Steve Sarkisian gives blunt assessment of Quinn Ewers play in spring game

One of the biggest storylines of the Texas Orange and White spring game Saturday night is the quarterback competition. Quinn Ewers and Hudson Card are competing for the starting job, and both are in action Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

During the spring game, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian spoke with the Longhorn Network about both quarterbacks’ performances, particularly Ewers’ first few sequences. He threw a beautiful 60-yard touchdown pass, but then proceeded to throw an interception.

Sarkisian offered a blunt assessment of the performance so far.

“I thought so far, up until the last throw, they were making good decisions, throwing the ball where it needed to go,” Sarkisian said. “I thought Quinn might have forced one there, but that’s part of the growing pains. He made a great throw on the touchdown, then comes back and throws a pick. So we’ve just got to keep working through it.”

Texas isn’t keeping score for the game, but Sarkisian said he liked what he saw from the offense early on. He also pointed out the defense needs to shore up a bit, but getting Ewers to throw an interception was a good sign.

“I think the first offense is moving the ball really well,” Sarkisian said. “[It has] been effective, created some explosive plays. … I thought the first drive of the first defense, we were a little shaky. Then they settled in the last two drives and obviously created a turnover, that was big.”

Landing Ewers was a major transfer portal victory for Sarkisian this offseason. Ewers initially committed to Texas out of high school, but re-classified to the Class of 2021 to enroll at Ohio State. After playing just a few snaps for the Buckeyes — without throwing a pass — he went back home to Texas. Once he hit the portal, he became the No. 6 transfer on the open market, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.

Quinn Ewers connects with Isaiah Neyor on a deep touchdown pass

On Saturday afternoon, Texas fans are getting their first glimpse of one of the most highly acclaimed prospects in the modern recruiting era, quarterback Quinn Ewers. It didn’t take long for him to connect with one of his teammates on a deep shot, former Wyoming wide receiver Isaiah Neyor.

EWERS to NEYOR. SWEET LAWDT. #HookEm @InsideTexas pic.twitter.com/TFkRdcfYLM

— Justin Wells (@justinwells2424) April 23, 2022

The gifted signal-caller led Southlake Carroll to the Texas 6A state championship game in January 2021. His team lost to Westlake and five-star quarterback Cade Klubnik. (Austin, Texas) 52-34. In 2019, he was named the MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year. He guided Southlake Carroll to a 13-1 record and a Texas 6A state quarterfinal appearance.