Texas Longhorns Quinn Ewers and Kelvin Banks Ranked Among Top Returning Players in 2024
The Texas Longhorns are returning one of the more talented rosters in all of college football in 2024.
There is talent all over college football whether it be in the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, or even the Pac-2.
When it comes to the Texas Longhorns, it is no secret that they are home to one of the best rosters in the country. The Longhorns are fresh off their best year in over a decade, and many view that as just the beginning.
They have experience and elite-level talent in just about every possible position on the roster, and according to the metrics provided by Pro Football Focus, two of their players are among the best in the country at their positions.
Both quarterback Quinn Ewers and left tackle Kelvin Banks were among the five best-returning players at their positions based on 2023’s PFF grade. Ewers ranked as the No. 5 returning quarterback in the country behind the likes of Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, and Georgia’s Carson Beck.
“Texas was finally back in 2023 due to the improvement made by its redshirt sophomore quarterback. Ewers led the Longhorns to a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth this past season after losing the mullet and the gunslinger mentality that anchored him in 2022. He cut his turnover-worthy play rate by more than half (1.7% in 2023 compared to 3.6% in 2022) and upgraded his PFF passing grade to an 85.6 mark after earning just a 70.9 PFF passing grade as a redshirt freshman. ”
For Ewers, he took major strides last season, showcasing better decision-making and accuracy compared to his first season. It also helped that he was well-protected, and the lineman who has his blindside covered ranks as the No. 2 returning tackle in the country behind LSU’s Wil Campbell. Banks burst onto the scene as a freshman and picked up where he left off last season.
While they were the only two players that ranked within the top five of PFF grades, notable players such as receiver Isaiah Bond, running back CJ Baxter, and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. are all viewed as having star -power as well for the Longhorns. 2024 will be quite the season for Texas if everyone can remain healthy, and they can not get too ahead of themselves.
