Sting Like a Second-Rounder: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

When we were last greeted by Texas quarterback (QB) Quinn Ewers he was putting a whoopin’ on QB Jalen Milroe and the Alabama Crimson Tide (ranked No. 3) last season.

The Longhorns ended up winning that game 34-24.

While there was speculation that Ewers would declare for the 2024 NFL Draft, he opted instead to return to Texas despite QB Arch Manning waiting in the wings.

That began my study of Ewers in preparation for the 2025 NFL Draft…

I wasn’t even at the 10:00 mark of the second quarter versus Rice on his 2023 game film when I saw my exact point about the overall mechanics of a QB.

In every instance, I watched Ewers set, plant, torque, and fire he was on. Every time his feet would float before, and he started the twisting force with his hip, he would misfire. This was especially true when he was hurried.

It’s not ‘happy feet’ in the sense that he’s afraid of being hit, it’s him rushing throws.

Background

After that shocking win over Alabama, he went 8-2 as the starter down the stretch for the Longhorns.

This included mixed results against ranked opponents beating No. 24 Kansas and No. 18 Oklahoma State while dropping contests to No. 12 Oklahoma and No. 2 Washington.

Ewers finished 2023:

• 272/394 (69.0%)
• 3,479 yards
• 22 touchdowns
• 6 interceptions
• Long of 73 yards
• Sacked 27 times

The Yanish Report

Tall and lanky looking. Not a scrambler, but willing to climb the pocket. Gunslinger. Swinging, dancing, footwork. Inconsistent throwing motion. His release has tightened up a bit since my last evaluation based on 2022 game film. Gets hurried setting up, his brain and body need to link up. Inconsistent accuracy. Great torque on intermediate to deep passes. Adds touch accordingly. Improv and off-schedule plays need tweaking. The guy was born to play this position. Torrid pace-setter. Fiery leader. Cocky. Deliberate.

For the win

Ewers needs to make a big leap forward in 2024. Whatever happens to him in the long run will be up to him. There is plenty of time for adverse moments to take shape.

The tools are there. The opportunity is there. The leader is there.

Without a doubt, this year will decide Ewers’ future. However, the hype could take over as it has with others before him.

It’s too bad Texas is not scheduled to play Alabama this coming season, but if they meet up with the Crimson Tide and Milroe in the playoffs, you might see me change the grade I am putting on him.

Without pulling any punches, Ewers needs to work on the clock in his head. He also needs to do everything he possibly can to correct that nasty habit in his footwork.

Ewers has a cocky streak that I absolutely love.

My BIG three questions

1. Can he lead this team to the College Football Playoffs (CFP) to break out in the SEC?

2. Will he take the next step with a new set of playmakers at skill positions?

3. Does he end up in the mix for the top QBs taken in the draft?

My 2025 NFL Draft Value: Second Round

2023 Game film evidence Texas (Jersey No. 3)

Rice

Alabama

Wyoming

Kansas

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

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