Trent Dilfer calls Quinn Ewers a generational talent, but warns NFL ahead of 2023 season
Former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer built a name for himself as a young quarterback guru with the Elite 11. Today, he’s the head coach at UAB, in no small part because of that experience with quarterbacks.
One quarterback who Dilfer is particularly interested in is Quinn Ewers of Texas. An exciting prospect, Dilfer thinks that Ewers is a generational talent who needs time before considering the next level.
“He’s gotta play more football,” Trent Dilfer said. “He’s an extremely talented passer, like generational, Jeff George–ish. But he’s gotta play more football, man. Let’s not make the [Mark] Sanchez mistake again. Let’s not make the [Mitch] Trubisky mistake. You gotta play 30 games before we really know.”
As of now, Quinn Ewers has played in 10 career games, losing some time in 2022 due to injuries. If Texas were to play for a national championship in 2023 and Ewers played in every game, he’d be at just 25 games played for his career.
“You gotta see it. It’s not just talent. We made this mistake for years in the NFL. It’s not just talent. It’s this weird matrix of everything working together. And the only way we know to start sorting that matrix out is by watching them play football games.”
Despite those concerns about his experience, Trent Dilfer is still all in on Quinn Ewers as a quarterback. He says that the signal-caller is a generational talent comparable to Jeff George.
“Oh, it’s incredible arm talent. Like, stupid arm talent. Jeff George, that’s the comparable. And now maybe this generation doesn’t remember Jeff George, but you’re old enough to remember him. Dan Marino said it was stupid. John Elway said it was stupid. All of us who had great talent would watch Jeff George and say, I can’t do that.”
Trent Dilfer praised Caleb Williams
Quinn Ewers wasn’t the only quarterback who Trent Dilfer praised. Dilfer also went all in on Caleb Williams of USC, comparing him to a series of cars.
“He’s rare. I always go to these car analogies because they resonate with people the most, but he’s got muscle car horsepower, he’s got sports car twitch, he’s got SUV joint structure, he’s got Tesla brains. And he’s got Formula 1 intuitive qualities. He’s just everything you’re looking for,” Dilfer said.
“We had him that COVID year at Elite 11 and I was just like, ‘Guys, am I crazy or is this maybe the best kid we’ve ever had?’ He’s unbelievable. He’s got this magnetic personality. People are drawn to him. He’s got humility. He just checks every box. And then he plays the position at a high level in one of the better structured offenses in college football.”