© Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers Listed In Top 3 Preseason Heisman Odds
The Heisman Trophy has become an award given out to the top quarterback in college football rather than top player. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers has a chance to potentially be both, making his race to the New York City must-see television.
Ewers enters the second tied for the second-best odds to win college football's highest individual honor alongside LSU's Jayden Daniels at +1100, according to FanDuel. Only USC quarterback and reigning winner Caleb Williams posts better odds at +600.
Expectations are always high on the Forty Acres with the Longhorns, but this year seems different. Texas will depart for the SEC following the 2023-24 calendar year, raising the stakes for the program to win its first — and final — Big 12 title since 2009.
Ewers, who started 10 games as a redshirt freshman, holds the keys to finally bringing "back" Texas. Last season came with its bumps and bruises, but plenty of promise and potential. Ewers made headlines with his 289-yard, four-touchdown performance in the Red River Showdown last October. He left fans wanting more with a 368-yard outing against No. 12 Washington in the Alamo Bowl.
But for every game that captivated fans came one that soured the season. Ewers tossed three interceptions and completed less than 40 percent of his passes in a Week 8 road loss to then-No. 11 Oklahoma State. He also threw for under 200 yards in his final four regular season starts, posting a 3-1 touchdown-interception ratio and finishing with a completion rating under 60 percent.
Third-year coach Steve Sarkisian praised Ewers' growth through spring practice alongside Maalik Murphy and five-star Arch Manning, mentioning his ability to win over the locker room and the huddle with his leadership and charisma.
"Quinn has really taken his game to another level," Sarksisian said following spring practice. "His rapport with his teammates has gone to another level. His sheer commitment to being the best player he can be is awesome. I saw it in winter conditioning.
"He's in better shape than he's ever been. His understanding. His confidence every time he takes the field. His ability to bounce back when something doesn't go his way. He's also serving as a really good model for Maalik and Arch."
Ewers recently participated in the Manning Passing Academy and impressed alongside other top college quarterbacks, including Tennessee's Joe Milton, North Carolina's Drake Maye and Washington's Michael Penix Jr. Reports coming out of Thibodaux, La., were positive, mentioning how effortless Ewers' passes were and how quick his mental processing looked in the pocket.
Williams enters the season with a chance to become the first back-to-back Heisman winner since Archie Griffin in 1974-75. Since taking over for Spencer Rattler at Oklahoma during the Red River comeback of 2021, few passes and matched the consistency as the USC quarterback. Last season, Williams threw for 4,537 yards while leading the nation in touchdowns with 42.
Penix, who led all Power 5 quarterbacks in passing yards (4,641), posted the fourth-best odds at +1200 entering his second season in Seattle. Six quarterbacks are tied for the fifth-best odds at +1800 with Clemson's Cade Klubnik, Oregon's Bo Nix, Michigan's JJ McCarthy, Georgia's Carson Beck, Notre Dame's Sam Hartman, and Maye.
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