/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67206895/quinn_ewers.0.jpeg)
Since the invention of Twitter in 2006, the Texas Longhorns Twittersphere hasnāt had a moment like Fridayās commitment from 2022 Southlake Carroll quarterback Quinn Ewers, the nationās top prospect in the class. Ewers is the first No. 1 prospect to commit to Texas since Vince Young and could join Young as one of six players to earn perfect ratings from 247Sports.
There simply hasnāt been anything like this in the age of social media ā perhaps Five-Star Friday was close, the day that the Horns landed Jordan Hicks and Jackson Jeffcoat, but those decisions didnāt have the type of huge ramifications that the Ewers decision does.
As my colleague Gerald Goodridge noted, the commitment of Malik Jeffson, and itās subsequent impact, as well as the stand-alone pledge of Bijan Robinson last year were big, but not as big as the reaction to landing Ewers and itās potential long-term implications for the program on the field and in recruiting.
So letās check in on some of the best reactions.
Texas Director of Recruiting Bryan Carrington has to lead to way.
When our opps got that news... pic.twitter.com/tFjvNVzfwG
ā Bryan Carrington (@BCarringtonUT) August 14, 2020
Some background ā not only was Ewers pursued heavily by a school like Alabama that just swiped the Brockermeyer brothers from Texas, but he was also heavily pursued by Ohio State. And Carrington has some history with the Buckeyes using perceived negative recruiting tactics on targets like former five-star wide receiver Garrett Wilson that sparked some outright subtweet wars.
Speaking of Ohio State, credit new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich for the relationship that he built with Ewers while with the Buckeyes and for closing once he got to Austin.
We gonna LIGHT it up!!! I was asked why I came to TEXAS? No ER!!! Future is pic.twitter.com/ROI0QSMyL9
ā Michael Yurcich (@Coach_Yurcich) August 14, 2020
Head coach Tom Herman was a little bit more subdued, tweeting out his recently-launched reaction to commitments.
ā Coach Tom Herman (@CoachTomHerman) August 14, 2020
Quarterback Sam Ehlinger was more effusive ā one of the lowest possible bars to clear ā breaking his near-complete Twitter silence to respond to the big Friday news.
Congratulations on making the best decision of your life man. Welcome to the family! @QuinnEwers https://t.co/StOu5EAkzf
ā Sam Ehlinger (@sehlinger3) August 14, 2020
Texas safety commit JD Coffey asks an obvious question.
WHOS NEXT
ā JD Coffey III (@JD_Coffey1) August 14, 2020
Errrbody? Now thereās a flashback, huh?
Southlake Carroll tickets gonna be a commodity.
Considering the entire spring and summer evaluations were almost completely washed away, the spotlight on Ewers will be massive when he returns. He'll be the unicorn everyone wants a ticket to see.
ā Geoff Ketchum (@gkketch) August 14, 2020
A prominent Texas 7-on-7 coach took notice.
The #Longhorns just added the #1 recruit in the country in Quinn Ewers . Who happens to be an Elite QB.
ā (@RoSimonJr) August 14, 2020
Anybody that follows the recruitment world knows this is major. @CoachTomHerman @BCarringtonUT
So did top-150 talent Jaylon Guilbeau, a 2022 cornerback from Port Arthur Memorial.
@QuinnEwers
ā Jaylon Guilbeau⨠(@jaylonguilbeau1) August 14, 2020
Iām trying to win a Natty !!!!!!!!!!
Talk to me https://t.co/tzuZBT9IOZ
And a bunch of other recruits, too.
Texas is building something special
ā Ishmael Ibraheem (@run1tupish) August 14, 2020
Oh ok https://t.co/BcO7VxLnGn
ā Donovan Green āāāā (@Donovangreen23) August 14, 2020
Uh oh @QuinnEwers https://t.co/b035A5T8Vv
ā 23 (@JaydonBlue) August 14, 2020
say quinn https://t.co/BSsXO31ONv
ā Emeka ā¶ (@Emeka_Megwa) August 14, 2020
Congrats fam https://t.co/bk7Bcvx7lj
ā Caleb Burton III (@calebburtoniii) August 14, 2020
How good is Ewers? He still has two seasons left of high school football, but the evaluators are already convinced of his talent.
The highest rated QB prospects ever according to 247Sports Composite.
ā CJ Vogel (@cjvogel3) August 14, 2020
1. #Texas Quinn Ewers - 1.0000
1. #Texas Vince Young - 1.0000
3. Trevor Lawrence - .9999
4. Justin Fields - 0.9998
5. Brock Berlin - 0.9998
6. Terrellle Pryor - 0.9997
7. Bryce Young - 0.9994
More high praise.
I went to the Denton Guyer vs. Southlake Carroll game last October.
ā Zach Barnett (@zach_barnett) August 14, 2020
In a game with 12-15 FBS players, Ewers was the best on the field. And he was a sophomore.
Ian Boyd of Inside Texas on an attribute that makes Ewers so special:
Part of what makes him so deadly is that unlike the vast majority of strong-armed young passers, he can make anticipation throws rather than waiting to see a route break open. Most kids with big arms will wait to see the route get open and then rely on arm strength to hit the window or throw their guy open deep. Ewers can get the ball out quickly and on time by throwing with anticipation of the route breaks.
Charles Power of 247Sports called Ewers a āgenerational talentā:
Like Lawrence, Ewersā early status as a top prospect is due to projectable physical ability and skills paired with dominant on-field play early in his high school career. Both possessed advanced arm talent, accuracy, and feel for the game as high school underclassmen.
Letās also take a second to marvel at the best photo weāve seen of the Ewers mullet.
That hair in all its glory. @QuinnEwers pic.twitter.com/KsQA8JbK1N
ā Justin Wells (@justinwells2424) August 14, 2020
Thatās the stuff of legends.
Gotta say it was a good day.