Quinn Ewers, the highly-touted quarterback out of Southlake Carroll, has officially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, closing the chapter on his college career at the University of Texas. Ewers’ decision to turn pro comes after a successful tenure with the Longhorns and years of hype dating back to his high school days.
Ewers’ football journey began in Texas. At Southlake Carroll, he quickly gained a reputation as one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Over his career, Ewers threw for 6,445 yards and 73 touchdowns, earning a five-star rating and the No. 1 overall ranking in the Class of 2022.
College Success at Texas
After leaving high school a year early for a brief stint at Ohio State, Ewers transferred to Texas, where he became the face of the Longhorns’ resurgence. Over three seasons, he amassed 7,841 passing yards, 62 touchdowns, and just 14 interceptions, leading Texas to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances in 2024 and 2025.
College Stats:
| Season | Team | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | AVG | TD | INT | LNG | SACK | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | TEX | 172 | 296 | 58.1 | 2,177 | 7.4 | 15 | 6 | 49 | 11 | 132.6 |
| 2023 | TEX | 272 | 394 | 69.0 | 3,479 | 8.8 | 22 | 6 | 73 | 27 | 158.6 |
| 2024 | TEX | 293 | 445 | 65.8 | 3,472 | 7.8 | 31 | 12 | 54 | 31 | 149.0 |
| Career | TEX | 737 | 1135 | 64.9 | 9,128 | 8.0 | 68 | 24 | 73 | 69 | 148.0 |
— Quinn Ewers (@QuinnEwers) January 15, 2025
Turning Down NIL Money?
Ewers’ decision to enter the draft reportedly involved turning down up to $10 million in NIL deals. However, it’s important to approach these figures with skepticism. Reports of NIL earnings are often exaggerated, focusing on potential earnings rather than actual take-home pay. It is not clear who was offering the 6 to 10 million being reported, but rumors are Oregon and Ohio State were two possibilities.
The interesting part of the story is that Ewers was the first high school football player to capitalize on NIL money, essentially becoming the highest-paid college football player when he joined Ohio State. He can be seen as an NIL trendsetter. However, with the opportunity to earn more in NIL compensation than he has in the past four years combined, Ewers is passing on the NIL money.
Ewers enters the 2025 NFL Draft as an intriguing prospect in what many analysts consider a weaker quarterback class. While he isn’t projected as a first-round pick, his name has been floated as a potential Day 2 selection, with teams appreciating his arm talent and leadership. Scouts have noted his ability to deliver under pressure and his experience playing in a high-profile program like Texas.
Ewers could rise up the boards in a draft lacking clear-cut quarterback stars as teams gamble on his potential. His ceiling and the scarcity of top-tier quarterback talent this year might push him into the late second or early third rounds.
For Ewers, the NFL represents the next step in a journey that began under Friday night lights in Texas. His high school and college success cemented his status as one of the most exciting quarterbacks to come out of Texas in recent years. While the NFL draft process will bring its share of scrutiny, there’s no doubt that Ewers has the talent, experience, and drive to succeed at the next level.
