aside, it comes down to decision making and the ability to make winning plays in critical situations. Other data point worth noting is Hauss won 2 state title games in Texas (not easy) and Zane lost two state title games. When you're splitting hairs I think those two data points should be mentioned as there is a clear bias towards Zane on this page. They both made the elite 11 finals, Hauss made top 11, Zane didn't - they both played in 2 state title games - Hauss found a way to win 2 and Zane didn't. Not trying to bash Zane here, just trying to be factual in this qb argument we are trying to frame to everyone.
Hauss had a roll as a true frosh on a 9 win team, didn't pass but the coaches clearly trusted to play him in big games. Every game he played in last season (4 of them) were critical/close one score road games and Hauss was put in, in critical situations. TCU was 4-0 in games Hauss appeared in. He didn't play mop up/blow out garbage time football / he played in big time one score ball games. Forward passes weren't thrown but there is more to that position than throwing the ball. That is real experience that should clearly be a check in Hejny's box. Again, when splitting hairs this matters. Zane has not touched the field in a real college football game.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/5079443/hauss-hejnyZane is bigger - that is the only data point that is definitive. Otherwise I haven't seen tape that reflects this argument that Zane has a better arm than Hauss.
We have 2 great options at qb and it sounds like both dudes are extremely mature/get along well. That may have as much to do with those 2 being the last 2 standing after the 4 man spring qb derby as anything. I'm glad to see the coaches recruited well by attracting/retaining two good dudes/leaders. Sounds like they will both support each other no matter what the decision is/be great teammates and that's something, more than anything, we should be excited about.
