Syllabus Week: Where Quinn Ewers, Ryan Watts, and Jahleel Billingsley should focus in semester one

The University of Texas started classes on Tuesday, meaning a group of transfers and early enrollees officially became Longhorn students and began preparing for the upcoming season.

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Monday’s Inside Scoop offered a brief outlook for each January arrival. This series looks to go into additional detail regarding what each transfer/early enrollee should emphasize during their first semester in Austin.

Quinn Ewers, QB

Joe Cook: Ewers’ career is a unique one already. He skipped his senior year at Southlake Carroll to begin his football career at Ohio State, with an eye also toward NIL opportunities. Learning the playbook and moving up a competitive depth chart within two weeks of arriving at Ohio State was going to be a tall task. Moving past CJ Stroud in the coming seasons? Even for someone as talented as Ewers, it was unlikely he would displace the Heisman finalist.

Even though Ewers didn’t play, he practiced and participated in activities with the Buckeye football team and worked in Ryan Day’s system. But with two or even three quarterbacks ahead of him, reps were precious in Columbus. Game opportunities even more so.

With Texas’ depth chart at quarterback now comprised of Hudson Card, Charles Wright, Ben Ballard, Maalik Murphy, and Cole Lourd, there will be opportunities for Ewers to quickly prove himself within the offense. There aren’t any Heisman finalist quarterbacks to block his path toward being QB1. Using those reps to create chemistry with Xavier Worthy and other receivers is where Ewers should place much of his focus.

Eric Nahlin: For the offense to take another step, Steve Sarkisian has to ensure consistent results from the quarterback position. In 2021 we saw far too many squandered opportunities for myriad reasons. While the program requires universal improvement, the quickest way to improve on-field results is through better quarterback play and decision-making. Will Ewers, in his first real playing time, provide that? Time will tell, but one thing’s for sure, defenses will have to defend the entire football field with him out there.

Ewers’ first task will be to win the job outright. While some fans have low expectations for Hudson Card, I’d caution writing him off. Did anyone happen to catch former UT quarterback Cam Rising versus Ewers’ old team? Rising was downright impressive in the Rose Bowl. Compare that to his previous spring game appearances at Utah where he had noticeable struggles. Quarterbacks grow and develop at different rates, just like everyone.

That said, Card is going to have to step it up because Ewers has the sorts of skills that fast-track to the field. His ability to anticipate windows and throw players open is very good. He’s also a great fit for the play-action passing game. He’s deadly in the RPO game. As such, Ewers has a higher floor in his first year than one might expect. Expect some bad gun-slinger moments, but also some clear-cut NFL throws for big plays.

Ryan Watts, DB

Joe Cook: Ewers wasn’t the only former Metroplex product to leave Columbus, Ohio and return to Texas to play for the state’s flagship university. Watts, who played in 12 games for the Buckeyes, elected to depart Ohio State following the regular season-ending loss to Michigan.

For Watts, there’s playing time available at corner opposite D’Shawn Jamison. However, he won’t be walking straight into the role. Kitan Crawford and Jahdae Barron, plus fellow Little Elm grad Terrance Brooks, will make the competition at corner an interesting one. His best chance to earn playing time would come through nailing down the defensive playbook, because Watts has many of the physical tools needed from today’s boundary corner.

Eric Nahlin: I was a big fan of his tape in high school but it wasn’t until I saw him at a 7 on 7 where I thought he could remain at corner in college. You just don’t see too many 6-foot-3 corners with the movement skills to stay outside. Watts embraces what he is and uses his size, length, and physicality to his advantage. He has good feet and reminds of a boxer with the ability to cut off the ring and direct receivers where he wants them to go.

Watts’ arrival allows the staff to tinker with the rest of the secondary. Expect new names to get looks at corner, and also at safety. He not only provides a front-line starter but also flexibility. Maybe corner wasn’t a need, but adding Watts is much more than a luxury.

Jahleel Billingsley, TE

Joe Cook: Akin to Ewers, Billingsley is joining a position group where there is no clear cut No. 1. Jared Wiley and Cade Brewer are gone, meaning the only tight ends on the roster, outside of the oft-injured Brayden Liebrock, were members of Texas’ class of 2021. Gunnar Helm and Juan Davis earned playing time last season but neither unseated Brewer or Wiley during the season.

Put simply, there’s plenty of playing time available for Billingsley. That’s part of why he ended up in Austin, that plus familiarity with the system and coaches.

The best way for Billingsley to claim the No. 1 spot at tight end is to go through this spring and summer like he’s scratching and clawing his way from the bottom of the depth chart. Though he was a quality option for Alabama, he wasn’t always a consistent part of the Crimson Tide’s game plan. He’ll likely be near the top of the tight end chart when the pads come on, but he can’t be complacent with that. Davis, Helm, and Ja’Tavion Sanders have shown they can be what Texas needs at tight end if they continue on their developmental track.

Eric Nahlin: To go along with this level of talent, expediting Billingsley’s ascent up the depth chart is the fact he should know the playbook as well, or better, than any other tight end on the roster.

Billingsley allows for Texas to become much more dynamic, whether in 11 personnel but especially when in 12 (two tight ends, one running back). He’s not just an RPO and stick-moving target, he can exploit space downfield and after the catch. His movement skills are on par with former Texas wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

As a tight end, Billingsley is a good-enough blocker. Coupled with his receiving ability, that should ensure he’s on the field enough to catch 40-50 balls and 8 touchdowns or so.

Billingsley lost his trajectory when Sarkisian left Alabama. Sarkisian lost player dynamism when he arrived at Texas. This is a perfect match as each party looks to regain what he lost in the last year.

Eric Nahlin co-authored this story.