The Texas Longhorns have enjoyed a plethora of offensive talent under Steve Sarkisian. While his ability to recruit and attract outstanding skill position players to Austin has helped him turn around the Texas program, a significant announcement made Saturday before the Big 12 championship game stunned the college football world.
Texas Longhorns’ starting quarterback returns
While preparing to face an Oklahoma State team in what will be Texas’ final Big 12 game, news surfaced that Quinn Ewers intends to return to the program next year. He believes it is in his best interests to continue learning and developing in college for another year, as this will position him for long-term NFL success at the next level.
The former No. 1 prospect out of Southlake, Texas, has improved under Steve Sarkisian and will benefit from another year to bulk up for higher impact hits from NFL defenders.
Power NIL Texas Longhorns
It is no secret that the Texas Longhorns have one of the best-funded athletic departments, donor systems, and alumni supporters in the country. This has resulted in Texas university athletes in all sports being compensated at a higher rate than most other schools.
While this is not intended to be an argument about whether or not players are deserving of compensation, the truth remains that top-tier players have the potential to earn millions as a college athlete, particularly in Austin. Prior to the NIL rule, many people would choose to be more aggressive in their draft declaration. It made sense for even marginal professional skills to ensure that they did not miss out on a prospective job opportunity. However, with this new financial channel, athletes will always have the option to stay in college longer based on their specific circumstances.
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Quinn Ewers, a recent high school graduate who sat for the most of his first year at Ohio State, sometimes forgets he is only 20 years old. Following a couple of small injury setbacks, a complete year of playing in the same system and showing growth would undoubtedly allow him to impress NFL teams and raise his draft stock.
Texas Longhorns Are Likely to Leave
While this is fantastic news for him and Steve Sarkisian, future standout freshman Arch Manning cannot be expected to remain a Longhorn. Barring an injury, the nephew of legendary quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning is unlikely to get significant playing time. Sarkisian is unlikely to deploy a platoon or two quarterback scheme. And, given that he, too, was the top-rated recruit in his class, it’s difficult to imagine him not looking for playing time elsewhere.
Manning looked the part in little playing time against Texas Tech. He’d be the most sought-after transfer portal player for any team trying to add him to their roster. Even if a school currently has a quarterback, his potential and skill set would have an immediate effect anyplace.
He received interest and offers from top-tier programs such as Alabama, Clemson, and Georgia throughout his high school recruiting. With the recent news, you can expect his name to be on the portal soon, as well as the same amount of interest from programs trying to hire him for their 2024 football campaigns.
