Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers, WR Xavier Worthy Named To Campbell Preseason Watch List
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers and receiver Xavier Worthy have become one of college football's more fascinating duos entering 2023. Now, they could be pinned against one another for a piece of hardware.
Ewers and Worthy were named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose preseason watchlist, the organization announced on Thursday. The award, named after the former Longhorn tailback and 1977 Heisman Trophy winner, is given annually to the top offensive player in the FBS who also best embodies the characteristics that define Campbell.
In addition, the award is limited to players born in the state of Texas, attended a high school in Texas or attended a Texas junior college or university. Ewers, a native of Dallas, attended Southlake Carroll High School before spending a season at Ohio State. Worthy, a native of Fresno, Calif., enters his third season with the Forty Acres franchise.
Worthy, a potential first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has played in 25 games since joining the roster in 2021. He's totaled 122 career receptions for 1,741 yards and 21 touchdowns. His 21 career touchdown receptions rank third all-time in Texas history, while his 122 career receptions are the 14th-most in program history.
Last season, Worthy was named a second-team All-Big 12 selection by the league's coaches and the Associated Press after leading the conference and ranking 19th in the nation with nine touchdown receptions while tying for fourth in the Big 12 receptions (60), ranking fifth receiving yards (760), and seventh in receiving yards per game (58.5) and receptions per game (4.6). Worthy also served as the punt returner for Texas in 2022, averaging 9.7 yards per return. His 21 career touchdown receptions lead all returning Power 5 players and rank second among FBS receivers.
Ewers, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, started 10 games in his first year with the Longhorns, throwing for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns against six interceptions with a 58.1 percent completion rating. After suffering an AC sprain in Week 2's loss to Alabama, Ewers returned to lead Texas to a 49-0 victory over rival Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown with a four-touchdown performance.
While Ewers presented mixed play most of the year, he capped off the season with a career-high 369-yard performance against No. 12 Washington in Alamo Bowl. Ewers also totaled a career-best 31 completions and finished with a passer rating of 138.9.
Worthy also garnered recognition on the Maxwell Award, Paul Horning Award, Biletnikoff Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year preseason watch lists. Ewers was also named to the Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award watch list, as well as the Manning Award watch list.
Texas opens the season at Royal-Memorial Stadium against Rice on Sept. 2.
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