Quinn Ewers on Steve Sarkisian naming him starter: It's definitely a big confidence boost

There are plenty of reasons for optimism for Texas heading into the 2023 college football season. The Longhorns return plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, including starting quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Speaking of Ewers, he joined ESPN on Wednesday at Big 12 Media Days and discussed how the team is feeling ahead of the upcoming season. Needless to say, the Longhorns are confident.

“I can see the difference in how we carry ourselves, whether it’s summer workouts or spring ball, just I think this offseason we really bought in to what the players are saying, what the coaches are saying and really we’re just all on the same page,” Ewers said. “I’m ready for the season.”

Ewers had an up-and-down first year in Austin as he passed for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 starts.

Texas finished 6-4 in Ewers’ 10 starts, but the Longhorns and Ewers should be improved this year. Ewers added that his confidence is at an all-time high as head coach Steve Sarkisian has spent much of the offseason talking him up.

“It’s definitely a big confidence boost, for sure, for the head coach to believe in you,” Ewers said. “Not only him but the players, as well. It’s a huge confidence boost. Year 2 has definitely so far been a lot more comfortable for me. I’m really settling in. I’ve been building great friendships. Ultimately we all want to play for each other so that only helps.”

Steve Sarkisian shares key to Quinn Ewers’ offseason development

As mentioned, Steve Sarkisian has been very complimentary of Quinn Ewers this offseason.

That includes when he recently appeared on the Always College Football. Sarkisian knows that Ewers needs to continue to grow as a player, but he expects that to happen.

“I think two things,” Sarkisian said. “One, Quinn is really coachable and he’s always been very coachable since the day he got here. So, that’s helpful when you don’t get that resistance. I think, two, Quinn’s ultra competitive, like every great quarterback, and he wants to be the best player he can be.”

One thing that made Quinn Ewers so notable is that he reclassified from the Class of 2022 to the Class of 2021, all the while being a five-star quarterback. He then went to Ohio State before transferring to Texas. All of that was while he was still high school-aged.

So, as Sarkisian explained, Ewers was basically a freshman in 2022.

“Sometimes, early on, in my mind, he was a freshman last year, basically. He graduated high school early but did it too late and kind of, it was an awkward situation at Ohio State. Inevitably, there was a big learning curve for him, just about the game, the speed of the game, the nuances of our offense, and sometimes when you don’t know all the nuances and you don’t have all the answers, that can make you feel a little less urgent because your brain is trying to work. So, your body is trying to slow down to keep up with the brain,” Sarkisian said.

“I think that his understanding of what we’re trying to do and why we’re doing what we’re doing has allowed him to play more urgent. And I do agree with you. I think that the details and the minutiae of the position is something that he sees value in now and he’s really putting in the time to make it all come together.”