David Ash Tells All: Texas QB Life, Concussions, Comebacks & the Beyoncé Jersey Story

Former Texas Longhorn quarterback David Ash joins 3rd & Longhorn for a raw, hilarious, and powerful interview. From his small-town football beginnings to being thrust into the spotlight at Texas, Ash opens up about the highs and lows of his college career.UPDATE: David Ash now works at Prophetic: https://www.propheticsoftware.ai/Connect with David here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/utdavidashMeet Our Team:Derrick Johnson: NFL All-Pro and Texas Longhorn legend, providing unparalleled defensive insights. Alex Okafor: Former NFL defensive end, breaking down the line of scrimmage battles. Jeremy Hills: Renowned trainer and former Longhorn running back, discussing player development. Fozzy Whittaker: NFL veteran and special teams ace, offering game day analysis.Rod Babers: Longhorn cornerback great and media personality, sharing insider knowledge.Nick Shuley: Co-founder of Clark Field Collective/Texas One Fund, discussing the business side of college sports.CHAPTERS0:00 – Show Open: Welcoming David Ash0:22 – Clapping for Yourself & Starting the Story0:40 – How David Ash Got to Texas1:01 – Small-Town Roots and 8th Grade Football Coach1:54 – Inspired by Colt McCoy & Watching Fuzzy TV2:06 – Transferring Schools and Climbing the Depth Chart2:59 – Thrown Into Varsity Game as a Sophomore3:51 – Playing Without Knowing Football Yet4:20 – “Coach, What’s Cover 2?”4:28 – Texas Mini Camp & Ripping Frozen Ropes5:46 – Impressing Greg Davis with Big-Time Throws7:10 – Junior & Senior Year Development8:27 – All-State Punter?!9:46 – The Missed Opportunity of Not Punting in College10:44 – Could Still Punt 80 Yards?11:46 – “Punting for the Colts in Another Universe”12:10 – The Beyoncé Jersey Story13:05 – The Pressure of the Texas QB Room13:54 – “My Armpits Didn’t Stop Sweating for 6 Months”15:02 – Staying Grounded Through Faith, Football & Family16:39 – Spring Break = Back to the Fieldhouse17:07 – On a Tear Before Injury17:44 – “Straight Ash, Homie” – Finding His Leadership Voice18:13 – From Confusion to Commanding the Offense18:44 – Enduring the Toughness of Coaching19:34 – Coaches Testing Mental Toughness19:53 – NIL vs. The “Take Your Lumps” Era20:04 - Mental Reps and Pre-Game Preparation20:41 - Creating Decision Trees as a Quarterback21:14 - Handling Blitzes and Mental Pressure22:08 - Training Yourself to Stay Calm Under Fire22:38 - Teammates Discovering David's Football IQ23:02 - The Mental Leap in David's Third Year23:36 - Playing at an Elite Level Before the Injury23:43 - Adjusting to Coaching Changes at Texas24:17 - The Advantage and Disadvantage of Staff Turnover24:52 - Contrasting Coaching Styles: Harson vs. Applewhite25:40 - Applewhite’s Player-First Approach26:18 - Confidence, Compliments, and Responsibility27:13 - Comparing David Ash’s Growth to Quinn Ewers27:51 - Major Applewhite as a Teammate28:08 - Who Took David Under Their Wing?28:34 - The Infamous Talent Show Story29:53 - Fozzy's Role in the Most Embarrassing Moment30:59 - Freshman Year Depth Chart Rollercoaster32:22 - Why College Football is Mentally Draining33:29 - David’s Worst Moment at Texas33:43 - David’s Favorite Moments at Texas34:49 - The Alamo Bowl Comeback vs. Oregon State35:30 - Playing Through Broken Ribs35:38 - The Shift From People-Pleaser to Field General36:10 - Mike Davis: Always Open, Always Funny36:56 - The Legendary Piano Class Story38:25 - “I’m Mike Davis and I’m Always Open”39:06 - The Decision to Step Away From Football39:45 - Navigating Concussion Concerns in a Political Climate40:04 – The Changing Concussion Narrative in College Football40:31 – Why David Ash’s Case Was So Misunderstood41:04 – Inner Ear Issues and Visual DisturbDerrick Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/superdj56Alex Okafor: https://www.instagram.com/alexokaforJeremy Hills: https://www.instagram.com/jhills5Fozzy Whittaker: https://www.instagram.com/fozzywhittRod Babers: https://www.instagram.com/rodbabersNick Shuley: https://www.instagram.com/nickshuley