Texas football: Steve Sarkisian kills suspense, finally names starting QB

Texas football head coach Steve Sarkisian has picked Quinn Ewers as his starting quarterback.

Steve Sarkisian has killed the suspense in Austin, as he has named Quinn Ewers the starting quarterback of his second Texas football team.

Ewers transferred to Texas after handing the ball off twice during his reclassified true freshman year in Columbus. The former five-star from Southlake beat out Hudson Card for the starting job out of Longhorns camp. Texas will host the ULM Warhawks in Week 1 before Sarkisian’s former employer shows up at DKR in Week 2. Ewers gives them the best chance to beat the Crimson Tide.

This move felt inevitable, as Card split time with Casey Thompson last season before the latter decided to transfer to Nebraska this past offseason.

While naming Ewers the starting quarterback was not the least bit shocking, Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman says the manner in which this all went down was rather odd.

Clearly, there is no time for tact when you are “all gas, no brakes” like Sarkisian claims to be.

Texas football: Steve Sarkisian names Quinn Ewers his starting quarterback

Let’s be real. The only way Card was going to beat out Ewers for the starting job is if he was undeniably better than him during camp and in spring practice before that. All things equal, Ewers would get the nod for two massive reasons. One, he has a higher ceiling than Card as a college quarterback. And two, it would create two years of separation between Ewers and Arch Manning.

The expectation is for Manning to redshirt in 2023, with Ewers pushing towards being a first-round prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft. Manning has to get caught up to speed after playing against lesser high school competition in his native New Orleans. Ewers played against the big boys in his Texas high school days and saw first-hand what great Big Ten football really looks like.

Ultimately, Texas has a better chance of going somewhere around 8-4 with Ewers running the offense over Card. Heck, if Ewers is as good as advertised, Texas can win around 10 games, get to Arlington and push for the New Year’s Six. Ewers transferred to Texas to not only be closer to home, but also to start games. With him getting the nod, Texas is now a must-watch on Saturdays.

Sarkisian may have preferred to keep this one closer to the vest, but he made the right call here.

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