Anonymous Big 12 Coordinators on Quinn Ewers: ‘I Don’t Think He’s As Good’ as Other Big 12 QBs
No Big 12 team has more hype or a higher ceiling than Texas heading into 2023, but one could argue that no team has done less with more than the Longhorns over the last decade and a half.
Despite being one of the top recruiting teams in the nation every year, Texas has failed to live up to the preseason hype for a long time now. The limiting factor for the Longhorns has often been quarterback play. However, folks around the program feel that it’s going to be different this time around, and it’s because of Quinn Ewers. While that might be the case in Austin, it’s not the sentiment in other camps.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg recently published an article in which anonymous Big 12 coaches weighed in on Quinn Ewers heading into 2023, and they don’t seem convinced that he is the answer.
“You can see the talent, and I hear that he’s changed,” a Big 12 defensive coordinator told ESPN. “I don’t think he’s where those other three [Daniels, Howard, Gabriel] are yet. Could he be? Yes. He’s got talent and he’s got a hose, but you’d have to project that one.”
When comparing Ewers to the top players at his position in the Big 12, this coach doesn’t seem to think too highly of the Texas QB just yet. The thing is, the pressure’s on for Ewers in 2023, because there are two guys behind him that are ready to showcase what they’ve got. With Arch Manning and Maalik Murphy both waiting in the wings, there’s not much room for error with Ewers before Longhorn fans will start to get impatient.
“Damn man, it’s really hard to not be successful when you’ve got all those weapons around you,” a Big 12 defensive coordinator told ESPN. “Last year, they were really solid at running back, so you don’t put a lot of pressure on your quarterback. They’re going to be finding their way a little bit. I know he’s going to get a lot of hype and all that, but I don’t think he’s as good [as other Big 12 QBs].
“I would watch for the other kid [Manning] to unseat him at some point.”
That’s about as blunt as it gets, but the anonymous coach has plenty of leg to stand on in the argument against Ewers. In 2022, Ewers started 10 games as a redshirt freshman, and completed 58.1% of his passes for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns with six interceptions. His QBR of 64.8 ranked 53rd nationally, which doesn’t quite align with his billing as arguably the top quarterback prospect ever.
With those kinds of expectations and a talent like Arch Manning behind him, it didn’t take many mistakes before Ewers found himself at the center of speculation. Will that be the case as they get into the season? Only time will tell.
Texas will start off the 2023 season against Rice on September 2 but will need to get everything squared away in Week 1. That’s because, in Week 2, UT will hit the road and head to Tuscaloosa to face No. 4 Alabama.
