Which tier the Texas QB room ranks in, according to ESPN
The Texas Longhorns have one of the most intriguing quarterback rooms in the nation with Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning serving as the headliners. Ewers is neck-and-neck with Georgia's Carson Beck at the top of the preseason quarterback rankings, and there's no shortage of hype surrounding Manning, who is set to take the throne after […]
The Texas Longhorns have one of the most intriguing quarterback rooms in the nation with Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning serving as the headliners.
Ewers is neck-and-neck with Georgia's Carson Beck at the top of the preseason quarterback rankings, and there's no shortage of hype surrounding Manning, who is set to take the throne after Ewers departs for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Having these two in the fold recently earned Texas a place in the top tier of ESPN's quarterback room rankings. The only other teams the network's David Hale had in that spot were Alabama, Georgia and Oregon.
Beck might be next year's No. 1 overall pick, but he certainly wasn't the biggest talent on his own offense last year," Hale wrote. "Milroe was benched at one point. After Week 3, Ewers had just three games with multiple touchdown passes. Gabriel has been prolific for years, but has he ever really been great?
Look around the country and you'll find your share of other quality quarterbacks, but none quite so accomplished as this tier. Ewers and Milroe have started playoff games, something only one other quarterback in the country can say (Cade McNamara, believe it or not). Gabriel has thrown for nearly 15,000 career yards — 2,550 more than any other returning quarterback. Beck threw for nearly 4,000 yards and completed 72% of his passes last season, and he'll helm what might be the country's best team in 2024.
Ewers finished out the 2023 season with a 69% completion rate, throwing for 3,479 yards with 22 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
It should also be noted that at any time when Texas was trailing at any point last season, Ewers posted a 72.7% completions rate, throwing for 5 touchdowns and 1 interception. He averaged 10.3 yards/attempt and 15% of his throws went for at least 20 yards.
Manning has been one of the hottest transfer portal topics throughout his time at Texas, but not at all for his involvement. If anything, it's been because of the fact he's elected to sit and wait his turn in a situation in which a lot of players like him seek greener pastures.
How Ewers and Co. fare in what could be a huge season for Texas will be something to keep an eye on as the Longhorns open up the action against Colorado State on Aug. 31.
