AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas junior quarterback Quinn Ewers declared for the NFL Draft on Wednesday, ending a Longhorns career in which he led the program to a Big 12 championship and two championship runs. College Football Playoffs but was not always embraced by a fan base eagerly awaiting Arch Manning to take over.
Ewers passed for 9,128 yards and 68 touchdowns in a career few Texas quarterbacks can match. He had hinted before the end of the season that this would be his last in college.
“These last three years have been some of the best years I could have ever imagined,” Ewers said in social media post announcing his decision. “The relationships I have built between coaches and teammates will last forever.”
His 27 career victories rank him fourth as a starting quarterback at Texas, and he led the Longhorns to their first Big 12 title in 14 years in 2023 before the program moved to the Southeastern Conference. In their first season in the SEC, the Longhorns reached their first #1 ranking since 2008 and played in the league championship game.
Ewers’ greatest legacy will be leading the program to the playoff semifinals in consecutive years, even though it did not reach the championship game. He had a breakaway on a sack that led to a game-clinching touchdown for Ohio State on Jan. 10 at the Cotton Bowl.
Aiguières quarry
Ewers, who grew up in suburban Dallas, was the highest-rated high school quarterback in the country when he signed with Ohio State and left school early to join the Buckeyes for the 2021 season. But after a season spent deep on the Ohio State depth chart, Ewers transferred to Texas, which had just finished 5-7 in coach Steve Sarkisian’s first season.
He was a starter in the 2022 season opener and led the team through record seasons of 8-5, 12-2 and 13-3. But he suffered various shoulder, abdominal and ankle injuries and missed at least two games each season. An abdominal strain this season allowed Manning to start twice and earn the program’s first SEC victory, against Mississippi State.
Place Manning
Ewers’ departure sets the stage for Manning to take over in 2025.
The son of Cooper Manning, the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and the nephew of Super Bowl-winning QBs Peyton and Eli Manning, passed for 939 yards and nine touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns this season, but has only seen limited playing time since September. .
Texas fans eagerly awaited his chance to become a full-time starter. Manning will get it with a rebuilt offense.
Top receivers Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond declared for the draft and senior tight end Gunnar Helm completed his eligibility. Running back Jaydon Blue, who scored a team-high 14 touchdowns, including four in the playoffs, and starting tackles Kelvin Banks Jr. and Cam Williams also left for the NFL.
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