Quinn Ewers isn’t just Texas’ QB—he’s their main event. The guy Longhorn fans can’t stop talking about. Even Steve Sarkisian bet big on Ewers, sticking by him through the ups and downs, and boy, did that gamble pay off. Remember that overtime thriller against Arizona State? Ewers didn’t just show up—he owned it. His opening drive touchdown still gives Longhorn fans goosebumps, and his smooth playmaking left the Sun Devils scrambling. Now, with a high-stakes Cotton Bowl showdown against Ohio State on the horizon, Ewers is riding high. But here’s the kicker: before he faces his old-school foes, he’s got a career-defining decision to make—declare for the NFL draft or run it back for another college season. And just to stir the pot, NFL vets Ocho and Shannon Sharpe dropped some opinions on the matter.

On3 Sports suggested on Tuesday that a unanimous school is calling a $6 million pitch to the Texas quarterback to enter the transfer portal amidst the huge career qualm. A lot of schools are waiting in line for their chance to pop out in the standout Texas QB’s shortlist. On the flip, the senior Texas QB has already planned to enter the 2025 NFL Draft after the season. A move that surprised no one but the NFL vet Ocho. The phenom thinks it’s not just the money that he should reconsider his NFL decision. Rather, it’s the utter need to make his draft stock stronger before turning pro.

“There’s something special about those individuals. So he needs to come back another year no matter no matter where it is and, you know, pop out on,” said the prized WR from Miami, Florida. The argument makes a lot of sense, as Ewers’ glaring issues have been a major concern for the Longhorns in their first year in the SEC. The veteran QB has been a force to be reckoned with outside the pocket. But he often gets locked on target and makes a lot of poor assumptions between the pre-snaps and post-snaps.

He needs to fine-tune his talent and be more consistent to be the special guy of the CFB. ”I don’t see special. I see a good college quarterback but I don’t see special. I don’t see, man, have a guy that’s like a boy. If they get him, he is great. He’s gonna drastically change their fortunes. I don’t see that,” Shannon Sharpe chimed in.

Burrow, the man Ewers was asked to look up to, is only 359 yards away from reaching 5,000 yards during the 2024 NFL season. Despite the injury horror, the Bengals’ QB sensation has put together some impressive numbers through his first five NFL seasons. But it would all have been a pen-and-paper plan if he hadn’t decided to come back for one last year at college back in 2019. “Now let’s see, he might come back and get better because nobody saw that if you ask the team, that was GNA. Look at Joe Burrow before he came back for another year. Joe Burrow didn’t seem special, but he came back for that year,” Sharpe added.

Ewers should sit and take notes, but he has a stronger strive to focus on what’s at hand first.

Quinn Ewers wants to shake off the Sugar Bowl gut-wrenching memory 

Ewers is well aware that his days with the Longhorns are going to be over in some time. Donning the Longhorns jersey would remain a far-fetched memory in his resume. But as they say, every good thing must come to an end, the QB doesn’t complain about that. All he wants is to end it on a high-flying note and finish the unfinished dream for his teammates, coach, and the school collectively. Last year, Texas has eaten up a crushing loss to Washington in the Sugar Bowl. Ewers signed up for another year but made a lot of bad plays, and average performance in between his signature highs.

Sarkisian, however, never stopped believing in his guy despite the rising Arch Manning comparisons. But the Sugar Bowl memory remains a snapshot in Quinn’s career. Only a national title can dodge that for good. He needs to take care of two more games, and the flower is all his.

It feels like you’re like an inch away from going to the national championship. It’s a hard pill to swallow,” said a dejected Ewers ahead of a decisive semi-final. The 21-year-old looks downright clunky sometimes. But he knows he has to be consistent in the final stretch because he doesn’t want history to repeat itself.
Ewers’s dream is to clinch a national title for the Longhorns for the first time since 2005. This dates back to the day when he was just three and refused to take off his favorite Texas hat. Hopefully, the last lesson will work as an eye-opening lesson for a die-hard fan, A-Lister QB’s final tribute to his school.