The Touchdown Play: Quinn Ewers finds Isaiah Neyor for a deep strike
A lot of Texas faithful wanted to see how Quinn Ewers looked within the Longhorn offense during Saturday’s Orange-White Game. Specifically, they sought evidence to show what warranted his Five-Star Plus+ ranking as the 2021 class’ No. 1 overall prospect according to the On3 Consensus.
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In the early portions of the scrimmage, Ewers gave the burnt orange faithful what they were looking for, linking up with fellow transfer Isaiah Neyor in the process.
“I think we all saw the big post for the touchdown,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “That was a heck of a throw to Neyor.”
Ewers, operating with the first team offense in 12 personnel against the second team defense in a base look, takes the shotgun snap from the 38-yard-line and fakes a handoff to Keilan Robinson. Robinson, along with tight ends Jahleel Billingsley and Gunnar Helm, stay in to block, leaving Neyor and Xavier Worthy as the only two receivers running downfield.
Worthy runs a deep cross while Neyor runs a post from the boundary with Jamier Johnson matched up against him. The play fake gives Ewers plenty of time in the pocket, and Billingsley acts as his personal protector against a charging Jett Bush.
Whether it was the play fake, Worthy running in front of them, or some other reason, the safeties, playing quarters coverage, are flummoxed by the play. Neyor has the footspeed to zoom past Johnson, but he’s extremely deep downfield at that point.
That’s no problem for Ewers. He throws from his own 30-yard-line and hits Neyor in stride on the defense’s 16-yard-line, a perfect throw that traveled 54 yards through the air. Neyor runs untouched into the end zone for what goes down as a 62-yard strike.
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“I think that’s one of many many touchdowns by them two,” Jordan Whittington said. “Neyor, his range is ridiculous. When you’ve got a guy you can count on for 50-50 balls and it’s always going to be him? That’s a good thing to have. Quinn, he’s made some throws. Y’all saw them. Really good throws.”
Not every throw was perfect. Ewers threw an pass intended for Casey Cain that Anthony Cook picked off. Hudson Card had his ups, but he had his share of downs as well.
Either way, Sarkisian wanted to give each quarterback chances to make plays within the offense.
“I wanted to give the quarterbacks enough opportunities to play the variety of the plays: the advantage throws, the RPOs, the dropback pass, the play action pass to kind of see that and learn them,” Sarkisian said. “I thought we were able to do it. I thought in the end, sometimes you don’t get the coverage you’re looking for to maybe take the shot or throw the RPO, but I think I learned a little tonight.”
With that throw Ewers completed to Neyor, everyone watching at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium and at home on Longhorn Network learned about the former Southlake Carroll quarterback’s arm, and saw a glimpse as to why he was such a sought-after portal commodity for Sarkisian and company.
