Quarterback power rankings: Best college football quarterbacks of 2019
5. Sam Ehlinger, Texas
Sam Ehlinger was always the better fit to play quarterback under head coach Tom Herman than Shane Buechele. With the arm talent and more mobility, he was able to create plays outside the pocket and yank the starting job away, which forced Buechele to transfer after the 2018 college season.
Texas had their most promising season in years with Ehlinger at the helm as a true sophomore, finishing with over 3,200 yards, 25 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 64.7 completion percentage. He added another 462 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, which was 13 higher than the next highest on the Longhorns.
Ehlinger was the heart and soul of this Texas team. While the defense contributed to much of their success, the 6-foot-3 standout kept the offense afloat and single-handedly won games along the way.
Most impressively, Ehlinger went two-plus months without throwing an interception. Most of his games along the way were for over 200 yards and multiple touchdowns, as well, including five in the Red River Rivalry win over Oklahoma that put him on the map.
The junior will look to take Texas back to the Big 12 Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. Both are within reach, but the Sooners, and other top offenses lie ahead as roadblocks towards reaching the pinnacle of success.