AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Longhorns' QB1 is coming back.
In a video posted to social media Thursday, quarterback Quinn Ewers announced he will return for the 2024 football season. Ewers has served as the Longhorns' starting quarterback for the past two years.
"Ever since I was a kid, I've dreamed of playing quarterback at the University of Texas. I couldn't be more thankful to all my teammates and coaches, and I'm beyond grateful to be in the position that I'm in," Ewers said in the video. "God has shown me who I truly am these past two years that I've been here. And through the ups and downs these fans and this university has always had my back. With that being said ... I'm coming back."
A Texas native and Southlake Carroll grad, Ewers transferred to Texas in 2022 following a one-year stint at Ohio State. During his time with the Longhorns, he has thrown for 5,656 yards and 37 touchdowns, according to a report from KVUE's media partners at the Austin American-Statesman.
The Statesman reports that Ewers ranks eighth in career passing yards at Texas and seventh in career touchdown passes, and he could possibly pass Major Applewhite's third-place totals of 8,353 yards and 60 touchdown passes during the upcoming season.
In addition to a final Big 12 championship before the Longhorns' move to the SEC, Ewers led Texas to a 12-2 record this past season and the program's first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff.
KVUE's Cory Mose reports that Ewers will likely be one of the Heisman favorites once the 2024 season begins.
Until Ewers' announcement on Thursday, his plans for the future weren't completely clear. He could have chosen to declare for the NFL Draft, which might have slid Arch Manning to the QB 1 position. As it stands now, Manning will be Ewers' presumed backup.
A long list of Longhorns have recently announced their intentions to enter the draft. Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, running back Jonathon Brooks, defensive tackle Byron Murphy II and wide receiver Xavier Worthy have all announced they plan to begin their professional careers rather than return to the Forty Acres.
Other star players like defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat and wide receiver Jordan Whittington have also declared for the draft after completing their senior seasons at Texas.