Quinn Ewers might be the most under-appreciated quarterback in the modern era of Texas football. Why just the modern era? Nobody knows how Bobby Layne or James Street would have been treated on social media.
At least we had talk radio as a means to nitpick Peter Gardere and James Brown.
Ewers is four wins from permanently sitting beside Vince Young and ahead of Colt McCoy as the greatest Longhorns quarterback of all time. And yet for some, it’s not good enough. Such is life as the quarterback at the University of Texas.
I guess looking at it, you only think about the good whenever you’re a kid,” Ewers said. “But that’s just life, though. I mean, stuff’s going to come your way. Just gotta keep moving forward. But it’s been fun for sure.”
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Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is going to ride or die with Ewers at the controls during the College Football Playoffs, which begin Saturday at home against Clemson (10-3). It makes sense to use backup Arch Manning as a change-up option for his mobility. But it’s going to be Ewers, whether it’s good, bad or indifferent.
Statistically, Ewers is already one of the all-time Texas greats. He’s 25-8 as a starter. Ewers is fourth on the all-time passing list with 8,321 yards, just 32 behind Major Applewhite. He’s thrown 62 touchdowns, the third-highest total ever.
Ewers has won a Big 12 championship, played in the SEC title game and led the Horns to back-to-back CFP appearances. He’s widely expected to go pro this spring but, following UT’s longtime script, avoided answering specific questions about his future this week.
Asked what the most enjoyable part of playing at UT, Ewers said, “I’d say just getting to know all these guys from different demographics, and just learning their stories, and just getting to know guys from all over the country.
“Without this team and without football, I wouldn’t have been able to build the relationships that I’ve built over the past three or so years.”