AUSTIN, Texas — With the No. 1 Texas Longhorns leading the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks 37-3 at the end of the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, cornerback Jahdae Barron and safety Michael Taaffe turned to injured starting quarterback Quinn Ewers for some leadership. Ewers delivered one of the most impassioned speeches of his college career.
Count linebacker David Gbenda as a teammate motivated by the speech. “Got me ready to run through a brick wall,” he said on Monday.
Barron recounted how the moment happened. “Quinn came in and it was just the juice level, the excitement that he had for everybody playing, and then him just rooting on Arch [Manning] the entire game,” Barron said on Monday. “You love that type of thing from a leader. We love Quinn as a leader and he has that role and we trust him. He was just hyping us up there and I’m having a good time enjoying the moment.”
For a mild-mannered quarterback who preferred to be at home by himself instead of out with teammates, Ewers has steadily pushed himself out of his comfort zone over the last two years, growing into a more vocal leader.
“The thing I’m probably most proud of him about is his leadership. This guy is exuding confidence right now, and there’s nothing better for anybody in your organization, for anybody in your building to walk in and to say, there’s our guy, and our guy is exuding confidence. He’s carrying himself the right way. He’s doing things the right way, not only on the field but off the field. He’s our leader, and we can unequivocally say that about Quinn Ewers,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said at SEC Media Days.
Now Ewers understands that leadership doesn’t take a night off just because he’s out with an injury.
“Regardless of what he’s doing, he’s still ready to motivate us and keep the standard the standard by letting us know what it is and what it’s not in terms of what we need to bring regardless of the quarter, regardless who we’re playing, and even in his status right now with everything that’s going on surrounding him, he’s still out there leading, giving us his best, that speaks to him as a person and a leader, honestly that just made me respect him a lot more than what he’s already brought because we go behind 3,” Gbenda said.
Quinn Ewers' Leadership from the Sidelines
Watching the Texas Longhorns soar past the ULM Warhawks on Saturday, first-string quarterback Quinn Ewers stood on the sideline sporting his burnt orange jersey, still in questionable condition following the oblique strain he suffered against UTSA the weekend prior. Despite being absent from the starting lineup, as backup quarterback Arch Manning took the reins against ULM, Ewers was still mentally and physically present for his teammates throughout the entire game. The ESPN+ broadcast showed Ewers hyping up the team during a fourth-quarter timeout huddle, revealing a candid moment of the junior quarterback taking on his role as a leader despite being injured. Take a look:
That's my Quarterback🤘🏻 pic.twitter.com/1qj9ETq6ll
Standing beside him and sharing the adrenaline was senior defensive back Jahdae Barron, who said during Monday's media availability that Ewers is a player teammates can put their confidence toward and look to for motivation.
“Quinn came in, it was just that juice level, the excitement that he had for everybody playing, and then him just rooting on Arch the entire game and stuff like that,” Barron said. “We love that type of thing from a leader, and we love Quinn as a leader, and he has that role, and we trust him. He was just hyping us up there. And, you know, I'm having a good time enjoying the moment.”
Having played alongside Ewers ever since he arrived at Texas, Barron has been able to witness his growth firsthand. Barron said that the group huddle showed what kind of a teammate he has been on and off the field, and that he consistently puts the guys first over himself.
“It's just the player he is, no matter the situation that he's going through,” Barron said. “He's a team guy, and he's for the team, and he's not a 'me' guy.”
Senior offensive lineman Jake Majors recited that that moment also served as a glimpse of the “swagger” that Ewers brings to the program's environment.
“You don't usually see, you know, a quarterback who's hurt, call up the team at the fourth quarter and just get us hype like that. That's the type of swagger we have,” Majors said.
It's still unclear whether or not Ewers will return for Texas' first scheduled SEC matchup against Mississippi State this weekend, with head coach Steve Sarkisian continuing to mark him as questionable but also not announcing the starter just yet. Whatever the case may be, Ewers' teammates know that he'll be in their corner for many more hype huddles and words of encouragement as the program begins its eight-week journey through conference competition.
Quinn Ewers' Leadership and Impact
Ewers' ability to lead and motivate his teammates, even from the sidelines, is crucial for the Texas Longhorns as they aim for success this season. His journey from reserved quarterback to inspiring leader emphasizes the importance of resilience and camaraderie in sports. While Ewers' speech energized the team, concerns about his injury may affect his performance in upcoming games. Leadership can inspire, but it must also translate into effective gameplay for long-term success. Fans and analysts are eager to see how Ewers' leadership impacts the team's performance as they navigate the remainder of the season. Potential return from injury will be a significant factor in Texas' offensive strategy.
Ewers' Passion Ignites the Team
Quinn Ewers, the injured starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, inspired his teammates with a passionate speech at the start of the fourth quarter during their game against Louisiana-Monroe, where Texas led 37-3. His enthusiasm and leadership were pivotal in energizing the team, showcasing his growth as a vocal leader despite his injury. Teammates praised Ewers for instilling confidence and motivation, with linebacker David Gbenda expressing that Ewers' words made him feel ready to take on any challenge. Ewers' evolution from a mild-mannered player to a dynamic leader reflects his dedication to the team, as noted by head coach Steve Sarkisian.
