Many of the Texas Longhorns’ 2024 NFL Draft prospects will participate in the program’s pro day later this month. But there is also one non-prospect reportedly hitting the field in Austin: quarterback Quinn Ewers.
Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers Set To Throw at 2024 Texas Pro Day
Gerry Hamilton, the senior national recruiting analyst for On Texas Football, announced the news on March 11. Fans can watch Ewers throw to his soon-to-be-former teammates at 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 20, on the Longhorn Network.
While a comprehensive list of who will be on the field isn’t available just yet, we’ll likely see the following pass catchers in some form: WRs Jordan Whittington, Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy, and TE Ja’Tavion Sanders.
Throwing at the 2024 Texas Pro Day is a win-win for Ewers and his draft-eligible teammates:
- Offers Ewers the chance to display his ability directly to NFL decision-makers.
- As the pro day is a very scripted event, it will highlight Ewers’ strengths as a passer.
- Helps Texas’ pass catchers during on-field drills/route-running sessions as they already have chemistry with the QB.
Ewers announced his return to the program on Instagram, with the 2024 campaign being his fourth in college and third in Austin. He has suffered shoulder injuries in back-to-back seasons, missing five games. His first season after transferring from Ohio State brought a myriad of highs and lows, as he completed only 58.1% of his passes for 2,177 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Last year proved far more consistent, as Ewers’ completion percentage improved drastically to 69% en route to 3,479 yards, 22 TDs, and six INTs. Of course, his improvement also aided Texas in the record department, with the Longhorns going from 8-5 to 12-2 with a CFP berth against Washington.
Now, with the program moving to the vaunted SEC and the CFP expanding to 12 teams, the pressure has reached its peak for Ewers and head coach Steve Sarkisian. But it’s not just those two moves lighting a fire under the QB’s seat — there’s also the fact Texas has a former No. 1 overall recruit with NFL royalty bloodlines waiting in the wings: Arch Manning.
Ewers and Manning had a spring competition last year, but this year’s QB battle might be more intense. Even if the fourth-year passer retains his starting job, his leash will be shorter in 2024.
A whole new weapons arsenal isn’t great for chemistry, but there isn’t a lack of talent. Ewers’ entire starting pass-catching corps in Worthy, Mitchell, Whittington, and Sanders is gone, and reserve WRs Casey Cain (UNLV) and Isaiah Neyor (Nebraska) entered the transfer portal.
Yet, Sarkisian and Co. were active in the portal as well, reeling in WRs Isaiah Bond (Alabama), Matthew Golden (Houston), Silas Bolden (Oregon State), and TE Amari Niblack (Alabama). They also have true sophomore Johntay Cook returning and five-star recruit Ryan Wingo joining the fray.
KEEP READING: Where Texas Lands in CFN’s 2024 SEC Power Rankings
That’s quite the group of playmakers, and with Nick Saban retiring from the Crimson Tide, there is a bit of a power vacuum in the conference. Kirby Smart’s Georgia is the team to beat, but with a healthy and experienced Ewers at the helm, Texas could truly be “back” in 2024.
And before the season gets underway, fans will be able to play as the star QB in EA Sports College Football 25 this summer — or hand the keys to Manning to begin a new dynasty.
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!