They battled it out for the 2020 UIL 6A D1 State Championship, with Cade Klubnik getting the edge leading Austin Westlake over Quinn Ewers and Southlake Carroll. Now, they might battle it out for the Heisman Trophy.
Despite Quinn Ewers being challenged by Arch Manning and Maalik Murphy, Ewers is the clear starter and is expected to have a big year. He currently ranks as the third highest in betting odds for the 2023 Heisman Trophy odds. He isn’t the only Texas high school football athlete in the top five: Cade Klubnik is ranked at the fifth highest.
For those keeping score at home, the last TXHSFB athlete to win college football’s top individual honor was Allen grad Kyler Murray in 2018. Over the last decade, only two local prospects (Murray and Baker Mayfield) were Heisman recipients, equaling the same amount of Lone Star State winners as the decade prior (Johnny Manziel and Robert Griffin III).
3. Quinn Ewers
Ewers is a second-year quarterback who has played in and started 10 games for the Burnt Orange. His 2,177 passing yards were fifth-most for a Texas freshman quarterback and the 22nd-most in school history.
As a Southlake Carroll graduate, Ewers totaled 6,445 yards passing, 73 passing touchdowns, and just eight interceptions on 70% passing. Although he never claimed a state title, he still led the Dragons to a 6A Division 1 state championship in 2020.
5. Cade Klubnik
Former Texas Gatorade Play of the Year enters 2023 for the Clemson Tigers, completing 61-of-100 career passes for 697 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in over 10 games. Despite his high completion percentage, Klubnik only started in one game. However, with a dominant performance in the Orange Bowl to end the season, and with DJ Uiagalele transferring, Klubnik will be the starter all season for the Tigers.
Under the Friday Night Lights, Klubnik was a legend, leading Westlake High School to three consecutive state championships through 2021, including the final two years as the sole starter.
He was the first quarterback to go undefeated as a starter while winning back-to-back state titles in Texas’ highest classification since Heisman recipient Murray did it with Allen.
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