'Plenty of Room For Growth!' Steve Sarkisian Gushes Over Quinn Ewers' Potential

Steve Sarkisian believes the Texas Longhorns are still in good hands underneath Quinn Ewers entering the SEC.

Steve Sarkisian will have to replace multiple offensive starters this offseason in Austin if the Texas Longhorns hope to return to the College Football Playoff. 

Quarterback isn't one of those positions, and it won't be entering Week 1's matchup against Colorado State. 

The third-year Longhorns coach confirmed Wednesday that Ewers would remain the starter entering 2024 despite the return of former top overall recruit Arch Manning. Manning, a member of football's royal family, will remain QB2 and sit for a second season. 

"Quinn's our starter," Sarkisian said during his National Signing Day press conference. 

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers celebrates a victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.  :: Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK

Ewers, who joined the Horns after a one-year stay at Ohio State, performed admirably in Year 2 under Sark's offensive play design. It's hard to criticize his production since the Southlake product guided the Longhorns to their first Big 12 title in over a decade and a playoff berth against runner-up Washington. 

And imagine the narrative if things were different. Ewers, who threw for a career-best 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns, was a second behind on his pass to Adonai Mitchell in the end zone as time expired in the CFP semifinal. A little quicker and the Longhorns could be entering the SEC as national champions. 

Sarkisian doesn't have time to worry about the 'what could have been' moments in 2023. His sights are set on taking over a new conference within a year while becoming a consistent threat to hoist the title come mid-January. 

As for Ewers, Sarkisian said his return is a win-win for both parties. Texas retains its most influential position while the third-year starter will only improve his draft stock entering 2025. 

“I don’t think Quinn was a finished product yet," said Sarkisian. "I think there’s plenty of room for growth and improvement and development in his game going into year three.” — “I do think his experience and maturity are all going to be things we can benefit from. We’re going to need his leadership.”

Manning, the NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, will enter the fall as a redshirt freshman after only playing in blowout games. Sarkisian was impressed with the former No. 1 recruit's progress despite little playing time and believes the Longhorns are in good hands whenever Manning takes over as the starter permanently. 

"Arch has got an extremely bright future," Sarkisian said. "We're very fortunate to have him on our roster. He's got great leadership skills, got a great skill set."

As for National Signing Day, the Longhorns stood pat after securing most of their recruits back during the Early Signing Period in December. Even though Texas secured another top-three recruiting class, Sarkisian understands in today's changing times, recruiting never officially stops. 

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“We are never going to major in recruiting the transfer portal in a way that’s going to make up our roster,” he said. “We still want to recruit the bulk of our class from the high school ranks — highly competitive, high-character kids coming from great programs." 

As for the transfer portal, Sarkisian views it as an option to add stop gaps in areas lacking depth or immediate contributors.  

Said Sarkisian: "What the portal does for a school like us, it can help you fill the voids when the voids happen."