Pete Thamel addresses if Quinn Ewers will return to Texas in 2024

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is a potential first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, it sounds as if the redshirt sophomore might not be ready for his college football career to be over at the conclusion of this season.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel addressed Ewers’ future on ESPN College GameDay Saturday morning and shared that Ewers appears to be leaning towards returning to Texas for another year.

“Sources have told me that the chances of Quinn Ewers returning to Texas for the 2024 season have increased exponentially in recent weeks,” Thamel said. “Ewers is only 20 years old. He’s a redshirt sophomore. And today will mark his 21^st career start. There’s a burgeoning feeling in Ewers’ camp that an extra year of development would help his long-term success. NFL evaluators use 25 career starts as a line of demarcation for success.”

Quinn Ewers was ranked as the top quarterback and the No. 3 overall player in the country in the class of 2021, according to the On3 Industry rankings.

He signed with Ohio State out of high school, before transferring to Texas after one season.

In 2022, Ewers started 10 games, finishing with 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns. So far this year, he has thrown for 2,700 yards and 17 scores. Ewers still has the Longhorns in contention to reach the College Football Playoff this season, but regardless of how the year ends, it seems like there’s a good chance he will be back in Austin in 2024.

“Along with that added experience, next year’s NFL draft crop is much thinner than this year’s class,” Thamel said. “Ewers would obviously start at the head of that class.”

If Ewers does indeed return for another year, he would obviously love to be surrounded by talented playmakers. According to Thamel, Ewers appears to be trying to convince some top receivers to join him at Texas in 2024.

“He’s left some online breadcrumbs as to his intentions,” Thamel said. “He’s starting to follow some of the top receivers who have announced they’re going in the transfer portal on Monday. Expect a decision by Ewers in the upcoming days.”

First things first, though. Texas will play Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday at Noon. The Longhorns enter the matchup ranked No. 7 in the College Football Playoff rankings. With a win, Texas will be in the discussion for a playoff spot, thanks to its 12-1 record, Big 12 title and win over Alabama.