What QB Quinn Ewers' commitment means to Texas

Texas landed a commitment from the No. 1-ranked prospect in the 2022 class on Friday in quarterback Quinn Ewers.

He's 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds out of Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas, and with his commitment come the proclamations of "Texas is back!" Keeping the in-state recruit home, and at such a critical position, was a huge deal for the Longhorns.

Ewers won't be on campus until 2022, but when he arrives, he could have a major impact. So here's a look at what the commitment means for Texas and what kind of prospect the Longhorns are getting with the talented signal-caller.

What the commitment means for Texas

Ewers is the first No. 1-ranked prospect Texas has landed since ESPN started its rankings in 2006. That in itself is huge based on the optics on the recruiting trail, but it also means the Longhorns are adding an elite talent at a premium position.

Ewers had offers from nearly every program in the country. Most scouts believe Ewers is the top quarterback in the class, and he could even be the best quarterback prospect of any high school recruit regardless of class.

As a sophomore, Ewers had 4,003 passing yards, 45 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He completed 291 of 402 passes for a 72.4% completion percentage. He also had 568 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground for his team last season.

The Longhorns missed out on the top-ranked recruit in the state in the 2021 class with Texas legacy recruit Tommy Brockermeyer and his twin brother, James. Running back Zachary Evans signed with TCU in the 2020 class as the top recruit in Texas. In 2019, offensive lineman Kenyon Green signed with Texas A&M. You have to go back to the 2018 class to find Texas with the No. 1 in-state recruit when the staff signed safety B.J. Foster, as well as the Nos. 2- and 3-ranked recruits in DeMarvion Overshown and Caden Sterns.

Landing that top recruit in the state is important when a state such as Texas has so many other programs trying to come in and pry away recruits. Texas has battled with Texas A&M for prospects and has had to try to keep LSU and Alabama from raiding the cupboards, as well.

To fend off those schools for a prospect such as Ewers is a big win.

The staff got a commitment from ESPN 300 quarterback Jalen Milroe in the 2021 class, had the No. 2-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the 2020 class in Hudson Card, as well as Ja'Quinden Jackson, who was listed as an athlete but will get the opportunity to play quarterback. Already having those names on the roster -- and now adding in someone like Ewers -- the quarterback room has a ton of talent going forward.

What it means for other schools

It's still very early in the 2022 cycle, so the other teams that missed out have every opportunity to still land a high-end quarterback. In fact, Ewers and dual-threat quarterback Walker Howard (LSU) are the only two ESPN Jr. 300 quarterbacks who have announced a commitment.

There are 22 other ESPN Jr. 300 quarterbacks still uncommitted, including the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in Jacurri Brown, out of Valdosta, Georgia. Ewers is listed as a pocket passer, and the No. 2-ranked pocket-passing quarterback, Maalik Murphy, is still uncommitted.

Ewers' scouting report

Ewers is mentally and physically mature beyond his years. He possesses a rare grit and pocket presence at this stage in his development. He has the innate qualities of a future elite quarterback prospect with the arm strength and accuracy to complement those intangibles.

But Ewers isn't just a pocket passer, though. He is an ultra-talented signal-caller who can also make plays with his feet and keep defenses honest. -- Luginbill

Player comparison

USC QB Kedon Slovis. If Slovis had played at Southlake, he would have had the same recruitment. -- Luginbill