ESPN Lauds Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning and Longhorns QB Future

The Longhorns future at the QB position is secure, and according to ESPN is one of the brightest in college football.

The Texas Longhorns football future is bright.

In back-to-back seasons, the Horns have finished with a top-5 recruiting class, and have made major acquisitions via the NCAA transfer portal.

As a result, when the Longhorns head to the SEC in 2024, the should be in great shape to compete. 

However, one area of the Longhorns roster that might be shining the brightest for the future just so happens to be the most important one on the field - the quarterback position. 

And in his recent future quarterback rankings, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg had major praise for the Horns, and explained exactly why they landed so high in his top-25.

7. Texas Longhorns

2022 ranking: 8
Returning starter: Quinn Ewers

Quinn Ewers is back for his second season as a Longhorn, but needs to consistently show accuracy and playmaking ability. Ewers, ESPN's No. 2 overall recruit in 2021, spent a season at Ohio State before transferring, and finished the 2022 campaign at Texas with two of his better performances. But the arrival of Arch Manning creates an added layer of pressure on Ewers to keep developing. Ideally, Ewers holds down the QB1 spot through 2023 before giving way to Manning, the latest product from America's most famous quarterbacking family.

Maalik Murphy, a second-year player with a big frame (6-foot-5, 225 pounds), could share the backup role this coming season with Manning. Murphy was ESPN's No. 250 recruit in the 2022 class.

Ahead of the Horns, ESPN ranked USC No. 1, followed in order by Ohio State, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama and Michigan.

Pretty solid company right?

Indeed, the Longhorns will have the fortune of transitioning from Ewers - who by all accounts has made major strides since the end of the 2022 season - to Manning who is arguably the top recruit in school history. 

And behind them, Maalik Murphy, while still raw, has arm talent and physical tools that are second to none on the roster. 

However, what ESPN doesn't mention, is the Longhorns' next incoming gun slinger, 2024 commit, Trey Owens. 

Owens, a Cypress native, is the first state of Texas high school quarterback to commit to the Longhorns under Steve Sarkisian and is also one of the most gifted passers in the 2024 class.

This past season with Cy Fair, Owens burst onto the scene, winning the Texas District 17-6A offensive MVP as a junior, and completing 201 of 304 passes for 2,057 yards and 34 touchdowns, with just six interceptions.

And since, has been blowing up the camp circuit. 

Should he continue to make such major strides, we suspect his recruiting ranking will finally begin to match up with his talent. 

Either way, however, With Ewers, Manning, Murphy and Owens all part of the Longhorns' future, it's easy to see why ESPN holds the Horns in such high regard at the position.

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You can follow Matt Galatzan on Twitter @MattGalatzan

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