Longhorns HC Steve Sarkisian makes major admission following Quinn Ewers' slide in NFL Draft

Quinn Ewers was one of the many quarterbacks available for selection in the latest NFL Draft. While he wasn’t considered part of the group with a strong chance of going in the first round, no one expected such a dramatic fall. Steve Sarkisian, someone who knows him well from his time with the Texas Longhorns, commented on this unexpected situation for the QB.

“All of us wish he would have gotten drafted higher,” Sarkisian said at the Houston Touchdown Club. Still, Coach Sark made it clear that he’s happy to see the quarterback land with the Dolphins, noting the similarities he sees between Mike McDaniel’s style and his own.

“At the end of the day if I could have picked a place that I think is a great fit for him… I think Miami is a great fit. Systematically what Coach McDaniel does is very similar to what we do. So there’s going to be a level of comfort for him of style of play. He’s got some great weapons on the outside, it’s a warm-weather place. I think it’s a good fit for him. Now it’s about taking advantage of the opportunity that presents itself.”

It’s worth noting that the former Longhorns quarterback experienced a steep fall in the draft, ultimately being selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round with the 231st overall pick.

Quinn Ewers #QB04 of Texas participates in a drill during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The legacy of Quinn Ewers at Texas

Quinn Ewers joined the Texas Longhorns in 2022 after a stint with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Slowly but surely—and thanks in part to the support of head coach Steve Sarkisian—the talented quarterback began making a name for himself within the program’s elite. His impact was felt not only on the field, but off it as well.

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“I feel for Quinn. He was a great player for us,” Sarkisian said Monday also at the Houston Touchdown Club. “I think about a lot of the people that come through this program over the last four years that have impacted the growth and trajectory of our program, and he’s right there near the top, if not at the top of the impact that he’s had, not only on the field but off the field. His ability to help recruit other players come be part of our program.

“I think he was one of the first guys through all this talk about collective and all the things that were going on in the world of NIL… he never took money from our collective. All of what he did through NIL was his true Name, Image, and Likeness,” Sark finally concluded.

The beginning of a new era

Quinn Ewers’ departure to the NFL officially paves the way for his successor: Arch Manning. While Arch had already seen some action last season during Ewers’ injury absences, he is now set to become Coach Sark’s trusted leader on the field.