The Yanish Snapshot of the Week: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

This week we are going to do something that might cause a little adversity. Imagine that. I cannot write about Shedeur Sanders every week, can I? Nope, instead this week is going to be about Texas quarterback (QB) Quinn Ewers.

Usually, with all of these “tuneup” games to start the college season, we’re not talking about upsets. The stage was set, but then No. 3 ranked Alabama was defeated by No. 11 ranked Texas.

Now I have found something to write about.

Turning our attention to Ewers

No one has time to worry until it’s too late. I have already put a preseason evaluation out on Ewers, but we’re going to take a deeper look into what this victory means to him as a player.

Normally, a quick trip to Tuscaloosa in September can be deflating to an up-and-coming QB.

However, with an absurd stat line of 24-of-38 (63%) for 349 yards, 3 touchdowns, no interceptions with a total quarterback rating (QBR) of 89.4, he certainly looked like a star.

At least for a day.

Game details

Relying mostly on his tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, Ewers did a good job spreading the ball around to eight different receivers. Nine, if you count himself when the ball was batted back in his face, and he still gained 3 yards.

What I learned when he was not catching his own passes, he was doing some pretty good things. Of course, I am not even sure where that throw to start the fourth quarter was actually going. Dropping dimes over the top of linebackers (LB) to the tight end is a soft place for me though.

In the game, it took until late in the third to get going when Alabama QB Jalen Milroe threw the go-ahead touchdown for their first lead, 16-13.

Trading some touchdowns with a Milroe interception, mixed in with some luck, and it ended 34-24. That’s what matters.

Ewers from a scouting perspective

Mechanics are a thing. A very important thing. Everything from timing with their footwork to the way that their thumb comes off the ball during the throwing release matters. Ewers’ mechanics were sloppy and his release was not much better against Alabama than my original write-up.

However, subtle improvements are showing.

Ewers is still lackadaisical while selling the play-action, but his deep ball looks a bit more confident.

Confidence is huge, as it should be.

If he gets any better in these departments consistently, I could see a team pulling the trigger early in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. How he gets there is all up to him now.

With the locks of sunshine gone, after getting that haircut, Ewers has certainly made some changes this offseason. His play says it, his whole aura says it. He now emulates a full-blown leader and a future NFL QB. General Ewers.

Before he gets that far though, he still has some tough competition coming up this college football season. The 2024 is loaded at QB. It’s a long season and a tough winter.

My previous third-round grade still stands. One game at the beginning of a season will not do much but get my attention. This is a dangerous team with a dangerous leader.

What does this mean to his legacy and how far can he go?

This is college football, man.

Game film evidence

Texas vs. Alabama

William Yanish III is a lifelong football fan. He’s from the little town of Crawford, Colorado. Along the way, he’s lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and Brookings, Oregon. Quarterback Joe Montana was his idol growing up. A little bit of CTE from life’s adventures killed his dreams as a football player. Now, he is an aspiring writer and Draft Analyst at FirstRoundMock.com. He’s a fanatic with a dream, which is coming true.