Texas star quarterback Quinn Ewers has previously stated that Ohio State wasn’t a good fit for him, which led to his transfer to the Longhorns. In a recent interview with Baylor’s Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, Ewers elaborated on why things didn’t work out for him at Ohio State.
“I made great relationships at Ohio State and still have good friends there. But honestly, it was really cold up there, and we’re not used to that,” Ewers joked on RG3 and The Ones. “I have so many more resources here in Texas. Being from Dallas, I’m close to Austin, close to home, and family. It was just too far for me up there.”
After his junior year at Southlake Carroll High School, Ewers reclassified from the 2022 class to 2021, skipping his senior year to join Ohio State. Despite this, he remained the top recruit according to On3’s industry rankings. Ewers entered a quarterback room with CJ Stroud and Kyle McCord, but after a year in Columbus, the Dallas area native chose to return to his home state, and the rest is history.
Ohio State might not have been the best fit for Ewers, but at Texas under head coach Steve Sarkisian, he seems to be thriving. After leading Texas to the College Football Playoff in 2023, the former top recruit aims to go further in 2024 and bring the national championship back to Austin, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished in nearly 20 years.
Ewers on Arch Manning: Texas is ‘the best situation for him’
Sarkisian has maintained his strong recruiting performance at Texas, notably securing top recruit Arch Manning. Manning, the nation’s top prospect, chose to join the Longhorns despite knowing Quinn Ewers would be the starting quarterback in 2023. With Ewers opting to stay for another season, he will continue as the starter in 2024.
This means Manning will remain in a backup role. However, Ewers believes that Arch Manning, nephew of Peyton and Eli, is in a great position going into his sophomore year, now as QB2 behind Ewers.
Although Manning isn’t the starting quarterback at Texas yet, Ewers thinks another year as a backup will be beneficial for him in the long run. It’s not just about football; Manning will also continue to learn how to represent UT and deepen his understanding of Sarkisian’s system, preparing him for future success when he eventually leads the offense.
“I believe he benefits a lot,” Ewers told Griffin on RG3 and The Ones. “Coming in from outside the state, it’s a different experience for him. He has more time to develop his sense of pride and affection for the university. He clearly loves the university and supports the Longhorns, but having the opportunity to observe rather than play, I think, offers a different perspective. He can gain insights from both inside and outside perspectives, which I think will be really valuable for him.”
And then, obviously, another year to learn the offense and just get more comfortable within the smaller details. It’s, like, the best situation for him, I think.”
