After starring on the same Westlake High School football field that produced Super Bowl champion quarterback Drew Brees, Texas Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger is aiming to do much of the same tonight against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Sugar Bowl.
Set to take center stage on the same field the New Orleans Saints star field general calls home, Ehlinger made sure to pay homage in the moments leading up to the madness, donning Brees’ Westlake football jersey as he strolled into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
QB1. @sehlinger3 #ThisIsTexas #HookEm @SugarBowlNola pic.twitter.com/BkCUXXCh5e
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 1, 2019
“I think that he is, obviously, a Hall-of-Famer. There is a lot to be said that we went to the same high school. I think that is really cool that I am able to do that,” Ehlinger said of Brees earlier this week, via Nola.com. “I have pride in the fact that I went to his high school and to be able to play in the Superdome where he has absolutely gone off and set records and done those things for the Saints organization. It is really cool.”
An ATX connection in New Orleans. pic.twitter.com/7hpOT7uUJX
— Longhorn Network (@LonghornNetwork) January 1, 2019
Ehlinger, who met the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards during his days as a recruit at a 7-on-7 circuit in Florida, unsurprisingly walked away from the experience as an improved passer.
“I really value and idolize his throwing motions, accuracy and how quickly he gets the ball out. I think being around him and how quickly he gets the ball out and how tight his mechanics are, is something that has helped me to understand to continue to be a better quarterback.”
Takeaways such as the ones Ehlinger detailed are largely what’s allowed the sophomore gunslinger to lead his Longhorns to the cusp of their most successful season since 2009.
Tonight, at 7:45 p.m. CT, Ehlinger will aim to solidify that feat and continue building his Longhorns legacy on the same field Brees built his legacy.