Is Texas Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers' Heisman Campaign Taking Shape?
AUSTIN, Texas -- Could Quinn Ewers' offseason transformation result in a legit run at the Heisman Trophy?
Five games into the college football season, it's still too early to tell as he's led the No. 3 Texas Longhorns to an undefeated start. But there's no doubt that Ewers is putting himself in the dark horse conversation at the very least as he and the Longhorns head into Saturday's meeting in Dallas with the No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners.
In Saturday's 40-14 win over the then-No. 24 Kansas Jayhawks, Ewers went 25 of 35 passing for 325 yards, one touchdown and had his first interception of the season. He added seven carries for 40 yards and two more rushing scores, which brings his season total to five rushing touchdowns. This puts him in a tie for third-most rushing touchdowns for quarterbacks in the country.
Heisman-worthy seasons are certainly defined by big-time stats. While Ewers has been solid statistically with 1,358 passing yards (25th in the country) and nine touchdowns (tied for eighth), it's his one interception and the five rushing touchdowns that put him in the current Heisman discussion.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers runs past Kansas Jayhawks linebacker, left, and cornerback Mello Dotson for a touchdown in the first quarter at Royal-Memorial Stadium.
© Jay Janner, Austin American-Statesman
Team success also vaults Ewers higher up the unofficial Heisman rankings. If he can lead the Longhorns to an undefeated season and a Big 12 title, it'd be hard not seeing him as one of the front-runners by season's end.
But of course, the trophy isn't handed out in early October. He and the Longhorns have to keep up this pace to give himself a legit shot, and the competition is steep. Quarterbacks like Washington's Michael Penix Jr., USC's Caleb Williams, Oregon's Bo Nix and Florida State's Jordan Travis are all also currently leading undefeated teams through five weeks and have been putting up impressive numbers.
FanDuel's current Heisman odds put Ewers (+900) in a tie for the third-best chances with Nix, while Williams (+170) and Penix Jr. (+400) lead the way with the best and second-best odds, respectively.
Anything can happen as we get toward the midway point of the season. But as it stands, Ewers has put himself in a solid spot of a Heisman race that is just beginning to form. He'll have a big chance to make a statement for the award on Saturday against Oklahoma.
