Quinn Ewers, one of the top quarterbacks in college football and projected first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, currently plays for the Texas Longhorns in the Big 12. He joined the team in 2022 after serving as a backup at Ohio State for his freshman season. Known for his exceptional throwing ability, he has led the Longhorns to a remarkable start in 2023.
However, people have wondered why Ewers transferred from Ohio State and what motivated him to make that decision.
Why Quinn Ewers Transferred to Texas
Ewers was one of the most highly touted quarterback prospects in college football history. He was the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2021, earning a near-perfect grade from top recruiting services. It was huge for Ohio State to land Ewers, but he transferred to Texas after just one semester.
There are a few reasons why Ewers transferred to Texas only a few months after enrolling at Ohio State early.
He transferred to Texas to be closer to home. Ewers is from Southlake, Texas, just a short drive from Austin. He said he wanted to be closer to his family and friends than what Columbus offered, and it’s not surprising that a 17-year-old might get homesick.
He chose to play for the team he grew up rooting for. Ewers has been a Texas Longhorns fan his whole life. He has said that it was a dream come true to be able to play for the Longhorns.
It is believed that Ewers left Ohio State because he could not compete with incumbent starter C.J. Stroud, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist. Ewers would likely have been a backup again in 2022 as Stroud finished his career before jumping to the NFL.
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At Texas, Ewers knew he had to compete for the starting job with Hudson Card, but it was always just a matter of time until Card was moved to the bench.
In addition to the above reasons, a few other factors may have contributed to Ewers’ decision to transfer.
First and foremost, Ewers wanted to capitalize on the NCAA’s recently enacted rule that allowed athletes to make money from NIL deals.
Texas is one of the most lucrative states for NIL deals, but when he opted for the $1.4 million NIL deal at Ohio State, Texas had not legalized the athlete’s ability to cash in. Ewers has reportedly signed several NIL deals since transferring to Texas.
Ewers also quickly built a close relationship with Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. Sarkisian has played a major role in grooming several high-profile quarterbacks throughout his career.
He has worked with renowned players like Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, both of whom won the Heisman Trophy during their time with USC.
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Additionally, he has also helped develop several NFL players, including Mark Sanchez, John David Booty, and Matt Cassel, who were part of the Trojans team. More recently, he worked with Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones at Alabama.
Now, as Ewers becomes draft-eligible after this season, it appears as though his decision to go home to Texas has paid off. He’s in the mix to land in our top-five quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft.