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Quinn Ewers gives direct answer on looming NFL Draft decision

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•about 9 hours•

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Quinn Ewers (Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Quinn Ewers (Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Quinn Ewers’ decision about the NFL Draft is sure to be one of the biggest storylines after Texas’ run to the College Football Playoff semifinals. When asked by ESPN’s Pete Thamel about whether he expects to play college football in 2025, Ewers didn’t hesitate.

Ewers is eligible to declare for the Draft after coming back for another season. But there’s been speculation that he could enter the transfer portal for one more year of eligibility. On3’s Pete Nakos previously reported tampering is at an “all-time high” with major NIL offers coming in for the Texas quarterback as he weighs his decision.

Speaking with Thamel, Ewers made his future plans abundantly clear. He doesn’t expect to play college football in 2025.

“No. I don’t,” Ewers told Thamel in an interview that aired on ESPN College GameDay Friday night.

Ewers previously said he hadn’t paid attention to that chatter, and he reiterated that to Thamel. He wanted to keep his focus on the task at hand, which is the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium.

“I hadn’t even paid attention to it,” Ewers said during his interview with Thamel. “I’m not really sure what’s going on.”

Ewers leads the SEC with 29 touchdowns to go with 3,189 yards entering Friday’s Cotton Bowl. He could’ve declared for the draft last year after Texas fell in the Sugar Bowl, but opted to run it back in 2024 with Arch Manning waiting in the wings.

Manning is on track to start next season, which adds to the intrigue around Ewers’ decision. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. took a strong stance last month, though, saying Ewers should enter the portal and stay in college if his draft grade doesn’t change. In his latest quarterback rankings, Kiper put Ewers at No. 5.

Quinn Ewers ‘one of the most divisive prospects’ in 2025 NFL Draft

After entering the year as one of the highest-rated players in the draft, Quinn Ewers’ stock fell. He remains one of the more intriguing prospects on the board if he officially declares for the draft, though, and Thamel said evaluations continue to differ.

“Quinn Ewers made it clear to us that he expects to go to the NFL Draft next year, and I’ve been told by his camp that’s the overwhelming expectation – whether that’s after tonight or whether that’s after Jan. 20 if the Longhorns advance to the national title game,” Thamel said after his interview aired.

“Really, Rece, it’s going to raise a fascinating question as Quinn Ewers is going to be one of the most divisive prospects in this upcoming NFL Draft. I had one scout tell me he sees him as a second-round pick. I had another tell me he sees him as a sixth-round pick. One GM told me he sees Ewers as a Top-100 guy, but his scouts have a ‘wild variance’ on where they are.”

However, an interesting ripple came up this week. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck opted to return to college, but entered the transfer portal and committed to Miami on Friday. That’s another quarterback off the board in a class headlined by Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward.

But with Beck out of the picture, there could be an opening for Ewers, Thamel said. Considering the amount of teams that need a quarterback, he might be able to build his stock back up during the pre-draft process.

“One thing really helps Ewers,” Thamel said. “Carson Beck is gone, and there’s no middle class. There’s also six really [quarterback]-needy NFL teams for the draft.

“So look for Quinn Ewers to rise in the process as teams get to know him better. I think playing for [Steve Sarkisian] is really going to help him on the board in those NFL meetings.”