Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers has announced his return to Texas for the senior season.
Texas starting quarterback Quinn Ewers declared on social media Thursday that he will return to school for his senior season rather than entering the NFL draft.
This is a significant coup for the Longhorns, since they will now enter the SEC in 2024 with a seasoned quarterback behind center. This, of course, implies that backup quarterback Arch Manning will have to wait a little longer before taking over as the starter.
This season, Ewers guided Texas to its first Big 12 title since 2009, followed by its first trip in the College Football Playoff. He has passed for 3,479 yards (No. 15 nationally) and 22 touchdowns.
Despite finishing the season with a Sugar Bowl loss to Washington, coach Steve Sarkisian has established a sustainable culture. There is no reason why the Longhorns should not compete for titles in the future. And now that Ewers’ choice has been finalized, the squad is even better positioned to compete immediately in its new conference.
So, what exactly does this mean for Manning? The popular freshman gathered a sizable crowd at Sugar Bowl Media Day a few weeks ago and was open about how difficult it is not to play. This past season marked the first time in his life that he was a backup, having started every year for his teams since sixth grade.
“I mean, it’s never fun being a backup and sitting,” Manning remarked. “But each person’s journey is different, and I’m gonna work hard and not blink an eye, and help Quinn [Ewers] be the best quarterback and try to get better along the way.”
Manning stated that Ewers is one of his “best friends on the team” and that they always room together before games. He enjoys picking Ewers’ brain about many topics and admires how his buddy “doesn’t let a bad drive, the media, or anything get in the way of his focus.”
Manning also stated, “I haven’t looked into transferring at all,” which will not deter rumors and speculation.
Ewers’ comeback is hardly a major surprise. He enters the 2023 season as a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy and a top 2024 NFL Draft choice. Neither worked out. He was excellent in Texas’ 34-24 win against Alabama in Tuscaloosa in Week 2, passing for 349 yards and three touchdowns, but he was inconsistent after that and suffered a mid-season injury that sidelined him for two games.
Ewers was the previous No. 1 overall recruit in the 2021 class, and he notably quit high school early to attend Ohio State. He transferred to Texas, his childhood dream school, before the 2022 season. After an up and down first year, Ewers dug down past summer by becoming thin.
Those efforts paid off, and returning to school means more time spent developing under Sarkisian, the opportunity to compete for a national championship, and a boost to his draft value.
