ESPN Has Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers As Top 10 NFL Draft Pick
Texas football is trending upward entering its final year as members of the Big 12. Returning production, a cohesive coaching staff and top-tier recruits have changed the persona of the program as the Longhorns inch closer to joining the SEC.
All eyes among Longhorns fans are on Quinn Ewers entering Year 2 as the starting quarterback. They're not the only ones glued to seeing No. 3's progress on the Forty Acres as NFL franchises have begun scouting for first-round talent entering next year's draft. Entering the year, Ewers is at the top of most lists.
A full season should provide more context if Ewers can live up to expectations not just as the quarterback to take Texas back to a Big 12 title appearance but also potentially as a franchise passer in the pros. That hasn't stopped mock drafts from placing the redshirt sophomore from drawing Day 1 interest, as evident by ESPN's last mock, which saw Ewers land No. 8 overall to the Washington Commanders.
A lot of this hinges on the development of Sam Howell. But if Washington is picking inside the top 10 next year, it means the team fell well below expectations and will likely be searching for a long-term answer under center.
Ewers came to Texas with plenty of hype and looked the part before hurting his shoulder against Alabama in Week 2. He shows a smooth, effortless arm as a passer, but I'd like to see more urgency in the mental and physical parts of the game. Under the tutelage of coach Steve Sarkisian -- who developed Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones -- Ewers could be in store for a big season. - ESPN's Jordan Reid
Sarkisian's development has proven to work in past years before his time as Alabama's offensive coordinator. Hired by Pete Carroll at USC in 2001, the third-year Longhorns coach was influential in helping Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Mark Sanchez become first-round picks while serving as the Trojans' quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator.
While at Washington, Sarkisian's work with Jake Locker helped him garner top-10 draft status in 2011. Matt Cassel, who served as a backup at USC, also was drafted and spent 13 seasons in the pros, with a Pro Bowl nod in 2010.
Talent-wise, Ewers has the physical traits and mental-processing scouts salivate over. The positives were evident during the first quarter against Alabama in Week 2. They were on full display in a four-touchdown performance against Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown four weeks later.
Consistency was Ewers' downfall late in the season. Two games after helping the Longhorns pull off the most lopsided win in Red River history, he tossed three interceptions and completed less than 40 percent of his throws in a 41-34 loss to then-No. 11 Oklahoma State. Ewers also would go on cold streaks in the red zone, posting a 5:3 touchdown to interception ratio in his final five regular season starts.
Ewers was listed as one of three projected first-round quarterbacks heading into the new season, joining USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye.
Williams, who previously played at Oklahoma, led the nation in passing touchdowns (42) and ranked third in passing yards (4,537) en route to winning the Heisman. Few quarterbacks were as pristine as Maye, who threw for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns against seven interceptions for the Tar Heels.
While Ewers headlined the list of Texas players selected, he wasn't the only Longhorn listed as a first-round target. All-Big 12 receiver Xavier Worthy rounded out the mock, landing with defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City at the No. 32 selection.
Worthy would bring an explosive skill set to Kansas City for Patrick Mahomes. He needs to gain mass at 6-foot and 160 pounds, but he plays the game in a different gear. He recorded 12 catches that gained 20 or more yards last season, and I could see him eventually taking over Marquez Valdes-Scantling's role for the Chiefs. - ESPN
A year after breaking the Longhorns' freshman receiving touchdown record, Worthy regressed working alongside Ewers. Their connection looked promising in spring practice and could lead to better results this fall in Austin.
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