Texas offensive line no longer letting opponents take free shots at their QB without answering back
Longhorns led Hudson Card get driven into the turf in 2021. They went after Michigan defenders who took a shot at Quinn Ewers
Texas’ disastrous trip to Arkansas in 2021 has been blocked from most fans’ memory bank. It was a miserable night for those in burnt orange. But one image still sticks out.
Arkansas’ defense drove quarterback Hudson Card into the turf with such reckless abandon, it almost felt like they were taking cheap shots. What’s more, not a single UT offensive lineman would either stand up for him and, at times, help him even stand up.
It signified everything that was wrong with a mediocre program at the time in coach Steve Sarkisian's first season. After all, the program changed coaches for a reason.
Now compare that to what happened Saturday during a 31-12 victory. With Texas knocking on the Michigan goal line, quarterback Quinn Ewers appeared to slip and went to a knee. The play was blown dead. Wolverines edge rusher Cameron Brandt still came forward and hit Ewers, knocking him over.
This time, Texas lineman Hayden Connor came in and shoved Brandt, sparking an impromptu dust-up on the field at Michigan Stadium. Both teams were flagged for offsetting penalties, and the game continued. But finally, the Horns weren’t going to take someone taking a cheap shot on their quarterback.
Why Brandt wasn’t called for unsportsmanlike conduct or even targeting — his helmet made direct contact with Ewers’ helmet — will be something for the Texas coaches to address with the Big Ten office.
Two plays later, Ewers hit Jaydon Blue for a touchdown pass. The Longhorns know to protect their Heisman-caliber trigger man at all costs.
“You see how he plays, calm, cool, collected, so composed and so is trusting in us that he doesn't even worry about the line of scrimmage because he knows we're going to handle it,” Texas center Jake Majors said. “The experience up front allows that to happen, man.”
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Ewers has shown he’s pretty durable. He was knocked out of the Alabama game in 2022 with a left shoulder injury only after being driven into the turf by a Crimson Tide defender. He bounced back to finish the season. Then in 2023, Ewers played in 12 games last season and led the Horns to the Big 12 title and the College Football Playoff.
“He just goes out there and make plays,” Majors said. “I'm so proud of him. I love the kid to death. He's like a brother to me, and I'm so glad to be on his team.”
Ewers finished the day having completed 24 of 36 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns. He played the full game, even taking the kneel downs to run out the clock.
Why didn’t Texas coach Steve Sarkisian play backup Arch Manning? Sarkisian has said he wants to get Manning “meaningful” snaps this year to get him ready for 2025. The game was over and no need to try and run competitive plays.
And besides, this was Ewers’ signature victory, just as it was last year when Texas knocked off No. 3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
