Position Group Spotlight: Quarterbacks
The Texas quarterback room this season is as deep as it’s been in a while, with sophomore Quinn Ewers leading the way. Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press
Quinn Ewers, QB1 (So.)
Quinn Ewers came into the 2023 season as the clear starter and a developing leader in the locker room. He received high praise from head coach Steve Sarkisian throughout the offseason about his progression at the quarterback position. Longhorn fans have been waiting for Quinn to make that breakthrough and be the type of leader that can take this team to new heights under Sark. Thus far through 3 games of the season, he has shown flashes of that while also showing the type of inconsistency that we saw in his first year as a starter last season.
Ewers hails from Southlake, Texas and was born in San Antonio. He had a decorated high school career at Southlake Carroll and came away as the top overall recruit of his 2022 class. Still just 20 years old, his route to becoming QB1 at Texas has been a circuitous one. Initially committing to Texas during the tenure of Tom Herman, Ewers then de-committed and eventually landed at Ohio State.
In one season in Columbus, Ewers played in only one game, recording zero official stats in just two snaps. Thus, in December of 2021, Quinn Ewers chose to play for the Longhorns once again - this time for good. He joined the Horns as a transfer eligible immediately and got to work during the 2022 offseason, eventually establishing himself as the starting QB going into that season.
Ewers came out of the gates with a solid debut against ULM and then was lighting up the Alabama defense in just his second game as a starter. Recording 134 passing yards on 9/12 attempts in the 1st quarter alone, Quinn then suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out of the rest of the game, which the Longhorns ultimately lost 20-19. This would prove to be a longer term injury as he missed each of the next 3 games. Coming back for the Red River showdown with Oklahoma, Ewers had his best game as a Longhorn, throwing for 289 yards and 4 TDs in a 49-0 win.
The rest of the season proved to be rocky for both the Horns and for Ewers, as Texas finished 8-5 and its quarterback struggled to find the kind of rhythm he had established against the Sooners. Quinn finished the 2022 season with a 6-4 record, completing just 58% of his passes for 15 TDs and 6 INTs. He had notable struggles against the Oklahoma State Cowboys and TCU Horned Frogs.
As of the first 3 games of the 2023 season, Ewers’ stat line reads as follows: 54/89 for 740 yards, 8 TDs and 0 INTs, throwing in 2 rushing TDs. Quinn ranks as the #30 QB in the nation in Total QBR, but it has been a tale of two Ewers. At his best, Quinn is the type of player that went into Bryant-Denny Stadium and picked apart the Crimson Tide defense, leading Texas to their first win over a top 3 AP ranked team since 1969. When the lights have not been as bright and the opponent not as notable, Ewers has looked pedestrian. He has continued to make mistakes such as overthrowing, missing timings, throwing into double coverage, and missing the deep ball - mistakes that plagued him in 2022.
As the season goes on, I expect Ewers to continue to develop and to establish greater consistency game over game. We know the talent is there and the ability to perform in big moments is evident - whether or not he can do it against all of Texas’ 2023 opponents will factor heavily in the Longhorns’ chances to meet their goals of being conference champions and national title contenders.
Maalik Murphy has garnered a lot of attention from scouts and fans around college football prior to the 2023 season. Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press
Maalik Murphy, QB2 (Fr.)
Maalik Murphy is redshirt freshman who earned the #2 spot on the QB depth chart ahead of the 2023 season. Having had a good offseason while dazzling fans and other teams in the Longhorns’ spring football game, Murphy has built a decent reputation as a potential solid backup option for Texas in 2023 should the Horns need to call upon him. Thus far, he has registered one game of action, completing 3/5 passes for 40 yards in the season opener vs. Rice.
Born in Inglewood, California, Murphy went to high school at Junípero Serra (Gardena) where he was recruited as a 4-star, leading his team to a state championship title in class 1-A.
Standing at 6 ft. 5 in. and 238 lbs., Maalik is an absolute unit and an imposing figure for opposing defenses to try and stop. He has also showcased his arm strength on a few throws throughout the spring and the Rice game that give excitement for his potential. Despite his lack of experience in game action, Longhorn fans can be encouraged that they have a potential star in waiting should the need arise for him to be thrust into any games throughout conference play. I believe the future is bright for this 19 year old, and should Ewers jump to the NFL draft after this season, Murphy could be looking at the starting job for 2024.
The hype around Arch Manning is palpable for Texas, but will he have the game to match the name? Photo: Getty Images
Arch Manning, QB3 (Fr.)
Arch Manning came into the 2023 season as a true freshman and earning the #3 spot on the QB depth chart - well, technically he’s in an -OR- position with Maalik Murphy for the #2 spot, but seeing as he has yet to see game action while Murphy has, I am considering him QB3. Through 3 games of the season, Manning has not taken a snap for the Texas Longhorns. This is not terribly surprising, as many fans expected Arch to see limited action this season as he develops under Sark’s tutelage and the more veteran presence of Ewers and even Murphy. Sarkisian remarked that he had wanted to get Manning into the game against Rice, but the right opportunity hadn’t presented itself.
Manning was born in New Orleans, Louisiana where he attended Isodore Newman High School. As the son of Cooper Manning and thus nephew of NFL stars and Super Bowl winners Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch garnered a ton of media attention but also drew the attention of scouts for his play on the field. By the time of his commitment, Manning was a 5-star and the #1 overall recruit in the nation for the 2023 class, earning a perfect 100 rating from 247Sports. In a highly anticipated recruitment, Arch ultimately chose to attend The University of Texas and play for the Longhorns.
Arch will likely be in a battle with Maalik Murphy for the starting position heading into the 2024 season, should both players choose to stay with the Horns. The future of the quarterback position at Texas appears to be in good hands with Manning, and if the results are anything close to the hype, it’s going to be a fun ride.
Hook ‘em
