Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian reflected on a landmark weekend in the NFL Draft, celebrating a program record 12 picks while addressing the discourse surrounding former quarterback Quinn Ewers’ draft slide and decision to forgo chasing NIL opportunities.
Speaking to the Touchdown Club of Houston, Sarkisian emphasized Ewers’ character, his enduring legacy in Austin, and why Miami represents an ideal landing spot for the young signal-caller’s professional development.
Steve Sarkisian Backs Quinn Ewers: Legacy, Loyalty, and the Road to Miami
In Houston, Sarkisian was unequivocal in his support for Ewers, highlighting the young quarterback’s impact on and off the field.
“Nobody wanted to win a national championship more or move the needle on the trajectory of our program much more than Quinn,” Sarkisian said, underscoring how central Ewers was to Texas’s resurgence.
He pointed out that Ewers was “one of the first guys … through all this talk about collectives,” yet “never took money from our collective,” embodying the true spirit of name, image, and likeness rules.
Sarkisian acknowledged the frustrations around Ewers sliding in the draft but praised the opportunity awaiting him in Miami. “At the end of the day, if I could have picked a place that I think is a great fit for him, I think Miami is a great fit,” Sarkisian stated, noting the pro-style offense and warm-weather environment as factors that should ease Ewers’ transition to the NFL.
The coach also challenged the narrative that players who stay in school and forgo NIL money are disadvantaged. “It’s ironic,” Sarkisian observed, “all of a sudden here’s a guy that said, ‘I want to leave a legacy at Texas and then go pro,’ and now they’re knocking him for not taking the money in college.”
He used Ewers’ decision as a testament to character, declaring, “In the end it wasn’t about chasing NIL—it was about the next part of his journey in the NFL.”
Ewers’ Enduring Impact: The Legacy Behind Texas’ Transformation
Sarkisian went beyond draft analytics to frame Ewers’ tenure at Texas as foundational for what the program has become. He reflected on the quarterback’s leadership, crediting him with recruiting peers and setting cultural standards. “He helped us recruit other players to come be part of our program,” Sarkisian said, adding that Ewers’ influence will be felt long after he leaves Austin.
Looking forward, Sarkisian expressed confidence in the Longhorns’ continued success under the standards Ewers helped establish. By pointing to the 28 players drafted during his four years, compared with 27 in the previous decade, Sarkisian painted a picture of a program transformed not just by wins, but by the developmental culture Ewers epitomized.
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Steve Sarkisian’s remarks in Houston offered clarity on Quinn Ewers’ draft slide and celebrated the quarterback’s contributions to Texas football. By defending Ewers’ character-driven choices and endorsing Miami as an ideal fit, Sarkisian underscored the broader values he seeks to instill: legacy, leadership, and readiness for life beyond college.
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