Texas QB Quinn Ewers could give Steve Sarkisian the fresh start needed to resurrect Longhorns program

Steve Sarkisian hit historic lows in his first season as coach at Texas. The Longhorns completed 5-7, the worst file for a first-year coach since Dana X. Bible in 1937. Texas misplaced seven consecutive video games, probably the most since Edwin Value misplaced eight in his last season in 1956. 

However when mulleted quarterback Quinn Ewers despatched a tweet committing as a switch to his home-state Longhorns on Dec. 12, 2021, all was forgiven. On Saturday, Ewers will make his debut in a burnt orange uniform on the Texas Orange-White Spring Sport. 

Calling Ewers a generational quarterback prospect is an understatement. The Southlake (Texas) Carroll product emerged as the primary good 1.0000 quarterback recruit within the 247Sports Composite since Vince Younger — the one quarterback to win a nationwide championship on the 40 Acres within the final 50 years. There have solely been 5 different good 1.0000 recruits since 2000; for comparability, Trevor Lawrence was a 0.9999. 

Quarterback play has doomed the Longhorns for greater than a decade. Texas is coming into its thirteenth consecutive season with out an All-Huge 12 First Staff quarterback, so getting a celebrity from this system’s personal yard was a should. 

“I grew up all the time watching the Longhorns play, needed to be in that burnt orange,” Ewers instructed reporters final week. “, there was a bit impediment in between, however I ended up right here and I am very grateful for all of the alternatives God has given me.. I am simply excited to be again within the house state.” 

When Ewers dedicated to Tom Herman’s workers at Texas in 2020, it energized this system. When he decommitted and headed to Ohio State as a substitute, it doomed Herman’s tenure. The timing of his return couldn’t have been higher after the disastrous begin to the Sarkisian period. 

After Ewers transferred, Texas completed off the recruiting interval with some of the spectacular closings within the nation, particularly on offense. The Longhorns added 11 blue-chip signees within the week after Ewers dedicated, and later added star Wyoming receiver Isaiah Neyor and Alabama tight finish Jahleel Billingsley as touted transfers. Fellow Alabama switch receiver Agiye Corridor might be subsequent. The recruiting class ended prime 5 within the nation, becoming a member of rival Texas A&M and three of the 5 groups with nationwide titles within the playoff period. 

The spectacular class joins what was already a proficient offense. Working again Bijan Robinson was on a Heisman trajectory earlier than hurting his arm late within the yr. Huge receiver Xavier Worthy was probably the most spectacular freshman within the nation with 981 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns. Neyor had 878 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns in his debut at Wyoming, whereas Billingsley was TE1 at Alabama earlier than coping with off-field points. 

In fact, the success rides on Ewers proving to be the Golden Boy — the savior at quarterback who was promised. Ewers has not thrown a reside sport cross in practically two years, however his highschool profession was legendary. Ewers threw for 4,003 yards, 45 touchdowns and three interceptions as a sophomore earlier than main his Carroll squad to the Texas 6A State Championship Sport as a junior. He accomplished 70% of his passes and averaged greater than 10 yards per cross try within the highest classification of Texas highschool soccer. 

Ewers continues to be in an open quarterback competitors with sophomore Hudson Card, who earned the job out of 2021 camp. The Austin native accomplished 61.4% of his passes for 590 yards passing and 5 touchdowns. Card was a blue-chip quarterback recruit of his personal who has the benefit of reside school soccer reps. The battle is way from a coronation of any kind, and will probably be on full show on the spring sport in entrance of followers on Saturday. 

Lacking a bowl sport for simply the fourth time since Mack Brown took over in 1998 was an embarrassing second for a Texas program hungry to search out the sort of success it loved within the mid-2000s. Nonetheless, it’s going to quickly be forgotten if success comes now. 

Sarkisian earned one other recent begin at Texas after rebuilding the roster and nabbing one of many prime quarterback transfers of all time. Nonetheless, the clock to compete for championships flips on once more Saturday.