'You can tell Quinn is in a different mode this year': Ewers' teammates note progress made during spring
As long as Texas football players are limited to popping pads with teammates instead of opponents, the competition between Longhorns is certain to remain at a high level in Steve Sarkisian‘s program.
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Quinn Ewers was introduced to that last year. Coming from Southlake Carroll and Ohio State, it probably wasn’t anything particularly foreign to him. But when he arrived at Texas in 2022, he thrust himself into the middle of the most high-profile competition a football team can have in a quarterback battle.
At some point during a UT practice last season, Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron intercepted Ewers. Barron wants to make that happen again this spring, but so far he’s had a hard time putting on a repeat performance.
“Me and Quinn, we had a little ‘altercation,’” Barron said Thursday. “Not like a mean altercation. It was one where we were competing and I said he would throw a pick.
“He was like ‘I won’t throw a pick.’ But I need a pick from him. I’ve been trying to get a pick from him, and I was supposed to have one today. I missed, just a little bit late.”
Barron was asked if the Ewers of 2022 would have even gotten into the friendly, non-physical “altercation” that more closely fit the description of light-hearted jawing among competitors than anything approaching a skirmish.
“We had it last year, but I picked him off last year,” Barron said. “I need that pick.”
Ewers has not only taken care of the ball during the spring, a spring where he enters and will likely exit as the No. 1 QB on the depth chart, he’s made plenty of plays for the Longhorn offense as well. Inside Texas mentioned on Friday he found Gunnar Helm for a touchdown while scrambling during a red zone drill.
His teammates, specifically those charged with stopping him during the 15 available March and April practices, have seen the elevation of his play.
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“Quinn, you can tell he’s come a long way, learning the defense and knowing what we’re playing,” Jerrin Thompson said on Thursday. “Even if we’re disguising on him, he does a good job of looking off the safeties. I can tell he’s come a long way in that aspect.”
Ewers’ improvement is a welcome development for Texas. Without Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, more responsibility for leading the offense on the field and the entire team in the locker room will fall upon Ewers.
During his first season in Austin, Ewers was inconsistent in his ability to do not only that, but other things required of quarterbacks at a Power 5 level and especially one of his recruiting profile. After admittedly lapsing in fundamentals upon his return from an injury suffered in the Alabama game last season, Ewers made significant strides, and not just in personal style. Those have been noticed by his teammates on offense.
“You can tell Quinn is in a different mode this year, the way he carries himself and the way he comes to the facility,” Ja’Tavion Sanders said Thursday. “He’s starting to be more of a leader. I’m loving the way he’s stepping up, for sure.”
Barron still wants to intercept Ewers, but until he does he gave the Longhorns’ second-year quarterback his due praise.
“He’s improved though,” Barron said. “His confidence went way up. He’s confident. He runs the ball when he needs to. He’s patient.”
However, when he gets his chance to record a turnover, he’ll make sure to let Ewers know.
“I haven’t picked him, but I need that one from him,” Barron said.
