Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers Ready To Bring Big 12 Title To Austin
ARLINGTON, Texas- There's a maturation surrounding Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers. As a student, he's only a redshirt sophomore. As a player, he's a two-year veteran.
Ewers sounds older, answering questions being flung his way by countless voices in a media scrum. He looks aged, sporting a clean-cut hairstyle to match his trimmed facial hair instead of a trademark mullet and grizzled beard.
He's also the unquestioned leader on offense. There was no quarterback battle happening in spring like the year before, and the expectation from the jump has been for him to be the man behind the playbook.
That comes with added pressure. Pressure Ewers embraces knowing what's a stake for the Forty Acres franchise entering their final year as members of the Big 12.
"I mean, I think there's always a target on our back," Ewers said at Big 12 Media Days Wednesday. "But we also put a target on our opponents. It's kind of like John Wick. He's being hunted, but at the same time, he's hunting them as well."
There's a sense of pride ensuring the flagship program's demise each season. Programs enjoy watching variety make its way to AT&T Stadium each December while the Longhorns watch on television instead of the sidelines. They've done well, too, keeping the Horns out of Arlington five of the six seasons since the Big 12 title game was brought back.
Ewers isn't the only player that could be why Texas returns to the title game in its final season, but he might be the most significant. There are exponential apprehensions about playing quarterback in Austin. There's also the history of success having to follow up players like Major Applewhite, Vince Young, Colt McCoy, and others.
"A lot of people are expecting a lot of us, but we’re squarely focused on what we can control inside the facility,' said Ewers.
Ewers would be the first to accept responsibility for the Longhorns' downfall in 2022. He's the first to criticize himself when discussing his personal play. Sure, the redshirt sophomore was the conference's Newcomer of the Year, but the Longhorns were playing in the Alamo Bowl, not a New Year's Six contest.
There were plenty of highs and lows during Ewers' first year. Fans were ready to anoint him Texas' savior after starting 9-of-12 passing against No. 1 Alabama in Week 2. He made headlines following a four-touchdown, 289-yard performance against Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown.
But for every positive came a negative. Ewers tossed three interceptions and completed less than 40 percent of his throws against Oklahoma State. He went 17-for-39, failing to score through the air in a 17-10 loss to national champion runner-up TCU. Texas went 4-2 in its final six games under Ewers, but the quarterback posted a 6-4 touchdown: interception ratio and never completed more than 60 percent of his reps.
Third-year Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian wasn't phased by Ewers' mishaps en route to an 8-5 finish. When asked about the quarterback's tribulations, Sarkisian recommended everyone to listen to Ewers' comments in press conferences following games against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
"All he did was praise his teammates for how well they played," Sarkisian said. "Then we don't play great against Oklahoma State, and we suffer a loss, and he took all the blame. So I think right then, you found out the type of leader that he is.
"He's earned the respect of his teammates throughout this [offseason] and throughout this process."
One thing that should help with Ewers' progression is his continued relationship with playmakers. Texas lost running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson to the NFL draft but retained All-Big 12 tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, receiver Jordan Whittington, and potential first-round pick Xavier Worthy.
The latter's connection with Ewers could by why Texas is back in Jerry World in December. Last season, the two never seemed in sync, leading to missed scoring opportunities and dropped passes in coverage. That hasn't been the case this spring, though Ewers isn't shying away from the mammoth amount at his disposal.
“All of those guys have a variety of ways that they get open, and we have called for all of them,” said Ewers. “Honestly, they’re not selfish guys; as long as we’re winning, I know they’ll be happy, and that’s the goal we’re all focused on this year.”
Hype surrounds the Longhorns entering August. They're the preseason favorites to win the conference for the first time since 2009. They return eight offensive starters and seven defensive ones while boasting a top-three recruiting class.
And there's hype around Ewers. Mock drafts have penciled him as a future first-round pick, with ESPN having him land No. 8 overall to the Washington Commanders. The 20-year-old doesn't seem rattled by the early praise, mainly because talking season won't translate to on-field success.
Sarkisian won't project Ewers' future, either, but knows from a talent standpoint, the accolades are warranted.
"He's extremely talented," Sarkisian said. "There's not a throw he can't make. He's got a very high football IQ. If things go the way we think they can go, the pundits are probably right; he is a first-round draft pick quarterback."
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