Texas QB Quinn Ewers recognized on Manning Award watch list
Texas junior quarterback Quinn Ewers was named to the preseason watch list for the Manning Award for the second-consecutive year, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Thursday. The award honors the nation’s top collegiate quarterback and is the only award that considers the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting.
[Sign up for Inside Texas and get the BEST Longhorns scoop!]
Texas Legends Vince Young (2005) and Colt McCoy (2009) are previous recipients of the award.
A native of Southlake, Texas, Ewers is a third-year quarterback who has led Texas to 16 wins in 22 starts in his career. His 5,656 career passing yards rank eighth all-time in Texas history and his 37 career passing touchdowns are tied for seventh. Ewers was also selected to the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
In 2023, Ewers completed 272-of-294 passes (69 percent) for 3,479 yards, 22 touchdowns and just six interceptions, while he rushed 59 times for 75 yards and five touchdowns. His 3,479 passing yards were fourth-most in a season in UT history and his 272 completions rank sixth. Ewers had six 300-yard passing games, which is tied for the most in a season in program history. Earning the Big 12 Championship’s Most Outstanding Player, Ewers completed 35-of-46 passes for 452 yards and four touchdowns, breaking the Big 12 Championship Game record and establishing career-highs for completions and passing yards, while also equaling the Big 12 Championship Game and his personal best with four touchdown passes. Ewers put together a sensational performance in Texas’ 34-24 victory at No. 3 Alabama on Sept. 9, 2023, receiving Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week, Maxwell Player of the Week, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and Davey O’Brien Quarterback of the Week honors after connecting on 24-of-38 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns to top the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. In the College Football Playoff semifinals versus No. 2 Washington at the Sugar Bowl, Ewers completed 24-of-43 passes for 318 yards and a score. On the season, he had at least one passing touchdown in each of his 12 starts and recorded six games with multiple passing touchdowns. Ewers was tabbed a 2023 AP All-Big 12 Second Team selection.
In his first season on the 40 Acres in 2022, Ewers was named honorable mention Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year by the league’s coaches after playing in and starting 10 games. Ewers completed 172-of-296 passes (58.1%) for 2,177 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions while his 2,177 passing yards were the fifth-most for a Texas freshman QB and the 22nd-most in Texas history. His 15 touchdown passes were the fourth-most in a season by a Texas freshman.
In addition to being named to the preseason watch list for the Manning Award, Ewers has been recognized on the Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny United Golden Arm Award, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year watch lists.
Inclusion on the watch list is not necessary for the quarterbacks to be selected for the honor. Transfers and other newcomers at schools were not eligible for the preseason watch list, but additional quarterbacks will be added to the watch list during the season. Finalists will be selected prior to the postseason, and the winner will be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship. In addition to the Manning Award’s yearly honor, each week during the regular season, eight quarterbacks will be recognized as Manning Quarterbacks of the Week.
[Subscribe to the Inside Texas YouTube channel and help get us to 10,000 subs!]
Ewers and the Longhorns kick off the season at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Aug. 31, at home against Colorado State. The game will air on ESPN from inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
(via Texas release)
