Texas Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers 'Not Real Sure' If He Will Return For Junior Season

Texas Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers shared an update on his status following the team's blowout win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders
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AUSTIN, TX -- The Texas Longhorns are currently sitting at 11-1 and locked into a Big 12 Championship berth, thanks in large part to the play of their sophomore starting quarterback, Quinn Ewers. 

Ewers has played so well, in fact, that he has emerged as one of the top quarterback prospects in an already loaded 2024 NFL Draft quarterback class. 

Now Ewers has given an update on his status for next season... kind of.

"I'm not real sure yet," Ewers told the media after the Longhorns 57-7 win over Texas Tech.

That said, reports surfaced last week that Ewers was, in fact, leaning toward a return, including one from ESPN's Pete Thamel, who revealed that there have been conversations about a potential return to the 40 Acres, “there’s a long way to go,” before a decision by Ewers is made. 

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) throws a pass during the game against Texas Christian University at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) throws a pass during the game against Texas Christian University at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas :: Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK

Either way, a decision is still weeks away for Ewers, with two games still remaining on the regular season schedule, as well as a potential Big 12 title game and a College Football Playoff berth.

And depending on how the remainder of this season goes, both in terms of on-field performance and where the Longhorns finish in the Big 12 game and the CFP race, the decision likely wouldn't come one way or another until before the postseason. 

When healthy, Ewers has been elite this season, completing 196 of 279 passes (70.3 percent) for 2,513 yards and 16 touchdowns, with four interceptions in 10 games.  

Texas Dominates Texas Tech, Clinches Big 12 Championship Berth

Compare that to his 2022 stats, where he completed 172 of 296 passes (58.1 percent) for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns with six picks in 10 games, and you can see the amazing leap forward he was able to make in one off-season.

And if he does indeed return, and can improve at the same rate he did from Year 1 to Year 2, in between Year 2 and Year 3, he could find himself in contention for a No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick in 2025.


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Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI and a long-time member of the Football Writer’s Association of America. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry in 2014 covering the Dallas Mavericks and SMU Mustangs with 247Sports. He then moved to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of the Longhorns and Aggies sites a year later. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan.