Category: Texas Football

Texas QB Quinn Ewers set to help unveil College Football 25

Gameday Showcase for ‘College Football 25’ to include Texas QB, Quinn Ewers

In less than a week the world will essentially be shut down as the highly anticipated ‘College Football 25‘ is released. Over the past few weeks, EA Sports has been releasing features and adding snippets of gameplay to help build the hysteria, but this weekend will be our first chance to truly see the game in action.

On both Saturday and Sunday, EA Sports has assembled a cast of superstars ranging from players in the game like Colorado Buffaloes QB Shedur Sanders to other celebrities like LeBron James and Tim Tebow to stream the game on Twitch. It will be our first chance to see the gameplay in real life with everyone competing in a head-to-head style format. The full list of times and matchups will be unveiled later in the day.

Among the people participating in the Gameday Showcase will be Texas Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers. Alongside Ewers and Sanders, Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Michigan Wolverine’s Donovan Edwards will be the only other two players participating.

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CBS Sports evaluates the job security of all 134 FBS head coaches

How secure is Steve Sarkisian’s job as Texas enters the SEC?

In college football, the reality of the matter is coaches don’t last long, especially in the Southeastern Conference. Only Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoop and Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart have been at their current school for more than five years with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and Texas A&M Aggies all having new coaches in 2024.

After a 5-7 record in his first year with the Texas Longhorns, including a 3-6 record in the Big 12, people weren’t sure if Steve Sarkisian was the man for the job. However, Sarkisian was able to right the ship in 2022 with an 8-5 record and an Alamo Bowl appearance. But, it was 2023 that instilled the belief in Sarkisian as he guided Texas to a 12-2 record with a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth.

Going into the upcoming season, CBS Sports evaluated the job security of all 134 FBS coaches in tiers from “win or be fired” to “untouchable.” CBS Sports places Sarkisian as one of just 13 coaches in the untouchable tier. With a conference title, Playoff berth, and contract extension all coming within the past year, Sarkisian’s job won’t truly be in jeopardy if they struggle in their first year in the SEC.

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College Football 25 unveils Texas QB Arch Manning’s overall rating

You’ll be shocked to see Longhorns QB Arch Manning’s overall rating in ‘College Football 25’

It’s still hard to believe, but EA Sports’ new video game ‘College Football 25‘ is set to be unveiled next Friday after nearly a decade of absence. Social media has been on fire over the last week in anticipation of the game with all sorts of new features and details being released by the creators.

Initially, Texas Longhorns backup QB Arch Manning had announced that he would not be in the game, but he reversed course a few days ago and announced he would be in ‘College Football 25’ after all. It was later revealed that Manning was offered about “50-60k” to promote the game as well as a free copy of the game.

It has now been unveiled that Manning will be an 87 overall ranking in the new game making him one of the highest-ranked quarterbacks in the game. With Quinn Ewers as a 92 on the roster as well, the Longhorns will be one of the most fun teams to play with in the new game.

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Two Longhorns featured in ‘College Football 2025’ top 100 reveal

Two Texas Longhorns rated as Top 100 players in ‘College Football 25’

EA Sports is set to release ‘College Football 25’ on Jul. 16 after over a decade hiatus from NCAA-related video games. It is one of the most highly anticipated games of the last couple of years with social media already buzzing with excitement.

As part of the build up for the release, ‘College Football 25’ has released several cool features and teasers to help build the hysteria. EA Sports appears to have done a great job with the game including adding team traditions, tough road environments, and many other real-life factors.

The team rankings had been previously released, but ‘College Football 25’ just announced the Top 100 players in the game which features two Texas Longhorns. Quarterback Quinn Ewers is the No. 27 ranked player in the game and a 92 overall and offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is the No. 13 ranked player with a 94 overall. It was a bit of a surprise to not see wide receiver Isaiah Bond on the list, but by the end of the year, he will likely be one of the more impactful players in the game.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Two Longhorns to have a chance at being the No. 1 pick in 2025 NFL draft

Which two Texas players will have a chance to be the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft according to ESPN?

There is no greater honor in college football than winning the Heisman Trophy or being selected No. 1 overall in the NFL draft.

The Texas Longhorns are as storied of a program as any in all of college football, yet since the first NFL draft in 1936, only three former Longhorns have been top picks in the draft with Tommy Nobis in 1966, Earl Campbell in 1978, and Kenneth Sims in 1982.

However, ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid thinks that Texas may have their fourth top overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft as he breaks down the top options in the class (subscription required). Reid tabs QB Quinn Ewers as a serious contender with a 12% chance to go No. 1 while ranking OT Kelvin Banks Jr. as a potential riser with a 6% chance of being the top pick.

Quarterback Quinn Ewers

Ewers’ draft status is as intriguing as any with draft grades ranging from day one to day three, but there is no question he has as much raw talent as anyone in the country. After all, he was one of the highest-rated recruits of all time, and I think 2024 is the year he puts it all together. Reid argues his case as the top pick saying,

“Ewers came to Texas in 2022 with massive expectations and immediately took the starter reins. But an inconsistent 2023 season leaves him with a murky draft projection.

I’m hearing primarily late-Day 2 or even early-Day 3 grades from scouts right now, but it’s early. And considering he’s my QB3, he has to be in consideration for the top pick if he can piece together a really good prove-it season. The decision to return to school was the right one for Ewers, and he now gains another year of needed experience and tries to build on his positive moments shown last season.”

Offensive Tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.

Banks, on the other hand, may have a case as the best overall player in the country, but unfortunately, we are in a day and age where linemen rarely go in the top five of the draft. Banks would be the first linemen to go No. 1 overall since Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher was the top pick back in 2013. Reid says of Banks’ chances to be the top pick,

“Banks has been one of the more consistent linemen in the country. As the starter at left tackle since arriving on campus (1,788 total snaps), he has allowed only two sacks across two seasons.

At 6-foot-4 and 324 pounds, Banks is an overwhelming run-blocker, but it’s his movement skills that really set him apart from his counterparts in this class. His light feet can be a positive or a negative, though; while it allows him to stick on pass-rushers, he too often attempts to out-finess the opposition rather than trusting his technique. That gets him into trouble against more polished edge rushers.

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Texas football viewed as a top program over the next three years

What do the optics tell us about Texas over the next three seasons?

It is still yet to be seen how the Texas Longhorns will be able to manage their transition to the SEC, however, all signs indicate that they are ready to go.

A large part of that credit must go to head coach Steve Sarkisian who inherited a program that felt like it was rowing upstream and has turned Texas into genuine national title contenders within three years. He has completely flipped the culture around the program and the program is in the best spot it’s been since the Mack Brown era.

The talent has never been better on the Forty Acres with QB Quinn Ewers receiving first-round mock grades and backup/future QB Arch Manning being widely regarded as a generational talent. Texas is going to continue dominating on the recruiting trail and when you factor in that the Longhorns are coming off a Big 12 title and CFP berth, nothing indicates that they plan on going anywhere anytime soon. Especially not with NIL in the mix now.

CBS Sports college football analyst Josh Pate ranked his top 15 programs over the next three years factoring in several things from coaching, recruiting, NIL ability, and much more. Pate ranked the Longhorns No. 5 on the list saying,

“Texas recruiting, you see what they’re doing. Portal, you have seen and will continue to see what they’re doing, resources they take a backseat to no one. The pedal is fully down on the floor board, they’ll do whatever it takes to win.”

Check out the full clip from Pate:

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Former Texas wideout to appear in ‘College Football 25’ as Ultimate Alumni player

New ‘College Football 25’ game mode to bring back one former Longhorn wideout.

The anticipation for ‘College Football 25’ gets even crazier as each day passes. At this point, my entire timeline on X is just praying the next week and a half fly by to end the game’s 11-year hiatus.

The Texas Longhorns are going to be one of the fan favorites in the game as they are the No. 5 ranked team with a 92 grade overall. It certainly helps that the Longhorns have the best QB-WR duo in college football with third-year starter Quinn Ewers and Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond.

There are still a lot of really cool features coming out about the game with just nine days until its release, but one of those additions will be Ultimate Alumni. In the Ultimate Alumni mode, you will be able to build a team around one of ten recent NFL draft picks.

One of those playable characters will be former Longhorn WR AD Mitchell. The Indianapolis Colts selected Mitchell with the No. 52 overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. Mitchell, like all of the other nine players, is graded as an 82 overall.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

College Sports Wire projects Texas Longhorns 2024 record game-by-game

How does College Sports Wire project the Longhorns to finish in their first year in the SEC?

The Texas Longhorns are gearing up for their first season as members of the Southeastern Conference, and to be honest, the transition could not have come at a better time.

When the departure from the Big 12 was announced in the summer of 2021, the Longhorns weren’t necessarily in a bad spot as they were coming off of back-to-back Alamo Bowl wins, but the Oklahoma Sooners seemed to much better suited for the move after winning six straight Big 12 titles. However, head coach Brent Venables is still trying to find his feet after posting a 16-10 record over the past two seasons.

As for Texas, they are in a great spot for the SEC as they are coming off of a 12-win season, a Big 12 title, and a College Football Playoff berth. The Longhorns also showed they are more than capable of competing in the SEC as just a season ago they were able to go into Tuscaloosa and beat Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The schedule will be much more difficult in 2024 with eight SEC games, but Sarkisian’s side is well-equipped. College Sports Wire currently projects that Texas will go 11-1 in 2024 with their only loss being by a field goal against No. 1 ranked Georgia.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Texas recruiting target, Jonathan Cunningham sets commitment date

On July 12,  three-star linebacker Jonathan Cunningham who the Longhorns are pursuing will make his final decision

As the Texas Longhorns prepare for the 2024 campaign, they also have their eyes on the future.

On Jul. 12,  three-star linebacker Jonathan Cunningham, a Longhorn target,  will make his final decision. The Fort Worth native has narrowed down his top three schools to TCU, Texas, and Utah. He was offered a scholarship in February, and the Longhorns hosted him for an official visit in June.

At the moment, the Longhorns have one linebacker commitment in the 2025 class in Elijah Bo Barnes. The addition of Cunningham would provide a boost to the defense. During his high school career, Cunningham has made life difficult for opposing offenses.

While Cunningham is not a five-star prospect, he has drawn interest from schools nationwide. He is currently the ranked No. 35 linebacker in the nation and the No. 49 overall player in the state, according to 247Sports. Over the last few months, he has visited Kansas, TCU, and Utah.

After missing out on recruits such as Zion Williams, Riley Pettijohn, and Dakorien Moore, getting Cunningham would be a welcome sign. The Longhorns did add four-star cornerback Kade Phillips in July, but lately, they have not had much success on the recruiting trail.

While a lot can change in the coming weeks, the Cunningham situation will be watched closely by many in Austin. With his deadline set for July 12, fans will frequently check their phones over the next few days as Cunningham weighs all his options.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers’ 2024 snapshot profile

A look at redshirt junior quarterback Quinn Ewers as he heads into the 2024 season.

Texas Longhorns quarterback [autotag]Quinn Ewers[/autotag] heads into his third season on the Forty Acres and fourth season overall. The top quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class started 12 games last season. He missed two games due to injury and Maalik Murphy led them to wins in those games against BYU and Kansas State.

Ewers finished the season with a passing grade of 85.6, which ranked No. 16 among Power Five quarterbacks according to Pro Football Focus. According to most NFL draft analysts, Ewers is among the top passers available for the upcoming draft. Most mocks have the Texas gunslinger among the top 10 selections and top three passers along with Georgia’s Carson Beck and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.

Ewers enters the 2024 season, No. 8 in passing yards (5,656) and No. 7 in touchdowns (37). He could climb as high as No. 4 in yards and No. 4 in touchdowns passing Chris Simms if Ewers repeats his 2023 output.

Preseason Quinn Ewers Profile

Hometown: Southlake, Texas

Ht: 6-2

Wt: 193

247Sports Composite Ranking:

Five-Star | No. 1 Quarterback | No. 1 Nationally (2021 Class)

Class in 2024: Sophomore

Career Stats

Year Games Comp% Yards YPA TDs-INTs
2022 10 58.1 2,177 7.4 15-6
2023 12 69.0 3,479 8.8 22-6
Via Stats Perform

Depth Chart Overview

Barring an injury leading up to the kickoff of the 2024 college football season, Quinn Ewers will be the starting quarterback for the third consecutive season. He leads a group that includes Arch Manning and incoming freshman Trey Owens. Last year’s primary backup Maalik Murphy left for the Duke Blue Devils in the offseason, where he is expected to start for new head coach Manny Diaz.

Quinn Ewers’ Photo Gallery