Steve Sarkisian reflects on growth of Quinn Ewers since leaving Ohio State

Quinn Ewers is having his college career come full circle on Friday. The former Five-Star Plus+ prospect signed with Ohio State coming out of high school, spending just a few months with the Buckeyes. Ewers decided to then enter the NCAA transfer portal and landed with Steve Sarkisian and Texas.

A few years later, he has his team in the College Football Playoff semifinal, facing off against Ohio State. It’s been a long-winded journey for Ewers and one he hopes to cap off with a national championship on Jan. 20.

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Sarkisian has been there for most of Ewers’ growth as a college player, speaking on it ahead of Friday’s Cotton Bowl. The quarterback has physically progressed but more importantly to Sarkisian, the mental and emotional development has stood out to the head coach.

“When we got him back, he was, in our eyes, still a freshman at that time,” Sarkisian said. “There’s been a lot of development. I would say physical development but I would probably also say mental and emotional development. To watch him grow into the leader that he’s grown into for us, the ability to have the poise and composure he has not only on the field but off the field to look at the face of adversity and come out on the other side of it time and time again… to being his best when his best was needed. I think that’s all a seismic from a maturity standpoint. Like I said, physically and mentally.”

These comments are off the back of Ewers throwing two important touchdowns in overtime against Arizona State. Without those, Texas would be at home, watching the CFP playout. But Ewers came through in the clutch despite a ton of momentum being on Arizona State’s side.

Sarkisian was impressed with the poise Ewers possessed just moments after the game went final, believing it spread throughout the entire roster.

“If I can be the model of composure and Quinn can be the model of composure and poise, that permeates throughout our team,” Sarkisian said at the Peach Bowl. “Some great plays. (Andrew) Mukuba with a great pick, Matt Golden, Gunnar Helm. Bunch of guys making big plays.”

Ewers will be hoping his growth and poise continue to close out the 2024 season. A highly-talented Ohio State is next up, with Notre Dame and Penn State potentially waiting on the other side.