Texas Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers Approaching Year 3 'How (He) Should Be' Says Steve Sarkisian

AUSTIN -- Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian met with the media on Tuesday and raved about what he's seen from his new-look squad, but one of the most important mainstays amid all the roster departures unsurprisingly received some lengthy praise.

After a loss of star power via the draft, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is now undoubtedly the face of the team headed into his third season. He'll face tons of pressure headed into the SEC while carrying some Heisman-worthy weight on his shoulders. But according to Sark, Ewers appears to be as loose as ever early in spring ball.

“I think Quinn’s really enjoying his time right now, and that’s how you should be in Year 3," Sarkisian said.

Jan 1, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3). | John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Sarkisian pointed to the way receiver Xavier Worthy approached last season, his third with the program, and said he gets a similar vibe from Ewers.

“I feel that with Quinn, he really enjoys his teammates," Sarkisian said. "I think he really enjoys the challenge of getting that rapport with the receivers. I think he’s got a great rapport with his offensive linemen and those runners. But now, what’s that rapport like with those wideouts, with the new tight end, working with Gunnar (Helm) and Amari Niblack and that group, so I think he’s enjoying it."

This season will likely be Ewers' last in Austin, as a strong 2024 will put him near the top of NFL Draft boards in 2025. Nothing is a given at this point, but Sarkisian appears to recognize this and isn't taking the opportunity to coach Ewers for granted.

"The fun part for me is I get to keep coaching him hard, and I get to keep coaching him hard on stuff that maybe I wasn’t as hard on him with in the past," Sarkisian said. "But that’s how you keep pushing a guy to be the best that he can be. He’s taken the coaching and he’s playing at a really high level for us right now.”

Ewers and the 2024 Longhorns will take the field for the first time in front of fans when the Orange-White Spring Game kicks off on Saturday, April 20.