Texas QB Quinn Ewers named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list

On the Johnny Unitas Golden Award preseason watch list, released Wednesday night, there was a familiar name in Quinn Ewers. The Longhorns quarterback was also on the list last year before leading two Texas to a 12-win season. He will be looking to replicate his success in the SEC.

In his second season under center for the Longhorns, Ewers completed 272 of his 294 passes for 3,479 yards. He added 22 touchdown passes to his resume and only threw six interceptions. While Ewers continued to show why he was one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, he rewrote the record books.

PHOTOS: Texas Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers through the years

Ewers recorded six 300-yard passing games, tied for the most in a season in program history. His 3,479 passing yards were the fourth most ever by a Longhorns quarterback in a single season. Regardless of the opponent, Ewers found a way to put points on the board.

During the 2023 campaign, some of Ewers best games came with a lot on the line. In the Big 12 Championship, he completed 35-of-46 passes for 452 yards and four touchdowns, breaking the Big 12 Championship Game record. The Longhorns quarterback also set career highs in completions and passing yards. In the College Football Playoff semifinals, Ewers completed 24-of-43 passes for 318 yards.

Ever since he set foot on campus, Ewers has been a human highlight reel. In his freshman season, he threw 15 touchdown passes, the fourth-most in a season by a Texas freshman. Over the last few years, he has
continued to improve and raised expectations as the games piled up.

Each year, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is given to the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class. If Ewers can improve on his numbers from last year, he could be adding some new hardware to his trophy case.