Steve Sarkisian calls out critics of Quinn Ewers' NFL Draft decision after slide

Quinn Ewers had to wait a long time to hear his name called at the 2025 NFL Draft. Late Saturday evening is when the call came through, getting taken by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round. A fit Steve Sarkisian has called a good one, the Texas head coach believes there is some hypocrisy going around over the situation.

Going back to school was an option for Ewers. Maybe not at Texas, where the Longhorns are set to begin the Arch Manning era. But On3’s Pete Nakos reported on the NIL offers Ewers received from schools back in January, assuming he hit the NCAA transfer portal. Ewers’ agent later named places such as Miami and Notre Dame.

Some have crushed Ewers for not returning to school and receiving a good chunk of money, numbers Nakos reported up to $6 million. His NFL salary will be just over $1 million a year. So, Sarkisian wants to know why there has been a change in mindset, for Ewers specifically, when it comes to players’ actions in modern college football.

“Everybody has got a comment about a kid who leaves a school and goes to another school for more money,” Sarkisian said in a sit-down with CBS Sports’ Josh Pate. “‘How could he do that? This is college football now? What’s going on with college football?’ All of a sudden, here’s Quinn Ewers, who decides not to go to another school and say ‘You know what, I’ve left a legacy at the University of Texas. I’m going to go chase my dreams and fulfill my dreams of playing in the NFL.’

“And now, those same critics, those same people, are saying ‘How could he not go take that money?’ … Sometimes, I just wonder. Who are we to judge and criticize a young man who’s making a decision on his future, who’s only done things the right way, to the best of his ability, gave everything to our program? And decided, ‘You know what? Now’s my time. To criticize him for not taking the money? Like, what are we talking about?”

Steve Sarkisian speaks to the legacy of Quinn Ewers on Texas program

Ewers has stated that one of his reasons for leaving was wanting to leave a legacy. His career began at Ohio State but Texas was where all but a few snaps of his college playing days took place.

The on-field accomplishments are there for Ewers, even through his critics. Texas reached heights the program has not seen in over a decade, winning a conference championship. Two straight College Football Playoff appearances were a high as well.

Sarkisian believes Ewers’ legacy will be about setting Texas up for the future, though. Choosing to play in Austin while the Longhorns were still down, Ewers was a part of the group to turn the ship around and get momentum rolling.

“Quinn Ewers decided to come to the University of Texas when we were a 5-7 football team,” Sarkisian said. “We owe a ton to Quinn. We all look at ‘Here’s a guy that started three years at quarterback for us. Battled injuries all three years. Leads up to two College Football Playoffs. Leads us to a Big 12 Championship. Leads us to an SEC Championship game our first year in the conference.’ That’s his legacy at Texas.

“His legacy, to me, is way bigger than that. Because if Quinn Ewers doesn’t come, I don’t know if the next five guys are coming. And if those next five guys aren’t coming, I don’t know if the next 10 guys are coming.”

From just a quarterback standpoint, Manning is the one taking over for Ewers. Sarkisian has remained hot on the recruiting trail, signing the likes of Trey Owens and KJ Lacy. Texas currently has the No. 5 quarterback in the 2026 class committed, Dia Bell.

Right there are possibly the next five guys on the 40 Acres. In Sarkisian’s eyes, all because Ewers decided to commit and play for Texas.