Quinn Ewers is the Texas Longhorns’ starting quarterback, and there’s no longer any debate about it. Although all the attention was on Arch Manning’s debut on Saturday, Ewers stole the show with an impressive and effortless spring performance. There were no connection issues with his receivers, and he completed 16-of-23 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. Even Steve Sarkisian, the head coach of the Longhorns, declared after the game that Ewers is their guy.
According to defensive lineman Byron Murphy, this year, Ewers looks totally different. His maturity, body, fitness, and play are all better. Even Ewers himself acknowledged that he needed to make changes after the 2022 Alamo Bowl. After shining against Alabama and Oklahoma, Ewers struggled with consistency in his passing game, and that inconsistency cost Texas a chance at a Big 12 championship.
Ewers knew he had to alter the way he approached the sport to get where he wanted to go, and he did just that. He devoted himself to the weight room, his diet and nutrition, and his overall understanding of the offense. And Sarkisian has noticed the difference. He said that Ewers looks very comfortable and confident, and that he’ll be even more dialed in when there’s an actual game plan to get after people.
Taking too much from a spring game would be foolish, but Ewers’ effort is representative of how people in the program have talked about him all offseason. Last year, he was locked in a hotly contested battle with Hudson Card during fall camp, but this year, he’s the unquestioned starter atop one of the most talented quarterback rooms in the country.
It’s still early, and anything can happen, but the Longhorns have a quarterback who will instill belief in his teammates, his coaches, and their entire organization. And that’s all thanks to the changes Ewers made in his approach to the sport.