AUSTIN, Texas -— Colt McCoy burst onto the college football scene as a redshirt freshman and went through somewhat of a sophomore slump a year ago.

His junior-season resurgence continued on Saturday in Texas’ 52-10 win over Arkansas, and it might just have vaulted the quarterback into the Heisman Trophy race.

McCoy accounted for five Texas touchdowns, completing 17 of 19 passes for 185 yards. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more, remaining Texas’ leading rusher on the season with his nine-carry, 84-yard effort on the ground.

“I don’t see how anybody could be playing better than Colt right now,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. “They could be playing as good, but they can’t play better.

“He’s just not making any mistakes.”

McCoy came to Texas as an unheralded recruit out of a tiny Class 2A school, but after a redshirt season, he took the reins of the Longhorns in 2006, one year after Texas won the national championship behind current Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young.

That season, McCoy led Texas to a No. 13 ranking to end the season — stepping right in for Young and completing 68.2 percent of his passes with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Last season, McCoy still led Texas to a No. 10 ranking, but his completion percentage dropped to 65.1, and his interceptions rose to 18 to go with 22 touchdown passes. Brown said, however, that McCoy improved in the second half of last season — culminating with a win over Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl — and that his confidence has only grown this year as the Longhorns have started 4-0.

“He’s just continued to (play well),” Brown said. “We’re pleased with the way he’s managing our team. He’s really involved, he’s excited about the defensive stops. He’s playing with so much confidence right now that it’s fun to watch him.

“He’s having fun, and the game’s slowed down for him.”

Saturday’s performance raised McCoy’s completion percentage on the season to 80 percent (80 of 100). He also now has 14 touchdowns and just one interception.

“You want to complete them all, that’s the goal,” McCoy joked following the game. “Give credit to the offensive line for giving me a lot of time.”

McCoy’s impact on the Longhorns offense hasn’t been limited to through the air. He entered Saturday having rushed for 859 yards over Texas’ last 16 games, and he added to that with his 84-yard performance — highlighted by a 35-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that gave Texas a 24-3 lead.

“Colt’s playing at a really high level,” Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis said. “It starts because he’s working during the week to stay at that level.”