AUSTIN, Texas — Any intrigue in regards to the Texas quarterback race used to be briefly put to remains on Saturday, as Quinn Ewers seemed comfy and in command, consistent with teacher Steve Sarkisian.
“I thought Quinn was really efficient today,” Sarkisian mentioned next Saturday’s sport through which Ewers finished 16 of 23 passes for 195 yards and a landing, a jumping one-handed grasp by means of Georgia switch A.D. Mitchell. “I think it’s pretty clear to say that Quinn’s our starting quarterback and we feel very good about that.”
The rest of the highlights got here from redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy, who used to be enjoying in his first sport motion at Texas next being injured maximum of latter season and lacking the primary 5 practices this spring. He completed 9-of-13 for 165 yards, together with a 79-yard landing cross to freshman receiver Johntay Cook dinner. Arch Manning, who drew a immense ovation from the population upon getting into the sport, used to be 5-of-13 for 30 yards and ceaselessly didn’t have a lot month to throw.
Ewers, who had an up-and-down first season in Austin, mentioned he took a unutilized technique to preparation this offseason next feeling like he didn’t are living as much as his doable latter season when he threw for two,177 yards with 15 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He appeared at the verge of a breakout in opposition to Alabama prior to struggling an trauma that sidelined him for 3 video games prior to he returned with 4 touchdowns in a 49-0 win over Oklahoma. However he additionally struggled now and then, like in opposition to TCU, when he had 11 off-target passes in a 17-10 loss and handed for 171 yards and an interception. Ewers’ 64.3 QBR ranked 53rd nationally.
“I wasn’t where I wanted to be last year,” he mentioned. “I feel like I let most of the fans down, and I don’t want to be in that same situation this year.”
Sarkisian mentioned previous this spring that Ewers had gotten in higher condition. He additionally snip off his trademark mullet and wiped clean up his beard, with Sarkisian noting that it additionally had the additional benefit of population taking him extra severely.
Ewers mentioned he’s going into this summer season with the most productive mindset he’s ever taken into an offseason.
“Obviously, something had to change if I wanted to end up where I want to be in the future,” he mentioned. “I’m starting right here. I’m eating a lot better. I’m doing all the small things a lot harder, and I’m excited.”
The Longhorns’ extensive receivers had been a spotlight for Sarkisian, who abruptly has a loaded room to assistance bolster an offense that lacked deep-ball consistency latter season, one thing Sarkisian has emphasised this spring.
Mitchell’s one-handed landing catch excited Ewers and Sarkisian, they usually’re thinking about what the offense may also be with their unutilized additions to proceed along established starters like Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington and tight finish JT Sanders, who had 613 yards and 5 touchdowns as a real freshman latter date.
“A.D. Mitchell is an explosive athlete and we haven’t gotten him all 15 practices this spring but got him going today,” Sarkisian mentioned. “That explosiveness that he has, in combination with Xavier with Jordan, with JT? That’s a problem.”
Cook dinner, the freshman who stuck the deep ball from Murphy, has additionally been remarkable this spring, as has DeAndre Moore, any other unutilized face. The combo of all the ones retailers provides Sarkisian hope that he can recovery the Longhorns’ passing sport and provides Ewers extra to paintings with.
“You’re like the kid who gets a bunch of new toys at Christmas and then you still have those other toys that you love playing with,” Sarkisian mentioned. “So now, our job is to make sure that we craft an offense that allows all of those guys to play to their potential and to do the things that they do really well.”
