Quinn Ewers doesn’t look the same on the road as he does at home. And that has to be a concern with a trip to Kyle Field for all the SEC Championship marbles on the horizon. Ewers struggles since coming back from his oblique injury have been much discussed.
The junior from Southlake returned from injury against Oklahoma. While not a true home game, it was in the Cotton Bowl. Ewers got off to a slow start against the undermanned Sooners, throwing a first quarter interception and several missed passes that caused Texas to actually trail. But Ewers improved as the game wore on and finished 20 of 29 for 199 yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 passing TD and 1 INT.
Then came the Georgia game, at home. Ewers was so bad in the first half, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian went to Arch Manning for a couple series before halftime. But Ewers was rejuvenated when he came out the locker room. He tossed 2 TDs and a 2-point conversion. While the comeback didn’t fully materialize, Ewers completed 25 of 43 passes for 211 yards.
Next came Vanderbilt on the road. Ewers raw numbers aren’t bad, 27 of 37 for 288 yards and 3 TDs. But he also threw 2 INTs on the day and never looked as totally in command as he had earlier in the season.
Texas came home for the Florida game. Ewers looked like he had in those first few games, torching the Gators going 19 of 27 for 333 yards and an amazing 5 TDs. Longhorns fans thought, ‘He’s back!’
Look, I don’t know the actual progression on this mesh play, but I do know Silas Bolden is wide open for a 12 yard gain on 3rd & 6 and eyes never went that direction.
A conversion should be expected by a 3rd year player. A sack is inexcusable. pic.twitter.com/j3CVBm9dXc
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) November 17, 2024
But Saturday in Fayetteville, Ewers looked flat again. He missed open receivers. His footwork again broke down. His numbers were 20 of 32 for 176 yards with 2 TDs and 0 INTs. His passer rating was his second worst of the season, behind Georgia.
Long gone, it seems, is the confident and efficient Ewers that we saw against Michigan. In that game, the QB went 24 of 36 for 246 and 3 TDs. His performance at the Big House made him the odds on favorite for the Heisman.
Quinn Ewers is NOT it pic.twitter.com/0Op5ntQH6e
— Carter B 🕺🏽 (@CarterthePower) November 16, 2024
But forget stats, Ewers demeanor and body language have changed on the road. He doesn’t look confident anymore. He doesn’t look like the assassin that torched the Wolverines anymore.
In his past four games, Ewers has had two bad quarters at home and arguably six or seven bad quarters on the road since coming back from injury. If the season comes down to a road game at one of the most hostile environments the Texas Longhorns can play in, it is hard to feel confident anymore.