And Here. We. Go: With Quinn Ewers Officially Named Texas' Starting QB, The Longhorns May (At Long Last) Be Back
It's so fucking on.
The news-making tweet gives key context to Quinn Ewers' unprecedented early college career. He was meant to be a true freshman in 2022 until he reclassified, went to Ohio State early, witnessed C.J. Stroud position himself as a high 2023 NFL Draft prospect in just one year as a starter, and promptly returned to his home state of Texas to play for the Longhorns anyway.
Texas hasn't had a quarterback of this caliber since Colt McCoy, but even he was limited from a physical tools/arm talent standpoint. Ewers has a whip-quick, funky sort of three-quarter release with plenty of velocity and a knack for changing speeds not typically shown in prospects at such a young age.
The last true, consensus No. 1 QB recruit to land in Austin was one Vince Young. That turned out pretty well. Ewers was 247Sports' top overall prospect in his class, is a much purer, natural passer than Young, whose insane running ability and athleticism helped the Longhorns to a national championship.
It was a long wait for the Texas faithful between VY and the mullet-rocking football prodigy that is Ewers. Not to take anything away from Sam Ehlinger's multi-year tenure, but any positives from his legacy are overshadowed by his infamous "WE'RE BAAACK!" post-bowl victory declaration, only to see the Longhorns spiral downward thereafter and pivot to a new coach in Steve Sarkisian.
What I'm finally getting around to as this: Texas is about to welcome two No. 1 quarterbacks to campus in as many years. That's right. Next year, ARCH MANNING IS COMING TO TOWN.
So yeah…Ewers is dealing with the weight of turning the Longhorns back into a legit contender. He has as much hype and expectations as any single blue-chip QB in recent memory. I mean to leave high school a full season early to go to Ohio State? What a power move. Plus he's already a millionaire. You wonder how that'll play inside and outside the locker room. So far, so good, as Ewers beat out 2021's benched incumbent Hudson Card. No surprise there, except for, well, this should've been announced before today.
The most intriguing subplot is how, no matter how good of a season he has, Ewers might be fighting for his football career next spring when Arch pulls up. Seriously the mania around the latest Manning is gonna be off the charts. In a perfect world, you redshirt Arch, let Ewers play one more season and have him go to the NFL Draft at barely over 21 years old. HOWEVER, there's a scenario where Arch is too damn good to deny, and Ewers, having already transferred once, would be in a real bind when it comes to his next move.
And what if Ewers is solid but not spectacular this year? You think restless Longhorns fans are gonna be understanding and patient when another potential savior in Arch arrives? I personally cape for Quinn Ewers but it's damn near impossible to predict how he'll handle the relentless, microscopic scrutiny.
The drama and future draft implications of this are fascinating to ponder multiple years out. That's particularly the case when you consider how steeped in pro-style offensive concepts Coach Sark is and how well that bodes for the NFL futures of Ewers and the newest Manning if either/or signal-caller savant can fully capitalize on the circumstances.
This feels like the first time folks are actually shrugging even the softest rumblings of positive preseason Texas buzz. They didn't even crack the preseason AP top 25. Nevertheless, even with Lincoln Riley about to revamp the shit out of USC, all the conference realignment shenanigans abound and the typical powerhouse programs getting their preseason flowers, I'm at no-cap levels of hype for this potential, eventual Ewers-Arch dilemma.
I'm also just jazzed that we're gonna see Quinn begin to cook in 2022. I suspect he'll be a little rusty in the opener against UL Monroe. Better buckle up for September 10, though, because reigning Heisman-winning QB Bryce Young, college football's most feared defender Will Anderson and Alabama are paying a visit!! HOOOOOOOO yeah. Hook 'Em!
Twitter @MattFitz_gerald. I need an Ewers-McConaughey on-field celebration of an Alabama upset like I need oxygen